131 Chatsworth Road
Chesterfield
Derbyshire
S40 2AP
Welcome to Handley House – A Rare Countryside Residence with Heritage, Heart and Unrivalled Views.
Set in the peaceful hamlet of Handley, just outside the highly sought-after village of Ashover and within a stone’s throw of the stunning Ogston Reservoir, Handley House offers a rare opportunity to purchase a home of real character and soul — surrounded by some of Derbyshire’s most beautiful and unspoilt countryside.
This remarkable home combines timeless period charm with a setting that feels as if it’s been lifted from a painting — rolling fields, distant hills and wide skies at every turn. For those seeking something truly special, Handley House isn’t just a property — it’s a lifestyle waiting to be embraced.
Dating back to 1679, this truly imposing, Grade II Listed property offers character and tradition throughout with tasteful interiors and spacious accommodation located in a pleasant elevated position with extensive rural views. The living accommodation spreads across three floors, perfectly suited to family living, and briefly comprising a modern large dining kitchen, utility and cloakroom, sitting, dining and living rooms, each boasting traditional features and charm. The first and second floors offer six double bedrooms, two complemented by ensuites, a sizeable family bathroom and a study/seventh bedroom.
Externally, the property suits those seeking the ‘country lifestyle’ with impressive gardens, vegetable plots, woodland area/orchard and adjoining paddock, measuring approximately 1.40 acres, allowing for the horticultural and equestrian purchasers to enjoy the amenity aspects of life on offer. A private driveway gives access to a substantial garage and further outbuildings including a summerhouse within the gardens.
Hidden away in the sleepy hamlet of Handley, the property enjoys a truly private, rural setting yet remains within easy reach of local villages, market towns and transport links.
Moments from the doorstep you’ll find Ogston Reservoir — a haven for birdwatchers, walkers and water sports lovers alike. Beyond that, the area is a patchwork of scenic trails, quiet country lanes and hidden viewpoints — all part of the natural playground that makes this part of Derbyshire so special.
The nearby village of Ashover, one of Derbyshire’s most sought-after addresses, offers a thriving local community, popular pubs, a village shop, and an outstanding primary school. Chesterfield, Matlock and the gateway to the Peak District National Park are all easily accessible, making Handley House perfectly placed for both peaceful living and everyday convenience.
The house sits within generous and beautifully maintained grounds — a private haven of gardens, lawns and seating areas that make the most of the surrounding views. Mature planting and dry stone walls create a natural boundary, while the outlook beyond stretches endlessly over open countryside, giving an unmatched sense of space and privacy.
Whether you’re entertaining on the terrace, watching deer graze in the fields beyond, or simply sitting in stillness as the sun rises or sets over the hills, this home invites you to slow down and take it all in.
At Handley House, the lifestyle on offer is just as compelling as the bricks and mortar. This is a home for walkers, gardeners, readers, thinkers and makers — for those who appreciate space, quiet, fresh air and the joy of the changing seasons.
From summer picnics by the reservoir to winter evenings by the fire, from working in the garden to welcoming family and friends for weekend escapes — life here is rich, grounded and deeply connected to nature.
Rarely do homes of this calibre come to market — particularly in such a discreet, premium location. Handley House represents a true countryside escape, offering heritage, space, and lifestyle in equal measure.
For buyers seeking a home with soul, with authentic charm and natural beauty, this is one not to be missed.
Handley House presents a characterful, stone-built property with traditional features throughout offering charm and good-sized accommodation for family living, spread across three floors.
Entering from the rear of the property, a spacious cloakroom greets with external doors to each end offering access into the garden. Off the cloakroom a useful utility space offers laundry and storage areas with fitted units, and a separate ground floor w/c. Through to the kitchen with ample dining and entertaining space, exposed timber beams and masonry, bespoke fitted units recently installed and an Aga. From the kitchen, the living room offers a pleasant space with an imposing fireplace housing a gas fire, with parquet flooring, and much exposed timber and masonry complete with a cheese press and smoking oven features. Windows encased with stone mullioned surrounds offer delightful scenic views and much natural light. The dining room again provides rustic features with a statement fireplace, flagged flooring and exposed beams continued, passing through to the sitting room offering a spacious and comfortable feel. With parquet flooring, built-in storage cupboard and dual aspect windows, the sitting room hosts an impressive fireplace decorated with Listed tiles.
