Groton Place - Old Westbury

GROTON PLACE OLD WESTBURY, NEW YORK

A half mile-long drive ascends to one of the highest points on Long Island past broad verdant lawns dotted with specimen trees that provide myriad opportunities for equestrian and recreational outdoor activities. At the apex of the drive, a striking brick-walled courtyard surrounded by manicured hedges welcomes guests to the gracious and inviting Georgian-style manor house.

Open and covered terraces and patios expand the living and entertaining spaces to the resplendent outdoors. They offer views of magnificent rolling lawns and meadows, stands of pine, and old growth trees and extensive gardens designed by the renowned landscape architects Innocenti & Webel and documented in the Smithsonian Museum. The residence is complemented by amenities that include a sparkling swimming pool and pool house beautifully sited amid flowering magnolia trees. The pool house has a columned living room, summer kitchen, and two changing rooms with baths. There is a Har-Tru tennis court, and an enchanting playhouse with a working fireplace and bathroom that overlooks the refreshing turquoise blue pool. Framed at the end of a cedar allée is a stately ten-stall horse stable complex with a hay loft, a tack room with a fireplace, grooms quarters, a squash court, an attached cottage, and expansive work rooms. A smaller stable features four stalls, a tack room, and dog runs that currently house the owner’s menagerie of chickens and exotic birds. There are numerous cottages, garages, and dependencies sprinkled throughout the property.

Extensive and picturesque horse paddocks add to the pastoral beauty of this self-sustaining estate.

Groton Place traces its history back to the early Quaker settlements in Long Island when John Titus (1672-1751) was a landowner. The Titus house, c. 1751, built by John Titus, Jr. still stands near the main entrance of this magnificent 108-acre estate. Small Quaker farms, which included the Titus property, were purchased by the prominent banker Robert Dudley Winthrop (1861-1912) and his descendants to create a substantial land holding with a working farm that produced eggs and milk. Located at the foot of the long drive, a large 1895 Quaker barn, has a soaring loft, estate offices and extensive equipment storage. A distinctive brick dairy barn and other farm outbuildings complete a bucolic scene unchanged for more than a century.

Designed by the architect Henry Renwick Sedgwick for Robert Winthrop in 1932, the beautifully appointed manor house is timeless in design and composition. Characterized by symmetry and proportion, the distinguished whitewashed red-brick façade is set off by a hipped slate roof punctuated with distinctive barrel dormers and brick chimneys. The balanced design incorporates large windows tailored with Essex green painted shutters and a welcoming entry with lovely leaded glass fan and side lights. The center hall sets a gracious and inviting tone. French doors at the far end of the hall provide access to an expansive back terrace with extended views to the east. Dentil molding and crisp white painted chair rail paneling are the impeccable accompaniment to exquisite French Zuber woodblock printed wallpaper depicting a hunting scene.

A gallery hall with repeating arched door openings runs along the front axis of the residence. It leads past an elegant curved floating staircase to the impressively scaled formal living room. Comprised of walls dressed with raised paneling and dentil molding that meets 11-foot high ceilings and a magnificently carved fireplace framed by French doors, the baronial room opens to a low-walled brick terrace with retractable awnings. Graced with roses and climbing wisteria, the terrace overlooks lush lawns where a delightful oval pool features a spinning fountain that dispatches frolicking water droplets into the air. It is the perfect setting for al fresco dining and relaxing. Adjoining the living room, an octagon-shaped anteroom with display cabinetry and an intricately patterned parquet floor leads to a French library with richly furnished raised walnut paneling and bookshelves, all repurposed from a French chateau. These two rooms were added to the residence in 1956 under the design direction of the renowned architect Bradley Delehanty. A tranquil wing unto themselves, they are a superb setting for an elegant home office. Off of the center hall, gleaming mahogany doors open to a library that exudes warmth and comfort. Wrapped with Hunter green painted raised paneling and built-in shelves, the room features dentil molding, a marble fireplace and a floorto-ceiling bay window with doors that open to the large, sunny back terrace.

Setting the stage for wonderful gatherings and entertaining, the formal dining room is embellished with elegant gold-leafed crown molding and door pediments that add refinement to the design. The fireplace has a delicately carved white marble mantle, and another floor-to-ceiling bay window provides for intimate breakfast seating and access to the back terrace and gardens. With a commercial gas range, ovens and refrigeration, the expansive kitchen complex is fully-equipped for gourmet cooking and large-scale entertaining. Glass-front cabinetry and an oversized silver safe provide ample storage, while polished mahogany countertops add warmth to the design. Adjacent is the back entrance and a service wing with five bedrooms, a kitchen, and two baths.

The circular stair hall, with white marble floor and ebony detail and border, beautifully emphasizes the grace of the curved staircase that rises to the second level and opens to the master suite. A luxurious retreat, it includes a sumptuous bedroom with a fireplace, a refined sitting room with a fireplace, a sun room, and two marble baths. There is a large family room, and six additional spacious bedrooms, four with fireplaces. A staircase provides access to the third level which has multiple rooms, a full bath, a cedar closets and capacious storage.

The uniqueness of Groton Place lies in its storied history and the artistry of its past combined with the preservation and enjoyment of its glorious Georgian manor residence and pastoral 108-acre surround. It sits adjacent to the Glen Oaks Country Club, the State University of New York at Old Westbury, and the Old Westbury Equestrian Center. It has the benefit of direct access to over 100 miles of equestrian trails. The property offers flexibility of ownership in that it can be subdivided into eight prominent lots or transformed into a magical compound. Groton Place is a one of the very few remaining original magnificent Gold Coast properties, and the epitome of a classic country estate.

MLS# 3229432 $22,000,000

Meredyth Hull Smith Associate Real Estate Broker Senior Global Real Estate Advisor 212.606.7683, c.917.696.8411 meredyth.smith@sothebyshomes.com

Photography by Sands Media House.

A Masterpiece Collection Listing.

Christina Porter Associate Real Estate Broker Gold Circle of Excellence 516.759.4800, c.516.835.5512 christinaporter@danielgale.com Watch Property Video

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Lois Kirschenbaum Associate Real Estate Broker Gold Circle of Excellence 516.626.7600, c.516.526.7425 loiskirschenbaum@danielgale.com danielgale.com This material is based upon information that we consider reliable, but because it has been supplied by third parties, we cannot represent that it is accurate or complete, and it should not be relied upon as such. This offering is subject to errors, omissions, changes, including price, or withdrawal without notice. ©MMVIII Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a licensed trademark to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. SIR1