The dazzling talent of Sir Christopher Wren
Red kite: friend or foe?
Behind the scenes at the British Museum
Trifl ing matters: puddings to make us proud
THE VOICE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE FEBRUARY 15, 2023
FEBRUARY 15, 2023
EVERY WEEK
‘That miracle of a youth’
ISSUE:07 £4.75 PRINTED IN THE UK CLI394.cover.indd 1 09/02/2023 14:47
FURNITURE SINCE1866
Avery fine mahoganyand etimoeveneeredconsoletable, thedemi lunepetal veneered topwithmotherofpearl details anda paper twist marquetry Morado banding, boundinbrass above apaneledfrieze with floral brassaccents and brass inlay, on twinnedflutedcolumns with acanthus capitals andbases, on aPrimavera crossbandeddemi lune plinth base. InspiredbyanEmpire original
£4,565
Width: 53¾inches(137cm) |Depth: 17 inches(45cm) |Height:33¾ inches (86cm)
ONEFAMILYSPECIALISINGINFINE
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Bird’s eyeview
Bath, Somerset
5bedrooms |4bathrooms |5reception rooms |Coach house |Self-containedflat |Garaging |Outbuildings |Landscaped gardens
Stone terracing |Rose garden |Kitchen garden |Woodland |Ponds|Freehold |Council Taxband H
Ahandsome Grade II listedfamily home situatedinapproximately 3.2acres of stunning gardens and grounds,with outstanding views acrossthe City of Bath
Bath City Centre 1.8miles|Bath Spa station 1.3miles(London Paddington from 70 minutes)
Guide price £3,950,000
Knight Frank London &Bath
sarah.ka.brown@knightfrank.com
020 4579 2532
knightfrank.co.uk
charlie.taylor@knightfrank.com 01225 685523
REF :B TH0122 40993 Your partners in property
ST.IPPOLYTS, HERTFORDSHIRE
Guide Price: £1,750,000
5 Bedrooms| 3 ReceptionRooms| 4 Bathrooms| C EPC
An architect-designed barnconversion with two carports and aworkshop. Living space includes an open plan sitting/dining room with aspiral staircase to amezzanine currently used as an office and thereisabespoke underground wine cellar.Doors from the kitchen/breakfast room and master bedroom suite open to acentral open-air atrium with aseating area and water feature.
Michael Graham Hitchin
Philip Powell 01462 441700
Michael Graham London
Bob Bickersteth 0207 839 0888
michaelgraham.co.uk
michaelgraham_living
Ardingly,West Sussex
9bedrooms |7bathrooms |7reception rooms |Garaging |2bedroom cottage |Former gardener's cottage |Croquet lawn Tennis court |Sports court |Swimming pool|Paddock |Manège |Approximately 11.17acres| EPC F|Freehold |Council Taxband H
Amagnificent Victorian mansion and cottage standing in beautiful secludedgrounds enjoying a commanding position overlooking glorious countryside with views acrosstothe South Downs
Ardingly Village 2miles|Haywards Heath 5miles(London Bridge/Victoria from 45 minutes)
Guide price £5,950,000
Knight Frank London &Tunbridge Wells
oliver.rodbourne@knightfrank.com
020 4502 7108
knightfrank.co.uk
simon.biddulph@knightfrank.com 01892 888494
Manselll McTaggart jaimewallden@mansellmctaggart.co.uk 01444 456431
:T
REF
NW012225728 Your partners in property
Beautifully Designed Interiors
Hertford, Hertfordshire Hertford:5.5 miles,Luton Airport:21 miles,Central London:24miles
Handsome 15th centuryfarmhouse that hasbeenextendedovertimeand refurbishedina contemporary stylewith unrivalled viewsacrossrolling countryside. 3reception rooms, 6bedrooms, 3bathrooms, study, gamesroom,cellar, swimming pool, poolhouse with steam room,greenhouse,stableswith studio/homeoffice, south-facing terraceand orchard. Freehold |Council TaxBand=H|EPC =E
About 1.65 acres|Guide £3.75million
Hugh Maconochie SavillsCountry HouseDepartment 02045716654
hmaconochie@savills.com
Kris Smith SavillsHarpenden 01582952 121 kris.smith@savills.com
