EVERY WEEK
MARCH 23, 2022
Glorious gardens
Giving Nature the upper hand
ISSUE: 12
PRINTED IN THE UK
£4.50
SPRING GARDENS MARCH 23, 2022
Cherry ripe: the new f lowering trees to buy How Fell ponies became The Queen’s favourite Terror in Tudor times and the Durrell legacy
CLI348.cover.indd 1
17/03/2022 12:06
ONE FAMILY SPECIALISING IN FINE FURNITURE SINCE 1866
Entertain and relax in style with the versatile Amalfi Square Casual Dining Fire Pit Set With Lounge Chairs. Perfect for relaxing, cooking and keeping you warm when things get chilly. The table features a multi-use centre sunken fire pit at its centre, so you can grill right at the table - just load with coals, pop the grill over the top and get cooking! Alternatively, simply pack the pit with ice and load up with beers and wine. Please note coloured scatter cushions are shown for dressing purposes only.
£3,899
Further details can be found at www.brightsofnettlebed.co.uk
The set includes: • Square fire pit table in timeless bronze finish with adjustable feet to sit perfectly level on uneven surfaces • Corner sofa with comfortable amber Weatherready® cushions that can be left outside all summer long • Two matching lounger chairs • Crafted from cast aluminium, rust free, lightweight, strong, low maintenance - this furniture can be left outside all-year-round • Easily cleaned with soap and water meaning it will look great for years to come • Manufacturer’s warranty
PRICE INCLUDES FREE DELIVERY, ASSEMBLY AND RAIN COVERS FOR ALL GARDEN FURNITURE WITHIN 100 MILES OF OUR OXFORDSHIRE SHOWROOM. REDUCED DELIVERY COST THERE AFTER.
CALL 01491 641115 | WWW.BRIGHTSOFNETTLEBED.CO.UK NETTLEBED
l
OXFORDSHIRE
l
RG9 5DD (OPEN TUES-SAT)
KING’S RD
l
LONDON
l
SW6 2DX (OPEN MON-FRI)
1 STEANE PARK, NORTHAMP TONSHIRE
A
n impressive Grade II listed country house with approximately 276 acres in a stunning parkland setting with wonderful gardens and grounds. The 16th century manor has a coach house, three further cottages and a range of farm buildings.
1 1 B E D R O O M S | 6 B AT H R O O M S | 5 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S F O R M A L G A R D E N S | WAT E R G A R D E N S | T E N N I S C O U R T | E Q U E S T R I A N YA R D | FA R M L A N D B R AC K L EY 3 M I L E S | L O N D O N 7 2 M I L E S
Guide price available upon request Knight Frank London & Stratford will.matthews@knightfrank.com 020 4502 7347 william.ward-jones@knightfrank.com 01789 863993 Ref: CHO012066865
knightfrank.co.uk Winner of six customer service experience awards in 2021
Proud experts in British property Michael Graham is delighted to be joining the nation in celebrating her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this year. We are proud to be marking this momentous occasion through the pages of Country Life, which this year celebrates 125 years of being the authoritative voice on the best of all things British.
Join us as we showcase the best of Britain’s unique architectural heritage.
