Country Life Early Property Pages

EVERY WEEK

OCTOBER 6, 2021

ISSUE: 40

PRINTED IN THE UK

£4.50

LONDON LIFE

Lord of the dance: Poussin and the ballet

OCTOBER 6, 2021 CLI325.cover.indd 1

Forever England: return of the rural poet Keepers of the flame: the Georgian awards London’s best neighbourhood restaurants 30/09/2021 11:22

ONE FAMILY SPECIALISING IN FINE FURNITURE SINCE 1866

From a collection of exquisitely hand-crafted furniture inspired by the interior of Althorp House, built up over 500 years and 20 generations of the Spencer family for their home.

An exceptionally hand carved mahogany and gilt sofa after an original sofa made for the Palm Room at Spencer House - one of the grandest London mansions of the 18th century, built for the 1st Earl Spencer to overlook Green Park.

The design is an early example of the emerging neo-classical style and is decorated with motifs taken from ancient Roman sources, although the overall shape is still in an earlier rococo style. The original sofa is now displayed in the National Museum of Scotland.

In Ian Sanderson Zarina Seafoam fabric - The most elaborate of multi-coloured paisleys woven on Jacquard looms with a highly intricate design and luxurious texture.

Width: 94" (239cm) | Depth: 38" (98cm) | Height: 42" (107cm)

£9,210 Pair available

NATIONWIDE HOME APPROVAL SERVICE | BESPOKE COMMISSIONS UNDERTAKEN OVER 1,000 ITEMS OF EXCLUSIVE CLASSICAL FURNISHINGS IN STOCK

CALL 01491 641115 | WWW.BRIGHTSOFNETTLEBED.CO.UK nettlebed . oxfordshire . rg9 5dd (open tues - sat)

king's rd . london . sw6 2dx (open mon-fri)

The Computer Generated Images shown are for illustrative purposes only and not to be replied upon.

1 2

3

GERRARDS CROSS, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

A

n existing substantial detached house with extensive equestrian facilities and planning permission to build a 13,000 sq ft contemporary new home. Situated in a riverside and rural idyll in beautiful countryside, yet in a prime location close to major communications and Central London.

5 B E D R O O M S | 6 B AT H R O O M S | 3 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | O U T D O O R P O O L | S P A P O O L L A R G E T E R R A C E | L A N D S C A P E D G A R D E N S & G R O U N D S | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 7 A C R E S | E P C D G E R R A R D S C RO S S 0. 5 M I L E S ( L O N D O N M A RY L E B O N E F RO M 2 0 M I N U T E S ) | C H A L FO N T ST P E T E R 1 . 2 M I L E S

Guide price available upon request Knight Frank London & Beaconsfield edward.welton@knightfrank.com 020 4502 7216 oliver.beales@knightfrank.com 01494 853619 Ref: BCN150151

knightfrank.co.uk

QUARRENDON, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Asking Price: £1,750,000 5 Bedrooms

4 Reception Rooms

3 Bathrooms

D EPC

A five bedroom high specification detached barn conversion with a double garage and extensive parking on a plot of approximately 1.3 acres with open countryside views.

The property is accessed via a long, private gated driveway ending in a gravel parking area with space for up to 20 cars in addition to the garages. The main barn has over 3,500 sq. ft. of versatile accommodation and includes a mezzanine feature landing. The gardens and grounds are laid to lawn and feature a variety of specimen trees and fruit trees. There is also 361 sq. ft. of outbuildings including a shed and a greenhouse.

Aylesbury Office | Graham Robson | 01296 336227 London Office | Bob Bickersteth | 0207 839 0888

14 offices covering 8 counties and Central London

|

michaelgraham.co.uk

|

michaelgraham_living

1 2

3 LLANDEILO, CARMARTHENSHIRE

A

traditional farmhouse standing in the middle of its own land with views over the River Towy and Dinefwr Castle beyond. The property is in good order and has a range of traditional buildings to the rear. Available as a whole or in four lots.