savills savills.co.uk
Exceptional Country House
Guildford, Surrey Guildford: 2.5miles,Heathrow: 24 miles,Central London:35miles
Beautifully presentedVictoriancountry house in adesirable location in themiddleofapeaceful hamlet. 8reception rooms, 6bedrooms(2ensuites),2 family bathrooms, tennis court, cottage, summer house, double garage,gardens and grounds. Freehold |Council TaxBand=H|EPC =F
About 5.5acres |Guide £6.3 million
Alastair Mercer SavillsGuildford 01483945 304 alastair.mercer@savills.com
Justin Theobald
SavillsLondonCountry Department 02045862785
justin.theobald@savills.com
savills savills.co.uk
Hampshire, Winchfield
An exceptionally fineand imposingGeorgianGrade II*ListedHouse
Odiham: 3.7miles, Winchfield mainline station: 0.6miles (London Waterloo from 50 mins),
HartleyWintney: 1.2miles, Farnham: 10.5 miles, M3 (J5): 3.4miles
Reception hall |Drawing room |Dining room |Sitting room |Study|Kitchen/breakfastroom |Cloakroom
Principal bedroom with ensuitebathroom |6Further bedrooms (3 ensuite) |2Family bathrooms
Staff apartment|5-Bedroom Coach House |Equestrian facilities |Outdoor arena |17Stables
Stable manager’s cottage |Garaging |Swimming pool |Gardens |Grounds |Lake
About 45 acres
Over 45 offices acrossEnglandand Scotland, includingprime CentralLondon.
GuidePrice £3,750,000 /struttandparker@struttandparker struttandparker.com Oliver CustanceBaker Country Department 02075912213 oliver.custance.baker@struttandparker.com Phillip Armstrong Odiham Office 01256 702892 phillip.armstrong@struttandparker.com
Magnificent Jacobean Mansion
Mold,North Wales Mold:1.5 miles, Chester: 14 miles
OneofNorth Wales’ finestand most historic houses, in asuperband elevated position with panoramic views. 6reception rooms, 9bedrooms, 6bathrooms, 2studies, garden room,billiardsroom/library,wine cellar,2detachedcottages,garage, courtyard, landscaped gardensand grounds. Freehold |Council TaxBand=I
About 26.59acres |Guide £2.5 million
Charlie Kannreuther
SavillsChester
01244646 655
ckannreuther@savills.com
savills savills.co.uk
Outstanding JerseyEstate
St.Martin, Jersey ArchirondelBeach: 1mile, Jersey Airport: 8miles
Perfectmulti-generational estate setinabout 7acres of land andancient woodland in theparishof St.Martin. 7reception rooms, principalbedroom suitewith dressing room,3 further ensuite bedrooms,winecellar, infinityswimmingpool, pool house with sauna andcinemacomplex, separate 2bedroom annexe, 1bedroom guestcottage and garden with outdoorkitchen and dining.Freehold
About 7acres |Guide £19million
Geri O’Brien
SavillsJersey
07797727 700
gobrien@savills.com
savillsjersey savills.je
Shenstone House, Shenstone, StaffordshireWS140LF
Birmingham Airport 18 miles, Birmingham 12miles, Cathedral City of Lichfield to London from 80 mins
Ahandsomeand substantial Grade 11 listed home built in the 18 40’s and retaining many fine period features, together with apicturesque period cottage both set within wooded grounds including a100ft barn.
The main house boasts acharacterful hall, 4large reception rooms, 7bedrooms and 3bathrooms, the cottage has 2reception rooms and 2en-suite bedrooms.
OI E£2,5 00,000
Please contact Angela Preece Paul Carr Exclusive Homes &Rural Homes 0121 30 85 511– angela@exclusiveandruralhomes.co.uk Paulcarrestateagents.co.uk
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
Founded by William Morris, the SPAB protects the historic environment from decay, damage and demolition. It responds to threats to old buildings, trains building professionals, craftspeople, homeowners and volunteers and gives advice about maintenance and repairs.
Since 1877 countless buildings have been saved for future generations.