14 offices covering 8 counties and Central London michaelgraham.co.uk |
michaelgrahamliving |
michaelgraham_living
1 2
3
4
BLACKMO OR, HAMPSHIRE
B
radshott Farm is a spacious home that has been converted from a period farm building to a high standard throughout with flair and imagination. The property occupies an attractive elevated situation off a quiet country lane just over a mile from the pretty village of Selborne. 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 | 3 B E D R O O M C O T TA G E | S E L F - C O N TA I N E D A N N E X E P O O L H O U S E | G Y M | S A U N A | S T E A M R O O M | H O T T U B | S W I M M I N G P O O L | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 1 .7 3 A C R E S | E P C D S E L B O R N E 1 . 9 M I L E S | L I P H O O K 6 . 4 M I L E S ( T R A I N S T O L O N D O N WAT E R L O O F R O M 6 5 M I N U T E S )
Guide price £5,500,000 Knight Frank London & Winchester edward.cunningham@knightfrank.com 020 4502 7121 george.clarendon@knightfrank.com 01962 656115 Ref: CHO012282419
knightfrank.co.uk Winner of six customer service experience awards in 2021
Impressive Country House Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire Henley-on-Thames: 12 miles, Reading: 9 miles An impressive country house with beautiful grounds and far reaching views within walking distance of the Thames. 4 reception rooms, 8 bedrooms (4 en-suite), 2 further bathrooms, gym with sauna, bowling alley, cinema room, wine store, swimming pool with pool house, tennis court, cricket pitch, cricket pavilion and scorebox, 2 bedroom self-contained flat, vegetable garden, greenhouse and orchard. EPC = F
About 9.81 acres | Guide £8.5 million
Hugh Maconochie Savills London Country Department 020 4525 1900 hmaconochie @savills.com
Stephen Christie-Miller Savills Henley 01491 378 062 schristie-miller @savills.com
savills
savills.co.uk
Hampshire, Fordingbridge
A large and versatile house set in a peaceful edge of village location with wonderful countryside views Fordingbridge: 1.3 miles, Ringwood: 7.8 miles, Salisbury: 10.6 miles (London Waterloo 90 mins), Southampton: 22 miles Entrance hall | Drawing area | Dining area | Open plan kitchen/breakfast/family room | TV/music room | Study | Boot room | Utility room Master bedroom with 2 walk in wardrobes and en-suite bathroom | 5 Further bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms | Enclosed courtyard Carport for 5 cars and attached bike shed | Fitness room/studio | Established gardens | All-weather tennis court | Paddock | EPC F Set in approximately 17 acres
Over 50 Offices across England and Scotland, including prime Central London.
Oliver Custance Baker
Fiona Pengelly
JSA: Knight Frank
Country Department 020 7591 2207
Salisbury Office 01722 567 919
Winchester Office 01962 677 234
oliver.custance.baker@struttandparker.com
fiona.pengelly@struttandparker.com
george.clarendon@knightfrank.com
/struttandparker
@struttandparker
struttandparker.com
House, Cottage & Rural Views Westerham, Kent Oxted 4.8 miles, Sevenoaks 7 miles Charming period home with separate cottage set within a rural hamlet with countryside views and miles of wonderful walks over National Trust land. 3 reception rooms, 4 bedrooms (2 en suite), further bathroom, study, cellar, 2 bedroom cottage, double garage, gardens and grounds. EPC = D
About 1.37 acres | Guide £2.75 million David Johnston Savills Sevenoaks 01732 608 434 djohnston@savills.com
savills
savills.co.uk
Exceptional Private Residence Winchester, Hampshire Winchester Station: 0.5 miles (London Waterloo from 60 minutes) A stunning Grade II listed Georgian house overlooking the Cathedral in the heart of historic Winchester. 5 reception rooms, principal bedroom with en suite bathroom, 6 further bedrooms, 4 further bathrooms, gym, wine cellar, 1 bedroom cottage, summer house and gardens. About 0.43 acres | Guide £6.95 million Camilla Elwell Savills London Country Department 020 4571 7922 camilla.elwell @savills.com
Steven Moore Savills Winchester 01962 418 826 smoore@savills.com
savills
savills.co.uk
