Own a piece of Venice in Colchester

Palladian Venetian architecture is not always associated with the Essex countryside, but New Park Hall, near the Wivenhoe Estate, is not your average house.

This architectural gem is a Palladian style property, a design made famous by the grand houses of Venice and inspired by the Ancient Greeks and Romans.  The property is believed to be one of the first post-war classical houses built in the UK and was designed by celebrated architects Raymond Erith and Quinlan Terry – who have remodelled Number 10 Downing Street and are renowned for their classical style.

Built in the 1960s, New Park Hall was the inspiration of a local farmer who owned much of the Wivenhoe Estate and decided to sell the land and house, to Essex Council and Essex University. As part of the sale he sought to build a new home for him and his wife, so he could continue to live there and watch his herds.  The farmer chose an unlikely, and extraordinarily grand, Venetian Palladian design, inspired by his holidays in Venice.

So unique and unusual is the design of this property, that the plans are exhibited at the Royal Academy, with the images of the property displayed recently at the John Soames museum, for an exhibition on Raymond Erith.

But it is not just a piece of architectural history, the house spans over 7,200 square feet of accommodation, including a library, gun room, sun room, cart lodge, as well as the kitchen, sitting room and dining room  and five bedrooms across the three stories.

The current vendor bought it from the farmer’s widow and has changed very little to the property, apart from the garden. Originally kept bare so the farmer could see his cows in the field, over the last 25 years the current vendor has transformed the outside into beautiful formal landscaped gardens.

For more information on New Park Hall or any other country homes currently on the market, please contact our Country Homes team.