Informationaboutmaintaining your homeisavailable throughevents, courses, lectures,publications and telephone advice
To support our work why not join the SPAB? Members receive aquarterly magazine, our list of historic properties for sale and access to our regional activities. www.spab.org.uk 020 7377 1644
Acharitable company limited by guarantee registered in England &Wales. Company no: 5743962 Charity no: 1113753 37 Spital Square, London E1 6DY Drawing of St Dunstan-in-the-W est by SP AB Scholar Ptolomy Dean
COUN TRYLIFEiswhere buyerssea rchfor theird ream Forpropert ya dver ti si ng in formationpleasecont actJul ia Laurence :jul ia .lau rence@ futu renet.com– 07971923054 OU RP RO PE RT YP AG ES AR EW HE RE TH EF IN ES TH OU SE SA RE SH OW CA SE DT OA RE FI NE D, WE AL TH YR EA DE RS HI PI NB OT HT HE UK AN DO VE RS EA S THEHOMEOFPREMIUM PROPERTY CL WP.indd 1 09/02/2023 12:06
REF :P OD012264099
Billingbear Park,Berkshire
9bedrooms |6 bathrooms |5reception rooms |5stables|Detached3 bedroom bungalow|5 loose boxes| Horse walker Martin Collins 60m x25m arena |A further 40m x25m arena |Approximately 10 acres| EPC E|Freehold |Council Taxband G
The Nurseries is set in an historic walledgarden that wasformerly part of Billingbear Manor Estate.The property has amodern interior design and high-quality equestrian facilities.
Binfield 1mile |Wokingham 3miles|Twyford 3miles(London Paddington from 35 minutes& servedbythe Elizabeth Line)
Guide price £4,000,000
Knight Frank Ascot&Virginia Water greg.crosse@knightfrank.com
01344 592792
knightfrank.co.uk
Your partners in property
CRAWLEYDOWN, WEST SUSSEX
OFFERS IN EXCESS £3,500,000 FREEHOLD
[6 bedrooms][8Receptions] [7 Bathrooms] [3 acres]
An imposing period property which has recently been sympatheticallyrebuiltinternallylocated within commutabledistancefromLondon.Offering underfloor heatingthroughout, 9,932sqftofaccommodation, afour baygarage, lakeand heatedindoorswimming pool.Council TaxBandH.EPC D
HAMPTONSHAYWARDSHEATH 01444 419140 HAYWARDSHEATH@HAMPTONS.CO.UK
HAM PT ON S. CO .U K
GOTYOUR HEARTSET ON ABIGGER GARDEN?
Withflowerbeds, fruittrees-and endless topiary? We’llhelpyou findit. Ourlocal experts, in over90branches, work as oneto putpeopleand property together.Whether you’re longingfor acountry cottage, or aroofterrace,we’ll findyourheart’s desire
Hose, Leicestershire £1,570,000
Alavishsix-bedroomdetachedfamily residenceoccupyingacovetedposition withinasecuregateddevelopment.
01664518924
Roos, EastRidingofYorkshire £695,000 Southfieldisabeautifullyupdated anddistinguishedGeorgianhouse,in athrivingEastYorkshirevillagetwo milesfromthecoast.
Yorkoffice01904595677
Guideprice
Tetchill, Shropshire £225,000
Anattractivemid-terracecountry propertywithworkshopandprivate courtyard,occupyingasought-after villagelocation.
Ellesmereoffice01691721965
Stranraer, DumfriesandGalloway £620,000
Guideprice
Whitehouseisafive-bedroomArtDeco propertywithstunningcoastalviewswhich retainsmanyoftheoriginalfeaturesincluding stainglassfrontdoorandornatefireplaces.
CastleDouglasoffice01556487991
Meare, Somerset £950,000
Guideprice
Astunningfive-bedroomhousewith fabulousviewsandopenplanliving, aswellasagardenstudio/officeand twoself-containedholidaylets.
Wellsoffice01749587690
LongCrendon, Buckinghamshire £825,000
Guideprice
Aformervillagebakeryconverted intoafinehomewithagardenstudio, inahighlysought-afterpositionina picturesquevillage.
Thameoffice01844447905
Newbuildings, Devon £650,000
Guideprice
Adelightfulperiodcottageproviding spaciousaccommodation,setin halfanacrewithviewsacrossthe surroundingcountryside.