3 B E D R O O M S | 2 B AT H R O O M S | 2 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S T R A D I T I O N A L B U I L D I N G S | M O D E R N A G R I C U LT U R A L B U I L D I N G | A P P R O X I M AT L E Y 1 0 1 . 5 A C R E S | E P C E L L A N D E I L O 2 M I L E S | C A R M A R T H E N 1 4 M I L E S | S WA N S E A 2 4 M I L E S

Guide price Lot 1 £750,000 Knight Frank London rupert.sweeting@knightfrank.com 020 7861 1078 jamie.robson@knightfrank.com 020 7861 1549 Owen & Owen lloyd.james@owenandowen.co.uk 01646 621500 Ref: CHO012137408

knightfrank.co.uk

Exceptionally Located Manor House Tunbridge Wells, Kent Tunbridge Wells Station: 3.9 miles (London Bridge from 44 minutes) Wonderful Grade II listed Georgian/Regency country house, fully updated for modern day living and presented to an exceptional standard. 4 reception rooms, 2 bedroom principal wing with dressing rooms, study and bathroom, 4 further bedrooms, 3 further bathrooms, games room, gym, cellar, tennis court, stabling, self-contained 3 bedroom duplex with a private entrance, pavilion, outbuildings, garage block, parkland gardens and grounds, fields, woodland and lake.

About 96 acres | Guide £10 million

Robert Jacobs Savills Tunbridge Wells 01892 884 550 rjacobs@savills.com

Will Peppitt Savills London Country Department 020 3930 2500 wpeppitt@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Kent, Bishopsbourne

An important house surrounded by splendid parkland and sitting within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Canterbury: 6.3 miles (London St Pancras 55 mins), Ashford International: 19.4 miles, Central London: 67.3 miles, Gatwick: 72.2 miles Grade II* listed country house with 12 bedrooms and 6 reception rooms including an imposing ballroom Swimming pool | Squash court | Tennis court | Attractive gardens and grounds | Extensive lawns Cricket pitch | Parkland and woodland About 129.8 acres

Over 50 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.

Guide Price £3,500,000

Liza Howden

Edward Church

National Estates & Farm Agency 020 7591 2214

Canterbury Office 01227 473 720

liza.howden@struttandparker.com

edward.church@struttandparker.com

/struttandparker

@struttandparker

struttandparker.com

Immaculately Restored Family House Monk Sherborne, Hampshire Heathrow Airport: 38 miles, Central London: 55 miles Situated within its own private park, Queens House has been immaculately restored to create a family house of an outstanding standard. 4 reception rooms, 7 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, indoor swimming pool, spa and gym, tennis court and pavilion, separate 2 bedroom coach house, 1 bedroom stable flat, mature gardens, paddock, woodland and pond.

EPC = D About 13.23 acres | Price on application

Lindsay Cuthill Savills London Country Department 020 3627 7607 lcuthill@savills.com

Theo James-Wright Savills London Country Department 020 4502 3069 theo.jameswright @savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Exceptional Home on Wentworth Virginia Water, Surrey Virginia Water: 0.4 miles, Ascot: 5 miles, Central London: 25.2 miles Exceptional family home with indoor pool, guest house and tennis court. 5 reception rooms, 7 bedrooms (6 en suite), indoor swimming pool, sauna, gymnasium, detached 2 bedroom annexe, triple garage with games room above, tennis court and manicured lawned gardens. EPCs = C + D About 2.31 acres | Guide £9.95 million Charlie Fisher Savills Sunningdale 07870 999586 cfisher@savills.com

Trevor Kearney Savills London Country Department 07807 999872 tkearney@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Stunning Classic Mansion St George’s Hill, Surrey Weybridge: 2.3 miles, Cobham: 4.4 miles One of the most elegant and important residences on St George’s Hill. 5 reception rooms, 6 en suite bedrooms, bar, media room, gym, studio, outdoor swimming pool, tennis court, annexe, triple garage and landscaped gardens. EPC = C About 2.42 acres | Guide £7.95 million Simon Ashwell Savills Weybridge 01932 809 397 sashwell@savills.com

Trevor Kearney Savills London Country Department 020 3813 7400 tkearney@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Grade II Listed Mill House Little Missenden, Buckinghamshire Amersham: 3 miles, Great Missenden: 3 miles A stunning, seven bedroom Grade II listed 17th Century Mill House in an idyllic setting on the River Misbourne. 5 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, tennis court, secondary accommodation, outbuildings, triple garage and about 3 acres of land.

