Alexandra Road South

The Grand Tour

Entry to the villa is via an arched entryway with a fanlight. Through the original porch, a grand entrance hall lies ahead; original Minton floor tiles run underfoot, and the walls have been finished in a sumptuous crimson by Little Greene and wallpaper by Timorous Beasties.

To the right of the hall is a vast kitchen/dining room with a sunroom beyond. Bespoke cabinetry has been designed and built by the Main Company; topped with veined marble, the timber cabinets are painted in a mixture of ‘Sage Green’ and ‘French Grey’ by Little Greene. The current owner has incorporated a large arched cooking nook, with a Range Master Aga and flanking nooks for barware and a wine fridge. In the centre, there is a timber island apt for fuss-free entertaining. Beyond the kitchen is a secondary sitting room, currently used as a music room, painted in vibrant ‘Charlotte Orange’ by Little Greene.

Across the hallway on the north side of the house is a dining room and family room. The spaces are open to each other by a set of bespoke folding doors and are flooded with natural light from two bay windows. Both have original fireplaces and walls washed in a deep palette of paints by Farrow and Ball. The dining room has a wonderful botanical wallpaper by Cole and Son lining its walls, while the family room has a rich bronze papered ceiling, also by Cole and Son.

At the rear of the ground floor is a handy shower room and separate utility room, as well as access to the rear garden. Via the rear lobby, there is also access to the lower-ground floor, which is currently laid out as a treatment space, a characterfully old-school cinema room and useful storage rooms.

Stairs ascend to the first floor, where the primary suite occupies one half of the level. Overlooking the quiet rear garden, the dramatic bedroom is lit by dual-aspect windows. It has been opened to the eaves above, lending an exaggerated sense of volume. An archway leads to a bespoke walk-in-wardrobe, with cabinetry by the Main Company and a cloud mural by Fornasetti on the ceiling. Ahead is the primary en suite; an ode to Victoriana, the walls are tiled with glazed subway tiles and the floor finished in Minton-esque mosaic. A further two guest suites occupy the first floor, both with en suite bathrooms.

The top floor of the house is home to a further four bedrooms. Occupying the turret of the building, one bedroom is laid out as an office and commands beautiful views of the listed church next door.  There is a separate shower room, and the larger of the four bedrooms has been laid out as a grand guest space and has a freestanding cast-iron bath in a commanding position.

Through a Victorian garden wall is the coach house, which sits separate from the main house. Detached from the building, it has recently been built as a standalone guest space, with a kitchen, shower room and mezzanine sleeping area above. There is private parking for two cars.

The Great Outdoors 

The garden has been landscaped to make the most of its large corner plot. A decked area unfolds from the sunroom and leads down to a lawn bordered by clipped privacy hedging. The current owner has implemented a kitchen garden in raised beds, which is partly shaded by an established climbing grape vines which are full of fruit in the summer.

Out and About

The house lies in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, a leafy suburb to the south of central Manchester. A cluster of open green spaces lie close to Alexandra Road South, including Chorlton Brook Woods. The River Mersey weaves throughout each, providing a scenic and bucolic spot for dog-walkers and running enthusiasts alike. The area has some brilliant restaurants including The Oystercatcher (set up by an ex-Hispi chef), Bar San Juan, Double Zero and Launderette. Stalwart Barbakan is a fantastic deli while Smoak serves excellent coffee.

The centre of Manchester is characterised by its grand civic architecture, both old and new. The intricate towers of the city’s neo-gothic town hall, designed by Alfred Waterhouse in1868, rise above the surrounding streetscape. It is joined by the beautiful Johny Rylands Library and the Royal Exchange, now a renowned theatre. The Manchester Central Reference Library, built in 1930 drawing inspiration from the Pantheon, was refurbished in 2014 and is a wonderful resource for the city. These focal points are balanced by the lively streets full of independent bars and restaurants.

To the north-east of the city centre is the bustling Northern Quarter, its old warehouses revitalised by independent galleries, shops and café. Local highlights include Fred Aldous, Mackie Mayor, Foundation and the Manchester Craft and Design Centre. The area is also renowned for its excellent music scene.

There are plenty of schooling options nearby, including Chorlton Primary School and Chorlton High School. Manchester has a host of privately run options too, including Withington Girls, Manchester High School for Girls and Manchester Grammar School. St Bede’s Prep and St Bede’s College are both sited on Alexandra Road South.

Chorlton is a stop on the Fallowfield loop line, providing easy access into the city centre. Manchester International Airport is a 20-minute drive from the house, and Manchester Piccadilly station is also easily reached. Motorway access is good via the M56, M60 and M62.

Council Tax Band: G