Tivertonoffice01884685927
Verifyatwww.onthemarket.com/only-with-us/.Agentsspecifyexclusivity.
Tenterden, Kent £535,000
Guideprice
Aspacious,recentlyextendedandfully refurbishedpropertywithcountrysideviews andoff-roadparkingforseveralvehicles.
Tenterdenoffice01580468937
GreatChart, Kent £2,250,000
Guideprice
AuniqueandrareGradeIIlistedmill housesittingastridetheRiverStour, setinwonderfulriversidegardensand overlookingthepeacefulmillpond.
Canterburyoffice01227319798
Guideprice
Wedmore, Somerset £650,000
Astone-builtcharactercottagewith threebedrooms,agarageandgarden, inalovelySomersetvillage.Previously apopularholidaylet.
Wedmoreoffice01934247854
Landimore, Swansea £639,950
Acharmingandextended18thcentury three-bedroomcottage,setinapeaceful hamletwithamazingcountryside, woodlandandestuaryviews.
Offersinregionof Killayoffice01792925772
Guideprice
Igtham, Kent £1,250,000-£1,350,000
BewleyFarmhouseisacharmingcirca 1950sextendeddetachedfamilyhome withruralviewstotherear,setinaplot approachinghalfanacre.
Sevenoaksoffice01959458920
LimpsfieldChart, Surrey £1,400,000
Guideprice
RidlandsFarmhouseisaspacious propertywithplentyofcharacterand periodfeatures,includingancientbeams andtraditionalfireplaces.
Oxtedoffice01883596932
FourOaks, WestMidlands £1,300,000
Offersover
Atastefullypresenteddetachedhouse withself-containedone-bedroomannexe andattractivetwo-bedroomdetached cottage,withtheopportunitytolet.
Lichfieldoffice01543526804
Kingsclere, Hampshire £2,250,000
Guideprice
Abeautifullyrenovatedfive-bedroom villagehousewithanannexeand attractivewatersidegarden,ina thrivingvillage.
NorthHampshireoffice01256228928
Offersover
HighCatton, EastRidingofYorkshire £400,000
Thisbeautifullypresentedcottage featuresastunningopen-plan kitchen/livingareawhichopensonto thelargereargarden.
Pocklingtonoffice01759438932
Laugharne, Carmarthenshire £385,000
Abeautifulthree-bedroomstonecottage fullofcharacterincludingexposedbeams andwood-burningstove,setinapprox. 0.35acreswithwildnaturegarden.
Carmarthenoffice01267312988
Create alert Toviewtheseandthe finestselectionof premiumproperties, searchOnTheMarket atCountryLife.co.uk andsetupaproperty alerttoday. Createanalert
Allthesepropertiesappearedexclusivelywithus, 24hoursormorebeforeRightmoveorZoopla.
LuxuryPortfolio International® has themostdiverse listings of luxury real estateworldwide. Letour exclusive network of well-connected, locally tuned brokersand agentsfind your next home foryou @luxuryportfolio THIS IS THELIFE. Is it yours?
Oxfordshire
Chiselhampton
– Oxford 8.5 miles
Henley on Thames 18 miles
– Reading 20 miles
CentralLondon 50 miles
– Rail services from Henley, Twyfordand Reading to London, Paddington (28–58 Minutes)
Oxford Rural
Samuel Head |07970 107305
samuel.head@carterjonas.co.uk
National RuralAgency
Andrew Chandler|07880 084633
andrew.chandler@carterjonas.co.uk
Asoughtafter Grade II listedcountryhouse with an extensiverange of outbuildings, amenities andland with easy access to Oxford.
5bedrooms •Entrancehall•Drawing room •Study •Sitting room •Conservatory • Dining room •Kitchen •Utility room •Winecellar•Garden flat• Sittingroom • Kitchen •Bathroom
Surrounding theproperty arewellmaintained formal gardens, an outdoor tennis courtand indoor pool.Stand outfeaturesinclude: an extensive rangeof traditionalbrick courtyardbuildings,one beingaflat,two additionalcottages and amodernfarmbuildingcurrently utilised forcommercialuse
MarylandsHouse •Courtyard Flat •Lilac Cottage•Willow Cottage
Theland surrounds thepropertytothe northwith well-established pasture and woodland
In allabout58.94 acres(23.85ha)
Guideprice £3,500,000
–
–
Riverstoneisfor thelessretiring We provide luxury apartments within avibrant community,locatedinthe heart of London fordiscerning residentsover65 More than just peace of mind With state-of-the-art wellbeing amenities and ahelping hand when you need it Call us today020 3839 8550 Visit riverstoneliving.com Riverstone Kensington prices startfrom£1,150,000* Ts &Csapply /*Otherfeesapply. Pricescorrect at timeofpublication.