About 3 acres | Guide £3.75 million Nick Pounce Savills Amersham 01494 855 748 npounce@savills.com

Hugh Maconochie Savills London Country Department 020 3918 2479 hmaconochie@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Magnificent Manor House Kingswood, Surrey Kingswood Station: 1.2 miles, Central London: 19 miles One of the area’s most significant houses, originally an oak-framed Hall House thought to be built in the late 14th century. 7 reception rooms, 7 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, snooker room, gym, indoor swimming pool, tennis court, triple and double garaging, landscaped gardens.

About 5 acres | Guide £3.75 million Jamie Williams Savills Reigate 01737 886 574 jgwilliams @savills.com

Phillippa Dalby-Welsh Savills London Country Department 020 3930 1564 pdwelsh@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Beautiful Character Home Near Heathfield, East Sussex Stonegate Station: 12 miles, Tunbridge Wells: 19 miles Delightful Grade II listed farmhouse, stylishly presented and with an annexe. 2 reception rooms, 2 bedrooms, bathroom, garden room, stable, partially finished annexe building, triple bay garage, established garden and fields.

About 7.23 acres | Guide £895,000 Becky Card Savills Tunbridge Wells 01892 884 829 bcard@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Views Across the Corvedale Near Much Wenlock, Shropshire Bridgnorth: 13 miles, Shrewsbury: 21 miles A beautiful country house commanding enviable and unrivalled views. Entrance hall, drawing room, dining room, kitchen, 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, cellar, stables, tennis court, 2 self-contained cottages and triple garage. EPC = F About 7.55 acres | Guide £2 million Tony Morris-Eyton Savills Telford 01952 897 906 tmeyton@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Historic Victorian Gothic Mansion Burnham, Buckinghamshire Beaconsfield: 7 miles, Heathrow (J3): 13 miles A portion of a stunning Grade II listed mansion arranged over 4 floors with beautiful gardens.

2 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, gym/playroom, wine cellar, garage, mature gardens and grounds.

Guide £1.195 million Ben Dommett Savills Beaconsfield 01494 854 731 bdommett@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Charming Former Mill House Harefield, Middlesex Harefield: 0.8 miles The property is sited at the end of a tree-lined road, nestled between the Grand Union Canal and the River Colne and adjacent to a boating lake, enjoying fine views over each. 7 bedrooms, 5 bedrooms, tennis court, river frontage, café and B&B usage. EPC = E About 3 acres | Guide £2.2 million Douglas Sleaper Savills Northwood 01923 883 624 dsleaper@savills.com

Gibbs Gillespie Ruislip 01895 622 220

savills

savills.co.uk

Outstanding Victorian Home Piercing Hill, Essex Theydon Bois Underground Station: 0.7 miles Beautifully presented family home situated in a premier location offering sumptuous accommodation. 5 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms (2 en suite), further bathroom, office, orangery, double garage, carriage driveway, landscaped garden. EPC = C Guide £3.2 million David Bloomfield Savills Loughton 020 4502 9049 dbloomfield@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Village Home With Views Cookham Dean, Berkshire Cookham Station: 1.1 miles, Marlow High Street: 2.2 miles A family home positioned on a generous private plot with lovely far-reaching views.

3 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms, balcony and double garage. EPC = C Guide £2.65 million

Richard Maby Savills Marlow 01628 878 942 rmaby@savills.com

Alex Reid Savills Marlow 01628 878 571 alex.reid@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Unique & Enchanting Property Chawton, Hampshire Alton Town & Train Station: 3 miles, London: 53 miles Exceptional property near Jane Austen’s former home, overlooking the picturesque grounds of Chawton House and set around an enchanting courtyard. 4 reception rooms, family kitchen, 6 bedrooms (3 en suite), further bathroom, courtyard with pool, gardens and 2 driveways. EPC = D About 0.5 acres | Guide £1.85 million Clive Moon Savills Farnham 01252 751 664 cmoon@savills.com

Rory McKenzie Savills Farnham 01252 751 873 rmckenzie@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Your next move could be the most important of your life.

