Paunton, Herefordshire, WR6

Originally a 16th-century timber framed farmhouse, Paunton Court has evolved over the centuries into a wonderful family home whilst retaining many of its original features such as exposed timbers, open fireplaces and timber floors. The present owners bought the property in 2005 and spent the next two years undertaking a complete refurbishment, extension and renovation project, bringing it into the 21st century.
Large entertaining rooms, such as the spectacular vaulted drawing room and other adjoining rooms, help create a grand party house to entertain guests and friends, along with flexible accommodation over three floors for a growing or extended family and/or house guests.

Gardens, Grounds and Land
The formal gardens sit in about 2.5 acres, designed for easy maintenance and enjoyment from the main reception rooms, opening out onto south and west facing sun terraces, with under planted young trees and lawns adjoining the banks of the river. Beyond the main courtyard and buildings is a productive walled kitchen garden with numerous vegetable beds, espalier trees and a fruit cage. Adjacent is a home orchard full of mature fruit trees including apples, pears, plums and an almond tree.
Beyond the formal gardens are a small recreational woodland, grassland paddocks (18 acres), a Cider orchard (6.5 acres), a vineyard (3.5 acres) and further mature woodland of about 7 acres. The property includes an established Hop Yard of 11.5 acres which is let to a neighbour on a five-year agricultural tenancy.

The Cottage
Located within the main courtyard, it is ideal as staff accommodation or overflow guest space. It also currently contains the wine tasting room and shop.

Outbuildings
Large double height Threshing barn (1,340 sq ft) with timbers believed to date from the 15th century, further range of storerooms, stables, workshops and attic storage. Modern agricultural barn (2,300 sq ft) partly housing the Biomass boiler with adjoining barn providing additional storage, currently used as a Cider House.

The Vineyard ~ Frome Valley Wine
A 3.5-acre vineyard was established in the 1990s by the previous owner, and the current owner has taken it forward into a small thriving business with award-winning wines, which attracts visitors who enjoy learning about and tasting English wine. It produces between 6,000–8,000 bottles per annum depending on the harvest and includes Bacchus, Pinot Noir and Heritage varieties, including Madeleine Angevine, Huxelrebe and Reichensteiner. The owners organise vinification with a local expert contract winemaker in nearby Ledbury. The wine and other produce are sold through their website, summer tours and tastings at a number of well-established food and drinks festivals in the region.

Main House
Entrance hall | Impressive vaulted Drawing room | Sitting room | Dining room | Office | Snug | Kitchen/Breakfast room | Utility/Laundry | Cloakroom | 2 Cellars | Principal Bedroom with | Dressing room | Bathroom and Study | 4 further Bedrooms and Bathrooms | Second floor with 3 further Bedrooms and Playroom

Cottage
Living room | Kitchen/Dining room | 2/3 bedrooms | Bathroom

Outbuildings
Home office | 15th-century timber Barn | Numerous former Stables | Store rooms | Workshops and Machinery stores | Modern agricultural barn

Gardens and Grounds
Productive walled Kitchen Garden and Fruit Cage | Courtyard | Formal Gardens adjoining the river bank | Summer house | Recreational woodland | Cider & Perry orchard | Vineyard | Grassland paddocks | Wildlife pond | Renewable energy - Biomass Heating system and PV panel array | Rainwater harvesting system. In all, just under 52 acres (21.04 hectares)

Services
Mains electricity, water and private drainage. Fibre broadband 75MBps.

Renewables
Woodchip biomass boiler for heating and hot water which benefits from renewable heat incentive. Electric megaflow for hot water backup. Photovoltaic cells 8.5kw array, which benefits from feed-in tariff. Rainwater harvesting tank (37,000ltrs).

Distances
London 150 miles, Birmingham 45 miles, Cheltenham 32 miles, Gloucester 28 miles, Worcester & Hereford 15 miles, Malvern and Ledbury 10 miles (all distances and times are approximate)

Amenities
Motorways
M5 (J2) 18 miles, M50 (J2) 15 miles

Trains
Malvern (London Paddington 2h 30m and Birmingham 1h), Gloucester (London Paddington 1h 45m)

Airports
Birmingham 53 miles, Bristol 71 miles

Farm Shop/Village
The Hop Pocket, Bishops Frome, 2.5 miles

Walking
Comprehensive network of footpaths and bridleways nearby, including the Malvern Hills

Schools
Local Primary - Brockhampton, Bromyard, Ashperton, Cradley
State Secondary - Bromyard and Ledbury
Private Schools - The Elms, Malvern College, Malvern St James, Hereford Cathedral, RGS Worcester, Kings Worcester, Cheltenham Ladies, Cheltenham College

Directions (WR6 5BJ)
Do not follow the postcode but instead continue out of the village of Bishops Frome north for about 1 mile and take the turning on the right, signposted to Paunton and The Vineyard.

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