FOURMONTHS RENTFREE!
Anewwaytoretire
Renting in retirement? Nowthere’sanidea.
Nowisthe time to giveyourself the all important freedom and flexibilityinretirement and livelifeyour wayatanInspiredVillage
Makethe mostofall of ourfacilitiesonyour doorstep. And now, InspiredVillages offers achoiceofone and two-bedroomhomes to rent as well as buy.
It’s thenew way to retire.
This offer is only availableatthe following villages: Elderswell in Bedfordshire, Ledian Gardens in Kent, Austin HeathinWarwick, Gifford LeainCheshire and GreatAlnePark in Warwickshire.
If you’dliketofind out moreabout our rentaloptions or purchase offers, call us on 0808156 3800 or visit www.inspiredvillages.co.uk
*
*T’s &C’s apply.Speak to oneofour sales advisers.
Property market
Wood you rather
These properties show off the elegance and timelessness of our most abundant natural resource
IN 1910, an ambitious young architect, Annesley Brownrigg, won a series of architectural competitions and set up shop in Guildford, Surrey, where, after the First World War, he built a flourishing practice with his friend, Leslie Hiscock. The firm was primarily known for residential developments within the Guildford area, a tradition maintained by his son, John, who went on to design Guildford’s iconic Yvonne Arnaud Theatre and was also instrumental in the research and development of timber-frame prefabricated houses.
Penny Churchill
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Another Surrey success story was that of the Gates family, who started out in business with the opening, in 1877, of a small grocery shop in Guildford. Having founded the West Surrey Central Dairy in 1888, they invested in dry-
ing equipment from America to make use of skimmed milk left over by the creaming process. The first advertisement for ‘Cow & Gate’ baby milk appeared in 1908 and brought orders flooding in from all over the country.
In 1929, Col Ernest Gates, by then the partowner of the thriving Cow & Gate empire, commissioned Annesley Brownrigg & Hiscock (now Scott Brownrigg) to build him a grand country house within Surrey’s ‘Golden Triangle’ —the area bounded by Guildford, Farnham and Haslemere, where eminent Arts-and-Crafts architects such as Edwin Lutyens, Charles Voysey and Harold Falkner built many fine houses in the Surrey vernacular style.
The result was Old Timbers at Woodhill, two miles from Ripley and 3½ miles from Guildford, a substantial family house set within 17 acres of formal gardens, woodland, fields and paddocks at the end of a long treelined driveway, which is for sale, for the first time in 20 years, through the Guildford office of Strutt & Parker (01483 306565).
Selling agent Tom Shuttleworth quotes a guide price of £4.95 million for the beautifully maintained, mini country estate, comprising the 5,612sq ft main house, a separate twobedroom cottage, stables, garaging, a treehouse and a tennis court. As the name suggests, Old Timbers, which boasts east and west wings, retains many character features from that era, including old ship’s timbers as beams, decorative brickwork and original fireplaces.
Spacious accommodation includes five reception rooms, eight bedrooms, four bathrooms and three cloakrooms. The focal point
of the house is the main entrance hall with its wall of leaded-light windows. Heavy oak doors lead through to the drawing room, dining room, study and the remaining downstairs rooms—a layout well suited to entertaining on a grand scale. Connecting the two wings at the centre of the house is a large farmhouse kitchen/breakfast room with French doors leading to a large terrace, ideal for outdoor dining. A staircase in each wing leads to the upstairs bedrooms. In addition, there are two enormous lofts, which could be converted to further accommodation. Located 270 yards away from the house, the 1,108sq ft Old Timbers Cottage has been extensively renovated by the current owners to provide a continuous and reliable source of income.