We have a global, as well as local, network of potential buyers.

After all, why limit your chances?

Don’t rely on luck, rely on

1 2

3

4 5 GUILDFORD, SURREY

G

uildford's finest private estate with outstanding southerly views. Conveniently situated within two miles from the town centre the properties are available as three separate lots or as a whole.

S O U T H WAY S : A P P R O X 8 . 5 A C R E S | E P C C | £ 1 2 , 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 M E R RY D OW N : A P P R OX 1 AC R E | E P C B | £ 4 , 5 0 0,0 0 0 R O W L E Y C O T TA G E : A P P R O X 5 . 5 A C R E S | E P C C | £ 6 , 5 0 0 , 0 0 0

3

O N T H E I N ST RU C T I O N S O F M D W H AR DY & N C W B E ST W I C K O F S A N D E R S O N W E AT H E R A L L L L P A S F I X E D C H A R G E R E C E I V E R S

Knight Frank London & Guidford james.crawford@knightfrank.com 020 3930 2523 james.ackerley@knightfrank.com 01483 355875 House Partnership lberman@housepartnership.co.uk 01483 266700

knightfrank.co.uk

1 2

3

4 5 CHELTENHAM, GLOUCESTERSHIRE

A

unique Grade II listed Cotswold Stone manor house with good access to Cheltenham. The property is ideally located with far-reaching views across the Dowdeswell Valley to the rolling Malvern Hills beyond.

9 B E D R O O M S | 5 B AT H R O O M S | 7 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | C I N E M A R O O M I N D O O R S W I M M I N G P O O L | 3 B E D R O O M C O T TA G E | G A R A G I N G F O R 8 C A R S W I N E C E L L A R | S T O R A G E S PA C E | T E N N I S C O U R T

3

OU TD O OR SWIMMING P O OL | SQUASH COURT | SHO OT A P P R O X I M AT E LY 1 4 0 A C R E S | C H E LT E N H A M 4 M I L E S | C I R E N C E S T E R 1 4 M I L E S

Guide price available upon request Knight Frank London clive.hopkins@knightfrank.com 020 4502 8211 peter.edwards@knightfrank.com 020 4502 8544

knightfrank.co.uk

In the South East, there's no better time to sell It's been a busy few months in the South East region; new prospective buyers are up 64% from June to August compared to the five-year average*. With both the coast and the capital at your fingertips, it's easy to see why this region's popularity is growing, and it shows no sign of waning. If you're considering putting your home on the market, now could be the perfect time.

Here is a selection of available properties.

Sevenoaks, Kent A beautifully presented Methodist chapel conversion just outside Sevenoaks.

4 B E D R O O M S | 2 B AT H R O O M S | R E C E P T I O N R O O M | G R A D E I I L I S T E D

Guide price £1,250,000

matthew.hodder-williams@knightfrank.com 01732 807851

Cliddesden, Hampshire An attractive Grade II listed period house with a self-contained studio.

5 B E D R O O M S | 2 B AT H R O O M S | 3 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 0 . 6 7 A C R E S

Guide price £1,300,000

shaun.hobbs@knightfrank.com 01256 806421

Owslebury, Hampshire Period house and coach house with beautiful countryside views.

5 B E D R O O M S | 3 B AT H R O O M S | 4 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 3 . 6 9 A C R E S | E P C F

Guide price £1,750,000

george.clarendon@knightfrank.com 01962 656115 Source: Knight Frank data

Wadhurst, East Sussex A wonderful family house forming the east Wing of an impressive Edwardian country house with far-reaching views.

