Wadsley Grove, Worrall Road, Wadsley, Sheffield

** FREEHOLD ** A rare opportunity has arisen to purchase this stone-built family home, this six bedroom, two bathroom property stands in approximately two acres of private land with extensive landscaped gardens and a double garage. Dating back to the mid-18th century the property is approached via electric gates to a long sweeping drive. The property has a sun terrace, gas central heating and the added benefit of a separate dwelling/ballroom which could be utilised as a annexe. The property offers amazing potential to personalise to your own taste.

Briefly, the extensive living space comprises the ground floor: dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, utility, WC, pantry, drawing room, sitting room and garden hall. First floor: five bedrooms and two bathrooms. Second floor: a further bedroom and ample loft store storage.

Ground Floor - Enter through a porch with a downstairs WC and access into the entrance hall. From here, there is access to the dining room, sitting room, garden hall and the kitchen/breakfast room. The spacious dining room has a feature stained glazed window depicting a knight in armour. An attractive feature of the room is the mahogany fireplace with cast iron inset. The sitting room has a bay window with superb southerly views over the lawned garden and terrace. The original fireplace is the focal point of the room. The garden hall, once again has the stunning southerly views and a door leading to the gardens. From here, there is access into the drawing room that has two south facing French doors allowing natural light. The kitchen/breakfast room has a range of fitted units with matching worktops and a central island. There is housing for a Range cooker and plumbing for two dishwashers. Off the kitchen is access to a utility room and pantry.

Basement - Extensive cellars.

First Floor - There is a galleried landing with access to the five bedrooms and the two bathrooms. The spacious master bedroom has two large windows and the southerly views over the well stocked garden, fitted wardrobes and ample space for furniture. Bedroom five has access to the sun terrace. Both bathrooms have four piece suites.

Second Floor - The landing has a Velux double glazed skylight and access into bedroom six and two loft store rooms with ample storage.

Separate Dwelling/Ballroom - This could be utilised as a separate bungalow/annexe and benefits from a utility, electricity, water and toilet and the ballroom.

Double Garage - With two electric doors.

Outside - The house occupies a superb site with delightful garden areas, approached from a long sweeping driveway with large car standing area and turning circle with steps leading to the main entrance door. The extensive grounds are bounded by mature trees including beech, maple sycamore, ash, yew and horse chestnut which provide a good deal of privacy. The front of the house lawn opens up to the main garden once again bounded by many species of shrubs and trees. In addition there are sections of natural woodland which provide a haven for wildlife. The site extends to approximately two acres.

History Part 1 - 18th century: The house was originally called Olday, a stone cottage built around 1750 on a three-acre plot, assigned under the Enclosure Act of 1784, which remains to this day. The first owner, Benjamin Garside, died there in 1798, as in 1819, did the second owner, Sarah Savage, a strongly-independent estranged married woman.

Early-19th: In 1827 Olday was sold to the Jervis family. It was enlarged in 1830s and became known as Wadsley Grove (WG). By1845, George Matthewman Jervis, a solicitor in partnership with Henry Vickers (brother to Edward Vickers who founded the Vickers Steel and Armaments empire) lived there with his wife Emily Cockayne (of the Cockayne Department Store in Sheffield) and two children. In 1851 George Matthewman died at the age of 33, leaving Emily widowed with the children. So she left WG which was tenanted between 1852 and 1861.

Mid-19th: In 1862, Rev. John Livesey, vicar of St Philips Church, Sheffield from 1831-1870, became the tenant. He was described as a very worthy and estimable character, genial, benevolent and kind. So it is hard to understand how in 1862, he became charged with selling bodies to the Infirmary for dissection. Public rioting followed during which the sexton's house was burned down. However, he was quickly pardoned by Queen Victoria. The Rev Livesey's second wife, Sarah, died in 1863 and in 1864 he married for a third time to his landlady of WG, Emily Jervis, who moved back into her old home as Emily Livesey. Also in 1863, Emily and George Matthewman's daughter Charlotte Elizabeth married Rev. Charles Sisum Wright who was Rev. Livesey's curate and heir to the Eyam Estate in Derbyshire. WG was probably further extended in 1860s.

History Part 2 - Late-19th: Rev John Livesey died in 1870 and in 1872 WG was sold to John Marples. He was a successful wine merchant who acquired the "Wine and Spirit Commercial Hotel" which became known as "The Marples". This hotel survived to the Sheffield blitz in 1940. John Marples left WG in 1893 and ownership passed to the Taylor family. George Taylor established a mineral water business which he sold to the "Sheffield Mineral Water Syndicate" of which he became chairman. George Taylor was also a local politician representing Attercliffe from 1896 until his unexpected death in 1905.

20th: In 1910, WG became the home of another significant Sheffield family - the Longdons, responsible for many eminent Sheffield buildings including the City Hall. William Longdon died in 1922 and his widow Ann Eliza Longdon took up the reins. She became the working chairman of the family business and a social and political activist. In 1936 she was elected as the first female Lord Mayor of Sheffield. She built the WG ballroom for entertainment purposes. She died in 1952 and WG was bought in 1954 by the Patnick family, Jewish refugees from Lithuania. Aaron Patnick ran several antique/junk businesses. Their son Cyril Irvine Patnick became Conservative M.P. for Sheffield Hallam. In the mid-1970s Aaron and Rosie left WG empty and it was sold in 1977 to John and Joy Ibberson, who came from the long-established cutlery manufacturing firm (in 1759 Joseph Ibberson was Master Cutler). The firm was famous for pocket knives with exotic handles which are still available today under the Ibberson name.

21st: Ill health caused the retirement of John Ibberson and in 2001 WG was sold to the current owner, Alan Jeavons and his former partner Deborah Beetham. Alan is an ex-CERN physicist who was active in nuclear medical imaging. They renovated WG. Deborah is the person who researched this history. It is available on Amazon in more detail in a book "Sheffield 6", edited by Pauline Bell.

Location - Situated in this semi-rural location, immediately adjoining delightful open countryside and Hillsborough Golf Club. The property is on a regular bus route, has excellent amenities nearby, is in the catchment for Bradfield Secondary School and is within easy access on the Supertram network. Within approximately 15 minutes drive of Sheffield city centre, principal hospitals including the Northern General and universities.

Material Information - The property is Freehold and currently Council Tax Band G.

Valuer - Greg Ashmore MNAEA/Chris Spooner