Leading up from the stairs, the first floor offers a good-sized master bedroom complemented by an ensuite, with dual aspect windows offering far-reaching views across the rolling countryside. Two further double bedrooms are located upon the first floor, one with a feature fireplace and a recently refurbished family bathroom locates further down the landing, hosting a basin, bath, shower, and separate w/c. A study is located on the first floor, with a stone fireplace under Listed status, offering a further bedroom if required.
The second floor gives entrance to three further double bedrooms, with exposed timber beams continuing the character throughout the house, with one bedroom benefiting from an ensuite.
The ground floor kitchen gives access to a functional cellar, split into two spaces with traditional thrawls around the perimeter and a stone flagged floor, currently utilised as a pantry and storage area.
Handley House benefits from spacious, private gardens to the rear extending to approximately 1.40 acres (0.57 hectares), with a paddock suitable for grazing of small livestock. The immaculate gardens offer mature shrubbery, a selection of mature trees and impressive plants, vegetable plots, a garden pond, and lawned areas, giving a true sense of ‘country living’ and seclusion. A summerhouse nestles within the garden, with a greenhouse offering further space for those who are ‘green fingered’, whilst an orchard comprising fruit trees leads to the paddock, and a timber stable block housing two loose boxes.
A secluded patio area lies to the rear of the house, perfect for outdoor dining and entertaining, overlooking the lawned gardens, with a path leading to the front of the house where further well stocked flower beds are fringed by a traditional walled border.
A gravelled driveway offers ample private parking for multiple vehicles, with access to a stone-built outhouse and a garage adjoining the house offering further good-sized storage.
Dales & Peaks is marketing this Property with the benefit of ForwardMove. Dales & Peaks has introduced ForwardMove to help speed up the sales process, minimise sale fall-throughs and give more certainty to both the Seller and the Buyer.
Purchasers will benefit from the Buyer Information Pack (BIP), which we have created with our legal partners, to give buyers more information before they agree to purchase.
The pack includes:
Property information form (TA6)
Fixtures and contents form (TA10)
Official Copy of the Register (OC1)
Title Plan (OC2)
Local Search*
Water and Drainage Search*
Coal and Mining Search*
Homescreen / Environmental Search*
(Dales & Peaks has ordered the local, drainage, coal and homescreen / environmental searches; we will add these to the BIP as they become available)
ForwardMove allows the sale process to be completed significantly quicker than a ‘normal sale’. This is because the legal work, usually done in the first four to eight weeks after the sale is agreed, has already been completed. The searches, which can take up to five weeks, are ordered on the day the listing goes live and are transferable to the successful Buyer as part of their legal due diligence.
Additionally, and on behalf of the Seller, Dales & Peaks requests that the successful Buyer enters into a Reservation Agreement and pays the Reservation Agreement Fee of £595 (including VAT). This includes payment for the Buyer Information Pack and all the searches (which a buyer typically purchases separately after the sale is agreed).
Upon receipt of the signed Reservation Agreement, payment of the Reservation Agreement Fee, completion of ID and AML checks and the issuing of the Memorandum of Sale, the Seller will agree to take the Property off the market and market it as Sold Subject To Contract (SSTC).
During the Reservation Agreement period, the Seller will reject all offers and not enter into another agreement with any other buyer. The reservation period is agreed upon at the time of sale but is usually between 60 and 120 days.
The Reservation Fee is non-refundable except where the Seller withdraws from the sale. A copy of the Reservation Agreement is available on request, and Dales & Peaks advises potential buyers to seek legal advice before entering into the Reservation Agreement.
If you have any questions about the process or want to know how selling or buying with Dales & Peaks ForwardMove could benefit you, please speak to a member of the Dales & Peaks team.
Although these particulars are thought to be materially correct their accuracy cannot be guaranteed and they do not form part of any contract.
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