4 B E D R O O M S | 3 B AT H R O O M S | 2 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 3 A C R E S ( C O M M U N A L ) | E P C E

Guide price £1,075,000

holly.sibley@knightfrank.com 01892 888494

Wonersh, Surrey A fine family house set in one of the best locations in Wonersh Park.

6 B E D R O O M S | 4 B AT H R O O M S | 4 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | E P C D

Guide price £2,000,000

tim.harriss@knightfrank.com 01483 355875

Hindhead, Surrey An outstanding Victorian family home in a private yet convenient location.

5 B E D R O O M S | 3 B AT H R O O M S | 5 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 2 . 6 A C R E S | E P C C

Guide price £2,250,000

aelish.paterson@knightfrank.com 01428 786268

If you’re thinking of selling your home, or would simply like some advice on the market, get in touch today. We’d love to help you.

Your partners in property for 125 years

knightfrank.co.uk

BLEDLOW, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE £5750 PCM

EAST STRATTON, HAMPSHIRE GUIDE PRICE £1,200,000 FREEHOLD

A Grade II* listed farm house with a charming country kitchen, formal reception rooms, nine bedrooms, conservatory with mature vine and attractive gardens, close to road & rail links to London. EPC E

A pretty recently refurbished character property in a popular village with views from the upper floor over the surrounding countryside, detached office, pole barn and 0.36 attractive gardens.

Hamptons Oxford Lettings 01865 986320

Hamptons Winchester 01962 656339

GUIDE PRICE £1,175,000 FREEHOLD

TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT

GREAT MISSENDEN, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE GUIDE PRICE £1,850,000 FREEHOLD

A charming period cottage with planning permission to extend, right in the centre of the ‘village’ area of the town with four bedrooms, two receptions, double garage and courtyard garden. EPC D

An imposing 1920’s residence on 0.47 acres with excellent access to amenities and schools plus two studios to work from home and an open air pool, farreaching views and a sense of open space. EPC D

Hamptons Tunbridge Wells 01892 882984

Hamptons Great Missenden 01494 857812 HAMPTONS.CO.UK

FITZJOHNS AVENUE, NW3 GUIDE PRICE £1,850,000 LEASEHOLD

ROYAL BUSHY PARK, TEDDINGTON £7950 PCM

An immaculate two bedroom apartment with a beautiful 19’ reception hall, sun filled reception room and a kitchen dining room with French doors out to a landscaped west facing garden. EPC D.

An exceptional five bedroom Grade II listed house in the heart of Royal Bushy Park. Sympathetically renovated set in wonderful landscaped gardens, a number of outbuildings and secure parking.

Hamptons Hampstead 020 3393 9642

Hamptons Teddington Lettings 020 3468 9658

ELFINDALE ROAD, SE24 OFFERS IN EXCESS OF £1,750,000 FREEHOLD

FRIARS STILE ROAD, TW10 £9250 PCM

A delightful and beautifully presented six bedroom house in the ever popular North Dulwich Triangle that has been extended to create a fabulous kitchen/breakfast room to the rear. EPC D

A family home set over five floors situated in the heart of Richmond Hill village offers five bedrooms, three bathrooms, large open plan kitchen/dining room, roof terrace and garden. EPC D

Hamptons Dulwich 020 3918 3428

Hamptons Richmond Lettings 020 3918 2923 HAMPTONS.CO.UK

Specialists in the marketing of distinctive property

Hope Springs House M AT TE R DALE | LAKE D ISTR ICT

A beautifully converted former school with lodge and land in a truly picturesque location Stunning Conversion | Former School | Superb Craftsmanship | Glorious Lakeland Setting Separate Lodge | Lifestyle & Business Opportunity | Magnificent Views WITH LAND | EPC RATING D | PRICE ON APPLICATION 4/5

