The former home of one of Britain’s most beloved authors which boasts 2.6-acre grounds, a large conservatory and a paddock has gone on sale for £1.2 million.
Chartwell was home to novelist Leslie Thomas, whose hilarious book The Virgin Soldiers about young men undertaking National Service, was adapted into a film.
He lived there with his wife, Diana, and his son until his death in 2014.
One of the property’s five bedrooms, featuring slanted ceilings, and two cupboards that can be used for storage space on either side of the bed. The room looks out onto the scenic countryside through an alcove window. The house is just a few minutes’ drive from the centre of the cathedral city of Salisbury in Wiltshire
The large conservatory, which allows plenty of space for chairs, tables and other decorative furniture. The conservatory also features black tiled flooring and double white-pane doors leading out into the garden. The house, which the Thomases divided for use as a multi-generational property, has nearly 5,000 square foot of space
The former home of one of Britain’s most beloved authors, Leslie Thomas, has gone on sale for £1.2million through estate agents Hamptons International. Chartwell is on the Throgmorton Hall estate which is located on the outskirts of Old Sarum, an English Heritage Site north of the historic medieval cathedral city of Salisbury
The living room, decorated with light brown sofas that blend into the wooden tables, drawers and mantelpiece. Framed pictures of the Thomases can also be seen next to one of the sofas, with light pouring in from the double doors that lead out into the garden area. Thomas lived at the property with his wife, Diana, and his son
Thomas, above, wrote the hilarious book The Virgin Soldiers, published in 1966, about about young men undertaking National Service. The book was adapted into film and launched a stellar writing career. The novelist, who died aged 83, was born in Wales and suffered a tough upbringing, losing his father in the war, his mother to cancer and was then sent off to Barnardos
The house, which the Thomases divided for use as a multi-generational property, has nearly 5,000 square foot of space and is just a few minutes’ drive from the centre of the cathedral city of Salisbury in Wiltshire.
Chartwell has five bedrooms, six bathrooms, three reception rooms, two staircases, a study, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, cloakroom, entrance hall and a large conservatory.
Outside there is a double garage with a first floor office, extensive grounds of over 2.6 acres, and a paddock.
Thomas, who died aged 83, was born in Wales and suffered a tough upbringing, losing his father in the war, his mother to cancer and was then sent off to Barnardos.
The dining area, with floorboards leading out into the adjoining room, blending with the wooden cabinet and table. The room’s vastness and white walls provide a light, airy feel. Two small alcoves are also used for picture frames and ornaments
The kitchen, which leads out into the large conservatory and features the same black tiled floors, contrasting with the white cupboards, walls and drawers. The room also has black marbled surfaces and a wooden table surrounded by four chairs
The modern kitchen shown from a different angle, placing emphasis on its size. Despite the houses’s proximity to Salisbury, the family were moving so they could live in the centre of the city and be able to walk to places instead of using a car
One of the large bedrooms, with matching twin beds and a chaise lounge looking out onto the balcony. White banister stairs can be seen off to the side, leading up to the bedroom, with light pouring in from the two attic windows
A third bedroom with two windows looking out onto the countryside and a large wooden wardrobe, useful for storage space. Thomas, who owned the house, was a familiar face on TV and he was made an OBE in 2004 for his services to literature
However, he never lost his sense of humour or an eye for a story and later trained as a journalist.
Like thousands of other young men in the 1950s he was conscripted into National Service and his experience of this time became his first novel, The Virgin Soldiers, a comic account of the trials and tribulations faced by young servicemen.
The book was published in 1966 and launched a stellar writing career.
He was a familiar and welcome face on TV and he was made an OBE in 2004 for his services to literature.
Despite the house’s proximity to Salisbury she said the family were moving so that they could live in the centre of the city and be able to walk to places instead of using a car.
The property’s floorplan. Chartwell has five bedrooms, six bathrooms, three reception rooms, two staircases, a study, kitchen/breakfast room, utility room, cloakroom, entrance hall and a large conservatory
The outside of the property, Chartwell, shown from a different angle, featuring a large driveway. Outside there is a double garage with a first floor office, extensive grounds of over 2.6 acres, and a paddock
The spacious gardens. Situated between the valleys of the Winterbournes on the River Bourne to the east and the Woodfords on the River Avon to the west, the countryside surrounding Chartwell is known for its beautiful scenery
Rustic views of the countryside taken from a window inside the property, which looks out onto the vast expanse of trees and fields. Old Sarum provides plenty of opportunities for walking with spectacular views of the city
Chartwell is on the Throgmorton Hall estate which is located on the outskirts of Old Sarum, north of historic Salisbury.
Old Sarum is an English Heritage Site and provides plenty of opportunities for walking with spectacular views of the city.
Situated between the valleys of the Winterbournes on the River Bourne to the east and the Woodfords on the River Avon to the west, the countryside surrounding Chartwell is known for its beautiful scenery.
It is being sold through estate agents Hamptons International.