Over in east Kent, Sarah Hunt of Savills in Cranbrook (01580 720161) is handling the sale, at a guide price of £1.75m, of Grade II*listed Headcorn Manor in Church Walk, Headcorn, eight miles south-east of Maidstone in the Low Weald, an area first cleared to allow swine to feed on acorns in the Wealden forest.
In the 14th century, the Kentish system of governance known as ‘Gavelkind’ gave rise to a workforce that wasn’t required to work on the land, among them migrant workers from Flanders with skills in cloth-making. From then until the end of the 15th century, Headcorn was a thriving centre of the cloth trade and wealthy merchants built some notable houses, using mainly local materials and techniques, such as weather-boarding and tile-hanging, or exposed timber frame and plaster, as in the case of Headcorn Manor.
February 15, 2023 | Country Life | 75 Find the best properties at countrylife.co.uk
Grade II*-listed Headcorn Manor is a ‘glorious 15th-century Wealden house’ set in 4¾ acres at Headcorn in east Kent. £1.75m
CLI394.prop_market.indd 75 09/02/2023 17:05
Facing page and below: Character beams abound at Old Timbers, Woodhill, within Surrey’s ‘Golden Triangle’. £4.95m
Property market
Described by the local conservation body as ‘a glorious 15th-century two-bay Wealden house with two, two-storey Oriel windows’, it appears that Headcorn Manor was never the manor house, but was probably built either as a parsonage or as a family home by a wealthy merchant. It stands next to the Grade I-listed, 14th-century church of St Peter and St Paul, in an area of quiet lanes, green spaces and well-established trees that still has the feel of a country hamlet, in stark contrast to the busy, bustling high street nearby.
The house, which dates from about 1470 and is worthy of mention by Pevsner, offers more than 3,000 sq ft of accommodation of immense charm and character with fine oak timbers and beams, mullioned windows with leaded-light panes and splendid fireplaces. The present owners have also installed a bespoke fitted kitchen and updated most of the bath and shower rooms. Of particular note are the welcoming reception hall/sitting room and the splendid first-floor drawing room, which features a crown post, mellow oak floorboards and vistas to the west over the formal gardens and the church. Four double bedrooms on the first and second floors are served by two bathrooms and a luxurious shower room with underfloor heating.
Approached along an unmade road, Headcorn Manor sits in some 4¾ acres of landscaped gardens and grounds. Wrought-iron gates open onto a west-facing terrace that spans the length of the house. From here,
formal lawns with manicured yew hedging are divided by a rill edged with lavender that runs the full length of the garden. Completing the rural idyll is a kitchen garden with fruit cages, a greenhouse and an orchard planted with apple, plum, pear and cobnuts, a pretty brick-built former piggery swathed in roses and honeysuckle, and two fields, the most southerly of which enjoys access to a small area of woodland, bounded by the River Beult.
former miller’s house and the ancient mill building, now a single, six-bedroom family home, with the mill race and wheel forming a distinctive feature of the building. Worten Mill Cottage is a detached three-bedroom cottage with its own private garden.
Further east in the same county, water and woodland dominate the setting of picturesque Worten Mill at Great Chart, four miles from Ashford International station and 15 miles from Canterbury, which has come to the market through Strutt & Parker (01227 473707) with a guide price of £2.25m.
Situated in a magical rural location just outside the popular village of Great Chart, Worten Mill, listed Grade II, is thought to stand on the site of one of the first recorded watermills in Britain and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. The property comprises the 18th-century
For the past 14 years, Worten Mill has been a much-loved holiday home shared by several Belgian families, who bought it lock, stock and barrel from the late Victor Ross, the legendary former chairman of Reader’s Digest, who restored the entire property and lived there for 40 years, selling agent Simon Backhouse reveals. A wide, panelled oak door opens into the reception hall that has windows at floor level overlooking the mill pond, with stairs from the hall leading up to an impressive fitted library with an adjoining study. The part full-height drawing room has an unusual demi-lune window overlooking the mill pond and wide steps leading down to the main reception space, where ancient timbers create a cathedrallike atmosphere. The adjoining dining room has a wide inglenook fireplace; the morning room overlooks the pond to the rear.