4

3

AMBLESIDE | 015394 68400 | cumbria@finestgroup.co.uk

North East T 01434 622234 E corbridge@finestgroup.co.uk

Cumbria & the Lakes T 015394 68400 E cumbria@finestgroup.co.uk

Yorkshire T 01423 368993 E yorkshire@finestgroup.co.uk

Cheshire T: 01625 783600 E: cheshire@finestgroup.co.uk

Mossknowe House N E AR G R E TNA G R E E N | D UM F R IE S & G ALLOWAY

A magnificent Georgian mansion in a picturesque setting with equestrian facilities and land Impressive Country Estate | Category A Listed Building | Beautiful Period Features Spectacular Gardens & Grounds | Sweeping Countryside Views Equestrian Facilities | Fishing Rights on Kirtle Water 40.89 ACRES | EPC EXEMPT | GUIDE PRICE £2,000,000 9

8

5

CORBRIDGE | 01434 622234 | corbridge@finestgroup.co.uk

finestproperties.co.uk

Property is now on Instagram

Follow us @countrylifeproperty

THIS ESTATE lies within Land Title number CU273375, comprising 340.24 acres, and is an area of mostly flat terrain containing one Scheduled Monument, four Public Rights of Way, three Grade II Listed Buildings and several Ancient Woodlands.

With layer after layer of insights at your fingertips, Addland makes it easy and fast to find, research, buy or sell land.

Think land. Think addland.com

Property market

Penny Churchill

Northern revivals Three substantial homes in the North of England reflect the wealth and taste of their former owners

Above and right: Kirkby Hall in North Yorkshire stands in 20 acres of gardens and grounds and boasts modernised and restored interiors throughout. £3.75m

T

HE launch of three recently restored, historic country houses in the North of England highlights the wealth and power of the landowners that built them.

Although shorn of the grand estates of which they were once the beating heart, all three retain their original garden settings surrounded by glorious unspoilt countryside.

For sale through Knight Frank’s country department (020–7861 1114) and Blenkin & Co in York (01904 671672) at a guide price of £3.75 million, Georgian, Grade II*-listed Kirkby Hall stands in 20 acres of spectacular 124

CLI325.prop_market.indd 124

30/09/2021 16:19

Find the best properties at countrylife.co.uk

Grade I-listed Milbourne Hall in Northumberland is a ‘hidden gem’ with 24 acres. £3.95m

the late 1760s, purchased the next-door Fountains Abbey estate, where he extended the formal gardens laid down by his father to create England’s most important 18thcentury water garden, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site owned by the National Trust.

His leading role in the South Sea Bubble led to his disbarment from public office gardens, paddocks and woodland, a mile to the north of Kirkby Fleetham village, four miles from Bedale and 10 miles from the road and rail hub of Northallerton, in the picturesque Hambleton district of north Yorkshire.

John Aislabie, MP for Ripon and Chancellor of the Exchequer until his leading role in the South Sea Bubble scandal led to his disbarment from public office for life, was still a wealthy man when, in 1721, he retired to his Studley Royal estate near Ripon, where he continued to wield considerable local influence. At about the same time, he bought the Kirkby Fleetham estate for his son, William, who was to serve as MP for Ripon for the next 60 years.

Following his father’s death in 1742, William inherited the Studley Royal estate and, in

At Kirkby Hall, he laid out the gardens and grounds that form a picturesque setting for the house that he built for his daughter, Ann Sophie, in the mid 1700s. The Kirkby Hall estate later passed via William’s grand-daughter to the Waller family, who sold it to Edward Courage of the Courage brewing family in 1889. Thereafter, the estate was gradually dispersed and, in 1979, planning consent was granted for change of use of Kirkby Hall from a private dwelling to a country-house hotel, reverting to residential use following its acquisition by its present owner, Karen Stephenson, in 2003.

During her tenure, Mrs Stephenson has restored, modernised and adapted the imposing main house, which now offers more than 16,200sq ft of living space on three floors, including a show-stopping reception hall

with a grand cantilevered staircase and double doors leading to a 46ft-long drawing room that overlooks the beautifully kept gardens and lake. The dining room and sitting room are south facing, elegantly proportioned and ideal for formal entertaining.