Sitting astride the River Stour, which meanders through the grounds of more than four acres, the gardens, originally designed by Russell Page, are a delight. The front garden is informally laid out with a number of paths and bridges criss-crossing the river. To the rear, the garden is dominated by the mill pond, with further pathways and walks creating an ambience of peace and enchantment.
76 | Country Life | February 15, 2023
Fashioned from an 18th-century miller’s house and ancient mill, Worten Mill occupies an enchanting spot in Great Chart, Kent. £2.25m
CLI394.prop_market.indd 76 09/02/2023 17:05
Worten Mill is thought to stand on the site of one of the first recorded watermills in Britain
for our latest brochure nevillejohnson.co.uk | 0161 873 8333
Properties of the week
James Fisher
A glass half full
The days are getting longer, so why not maximise the light in a conservatory, orangery or vinery?
Kent, £2.75 million
A true flower in the garden of England, The Deanery, in Chartham near Canterbury, is an ‘exceptional and intriguing home’, say agents, and is listed Grade II*. With sections dating from all the way back to the 14th century, the property was once home to the Deans of Canterbury Cathedral, but, fear not, it has been more recently renovated, with the house in its current form rebuilt in about 1738. The property boasts a fine example of a bifurcating staircase in the reception hall, ideal for grand entrances to masquerade balls that you may or may not be hosting, as well as four bedrooms, including an enormous principal bedroom suite with a private dressing room. The three acres of gardens and grounds also play host to a threebedroom annexe (known as Deanery Cottage), formal lawns, mature trees, a moat and a detached orangery, which contains a mature vine. Strutt & Parker (020–7052 9666)
Cambridgeshire, £2 million
Sometimes, when discussing properties such as River House, it’s difficult to know where to start. Perhaps its prime riverside setting (with frontage) on the River Ouse? Or the wisteria-clad façade? Why not the Mediterranean-style garden room, with its interior vine and green shutters? What’s most important is that the property is a rare opportunity to own a wonderful home on the high street of the sought-after village of Hemingford Grey. Inside, the elegant and traditional interiors offer eight bedrooms and a wealth of entertaining space over its three floors. Outside, the gardens feature a variety of mature trees as well as a sweeping lawn and well-stocked borders. A thatched summerhouse offers potential for a further annexe and the riverside plot features an elegant boathouse and space to enjoy the passing boats and wildlife. Fine & Country (0330 333 1060)
78 | Country Life | February 15, 2023
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South Yorkshire, £2 million
One for the traditionalists among you, Slade Hooton Hall, in the village of Laughton near Sheffield, is a picturesque William and Mary house nestling in 3¾ acres of South Yorkshire countryside. Featuring eight bedrooms, the Grade II*-listed property has recently seen a programme of sympathetic restoration and renovation, making this a home fit for 21st-century living, as well as keeping its historic charm. Attached to the home is a cloche-like orangery with a roof lantern, ideal for enjoying the garden in inclement weather, and the gardens and grounds, which are mostly laid to lawn, feature a barn with an indoor heated swimming pool, a lake and jetty and a small copse. Savills (0115–934 8020)
Hampshire, £5 million
Positioned on a south-facing slope within the South Downs, South Hay House, near the villages of Binsted and Kingsley, is a characterful property that was once the home of the travel writer H. V. Morton. Fresh from covering the opening of Tutankhamun’s tomb with Howard Carter, Morton converted the large, stone-built barn and turned it into a library, linking it to the main house. Further interior highlights include 10 bedrooms, a wealth of period features and a south-facing vinery that opens out into the garden. The property stands in just over eight acres of gardens and grounds; immediately to the south are the formal and kitchen gardens, as well as two paddocks, and a further paddock sits to the west. Hamptons (01420 730148)
London N20, £8 million
In the leafy north London suburb of Totteridge Common is the magnificent Long Pond House, a detached red-brick home set in two acres of gardens and only one mile away from the Northern line. Inside, the property offers six bedrooms over its three floors and includes a cinema room, games room and a grand reception room. The highlight of the interiors has to be the striking conservatory that leads into the garden, in which you will find manicured lawns you can set your watch to, as well as the eponymous pond, a heated swimming pool, tennis court and replica water wheel. A large decked terrace runs the entire width of the house to the rear and is an elite space for entertaining. Knight Frank (020–7317 7960)
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