The library is a quiet refuge from the spacious living kitchen, which works well as a day-to-day hub, and the vast lower ground floor offers flexible space as well as extensive storage. The first floor houses the master and four en-suite bedrooms, with a further four bedrooms and two bathrooms on the second floor. The east wing is arranged as three separate, self-contained units—two apartments and a cottage—all currently let, with vacant possession available on completion. A stone coach house, built in a neoClassical 18th-century style, offers secure garaging for four luxury cars and stabling for four horses.

Across the county border in Northumberland, Jason Roberts of Strutt & Parker’s Morpeth office (01670 516123) quotes a guide price of £3.95m for magnificent, Grade I-listed Milbourne Hall, ‘a hidden gem’ set in 24 acres of wooded gardens and grounds near the peaceful small hamlet of Milbourne, four miles from Ponteland, 12 miles from Morpeth and just under 12 miles from Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Built between 1807 and 1810 of the local Belsay stone under a Lakeland slate roof, Milbourne Hall is a striking country house 125

CLI325.prop_market.indd 125

30/09/2021 16:19

Property market

Charming Arts-and-Crafts Wicksted Hall in Cheshire has recently seen a major renovation of the house and grounds. £3.85m

with an attached stable court and west gate tower linked to the rectangular main block.

It was designed by the Scottish architect John Paterson, who trained with Robert Adam, for Ralph Bates, a member of a longestablished Northumbrian landowning family, who was High Sheriff of the county in 1812 and later Deputy Lieutenant. In 1891, Georgiana Elliott (neé Bates) left the estate to her grandson, Ralph Mortimer, who was High Sheriff in 1916 and died at Milbourne Hall in May, 1955.

Built in a style reminiscent of Adam, the symmetrical layout of oval rooms, oval staircase hall and octagonal library is of notable interest and was described by Pevsner as ‘ingeniously worked out so that nearly every room inside is oval’. Unusually, the house is arranged around an octagonal courtyard and, in addition to its own guest apartment (presently in mid refurbishment), has secondary accommodation in the shape of three self-contained carriage houses in the north, south and west wings, which provide perfect bolt-holes for visiting guests or offer the option to generate a substantial income stream.

The present owners, who bought Milbourne Hall in need of refurbishment in 2007, have done most of the heavy lifting in terms of structural repairs, including of electrical and heating systems. A long, sweeping, treelined drive leads to a large parking area and a stone portico that sets the scene from the moment you cross the threshold. Three opulent reception rooms radiate from the central rotunda, which also opens onto the kitchen with its central island and breakfast bar. Bedrooms in the main house include a master suite, three further bedrooms and the four-bedroom guest apartment.

Outside, the gardens and grounds are a mix of formal lawns, areas of mature trees and deep borders, a secluded walled garden with traditional planting and sections left to natural growth, and a freshwater flight pond that attracts wildfowl at dusk. The octagonal courtyard with its decorative paving and original cobblestones, is accessed through a tall water-tower entrance that leads to the stables, garaging, stores and apartments.

Across the Pennines in Cheshire, Charlie Kannreuther of Savills in Chester (01244

323232) quotes a guide price of £3.85m for unlisted Wicksted Hall, near Whitchurch, a renowned dairy-farming area of south Cheshire close to the county border with Shropshire. Despite a lack of historical background, it appears that the charming Artsand-Crafts-style house was built in the early 1900s by Lt Herbert Ethelston of the Grenadier Guards, who was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, France, on March 13, 1915.

The present owners of Wicksted Hall, who bought the house some 20 years ago, have carried out a major renovation of the house and grounds in the idyllic rural location, surrounded by lush farmland and historic landed estates. The impressive main house, which comes with a gate house and two cottages, offers 13,734sq ft of opulent family accommodation on three floors, including a reception hall, three principal reception rooms, an orangery, a library, a wine cellar and a luxurious swimming-pool complex on the ground floor; a sumptuous master suite, five further bedrooms, three bathrooms, a hobbies room and a games room on the first floor and two more bedrooms, a gym and an office on the second floor.

126

CLI325.prop_market.indd 126

30/09/2021 16:19

Hamptons.co.uk/experts

Am I... ‘Happy I’ve just moved in round the corner’?

Am I... ‘Pleased I’m more than a voice on the phone’?

Am I... ‘Just glad I can see him laughing’?

Properties of the week

Annunciata Elwes

Who’s been in my bed?

Covetable properties that were home to the great and the good Suffolk, £480,000 The charming, mostly medieval village of Lavenham is well known as the filming location for Harry Potter’s birthplace Godric’s Hollow and, although this is not the house visited by Voldemort that fateful night, it has plenty of magic, being the only barn conversion in the village and beside a pretty stream.

Characterful, 17th-century and Grade II-listed, 1, Byes Barn has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a dual aspect sitting room with a handsome fireplace. Ipswich is about 19 miles to the east. Carter Jonas (01787 844290)

Wiltshire, £6.75 million Compton Bassett House is where Robbie Williams claims he ‘truly fell in love’ with his wife, Ayda. They now have four children and, although ‘the gardens and trees have enchanted us with their magic and, on rainy days (of which there are many in England), we have played and splashed around the indoor pool,’ says the singer, they feel it’s time to move on. On the edge of the hamlet of Compton Bassett, which lies between Calne and Marlborough in the foothills of the North Wessex Downs, the seven-bedroom property (five are en suite), dates to the 1720s, when it was a carriage and stable block for now-demolished Compton Bassett House. It was beautifully converted by celebrated architect Sir Norman Foster and, later, extensively renovated by Michael Phillips of Hotel du Vin fame.

Four large reception spaces include a billiards room; the pool is 73ft long and adjoins a sauna, steam room, gym and hot tub; about 70 acres of grounds include formal and walled gardens, pavilion, tennis court, helicopter hangar, grass football pitch, paddocks and woodland; and there are two staff flats, plus a detached cottage. Knight Frank (020–7861 1078)

128

CLI325.prop_news.indd 128

30/09/2021 16:10

Properties of the week London, £8.95 million Inspiration beckons at white-stuccoed 21, Old Church Street, which, as its Blue Plaque attests, was once home to the actress Judy Campbell, muse to Noël Coward, mother of Jane Birkin and grandmother of Charlotte Gainsbourg. Furthermore, this much-restored townhouse, once a pub, dates back to the 18th century, making it reputedly the oldest property on the oldest street in Chelsea (it was mentioned, as Church Lane, in 1566). With five bedrooms, it has been boldly updated, with dark-oak floors, a glazed atrium, cinema room and Carrera-marble kitchen island designed by Day True London with integrated Gaggenau appliances. The stepped garden has a raised, lawned courtyard with a water feature and dining area, overlooked by a balcony.

Russell Simpson (020–7225 0277)

9000

London, £15 million The handsome mid-18th-century property in the heart of Hampstead, where Charles de Gaulle lived between 1942 and 1944—about the time he led the Free France government-in-exile—has come to the market for the first time in more than 50 years. The French general could little have imagined that, after his tenure, the building would go on to become a finishing school and home to the Sisters of St Dorothy. Much renovated, Frognal House—with its cast-iron balconies, sash windows, wood panelling and marble fireplaces—has been used to house international students most recently and its 13,147sq ft could easily be developed into units or transformed back into a family home. It is offered as a freehold interest with vacant possession with a bid deadline of 12 noon, October 14. Knight Frank (020–7861 5427)

Local heroes The would-be festival organiser Illustration by Emma van Zeller

Ned has returned from his exhaustive travels in South America to the ancestral pile to help his parents to monetise every possible asset.

His plans for a treehouse resort are proving more challenging than he’d anticipated, thanks to a vicious social-media campaign (the emblem of which was a pair of crossed chainsaws). Instead, he’s decided to focus his energies on a new festival. After his gap year (‘more like a gap decade,’ sighs his father), it’s an area where he feels he has the requisite experience and, as he told the meeting held to discuss local concerns, ‘it will be a great way to put this sleepy backwater on the map’. Maj Topbrass spoke for everyone when he said that, if he saw the ‘first falafel van making its way the village, we’ll be putting up a barricade. Sleepy is exactly how we like it round here’. GK

130

CLI325.prop_news.indd 130

30/09/2021 16:10