Queen Anne Gem Salisbury, Wiltshire Salisbury Station: 0.6 miles (London Waterloo from 90 minutes) A Grade II* listed property, in the centre of the city with uninterrupted views of the Cathedral. Currently arranged with 2 floors of cellular offices and a second floor self-contained 3 bedroom apartment, totalling 6,100 sq ft with a favourable pre-planning application for residential use. About 0.4 acre | Guide £1.5 million Paul Cadge Savills Salisbury 01722 638 669 paul.cadge @savills.com
Philip Holford Myddelton & Major Salisbury 01722 337 577 philipholford @myddeltonmajor.co.uk
savills
savills.co.uk
Elegant, Glamorous and Fun Dartmouth, Devon Totnes Train Station: 12 miles (London Paddington from 170 minutes) Unique and luxuriously appointed property walking distance to the beach. 6 reception rooms, 6 en suite bedrooms, cinema room, steam room, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, hot tub, tennis court, 2 bedroom guest cottage, party barn, outbuildings, paddocks and pond. EPC = D About 6 acres | Guide £4.5 million George Nares Savills London Country Department 020 4571 7977 george.nares @savills.com
Sarah Jane Bingham Chick Savills Exeter 01392 914 214 sjchick@savills.com
savills
savills.co.uk
Elegant Former Rectory Church Stretton, Shropshire Shrewsbury: 14 miles, Ludlow: 17.5 miles An attractive former Rectory nestled at the foot of the Long Mynd, enjoying fine views of the Stretton Hills. Drawing room, music room, 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, butler’s pantry and attractive landscaped gardens. About 0.45 acre | Guide £1.195 million Peter Daborn Savills Telford 01952 924 368 peter.daborn @savills.com
savills
savills.co.uk
The Arne Peninsula Arne, Dorset Wareham: 4.5 miles, Corfe Castle: 5.3 miles A glorious small farm available for the first time in 40 years in a protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with views of Corfe Castle and Poole Harbour. Farmhouse (AOC), 2 reception rooms, 3 bedrooms, barn and gardens. EPC = E About 127 acres | Guide £2.95 million Ashley Rawlings Savills Wimborne 01202 139 719 ashley.rawlings @savills.com
Fred Cook Savills Salisbury 01722 638 591 fred.cook@savills.com
savills
savills.co.uk
Outstanding Boutique Home Cobham, Surrey Cobham: 1.7 miles, Cobham & Stoke d’Abernon Station: 1.8 miles A beautifully refurbished Cobham home located just off Fairmile Lane. 3 reception rooms, 4 bedrooms (2 en suite), further bathroom, study, utility room, guest cloakroom, double garage and garden with a yoga studio. EPC = D About 0.4 acre | Guide £2.495 million Tim Harrison Savills Cobham 01932 911 433 tim.harrison @savills.com
Charles Broadbent-Combe Savills Cobham 01932 911 287 chbroadbent@savills.com
savills
savills.co.uk
This is the life.
Is it Yours?
Luxury Portfolio International® has some of the most diverse luxury real estate listings in the world. Let our exclusive network of well-connected, locally tuned brokers and agents find your next home.
luxuryportfolio.com @LUXURYPORTFOLIO
1 2
3
4 5 HASCOMBE , SURREY
A
beautiful Grade II listed country house situated amongst spectacular landscaped gardens. The property dates back to the 16th century and offers excellent ancillary accommodation for family living and entertaining. M A I N H O U S E : 6 B E D R O O M S | 7 B AT H R O O M S | 5 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S C O A C H H O U S E : 2 - 3 B E D R O O M S | 3 B AT H R O O M S | 1 - 2 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S I N D O OR SW I M MI N G P O O L | GY M | BI L L I A R D RO OM | JAC UZ Z I
3
D O U B L E G A R A G E | B O T H Y | B A R N | S TA B L E S | T E N N I S C O U R T K I T C H E N G A R D E N | PA D D O C K S | W O O D L A N D | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 2 0 A C R E S G O D A L M I N G 4 M I L E S ( L O N D O N WAT E R L O O F R O M 4 6 M I N U T E S )
Guide price available upon request Knight Frank London & Guildford bruce.tolmie-thomson@knightfrank.com 020 7861 1070 nigel.mitchell@knightfrank.com 01483 355875
Winner of six customer service experience awards in 2021
knightfrank.co.uk
1 2
3
4
UPAVON, WILTSHIRE
A
substantial hidden gem located in The Cleeve and situated in a commanding position overlooking its beautiful garden. The house offers 5,552 sq ft of accommodation plus a two bedroom cottage.
7 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 | 2 B E D R O O M S TA B L E C O T TA G E M AT U R E G A R D E N S & G R O U N D S | O U T B U I L D I N G S | W I N E C E L L A R | A P P R O X I M AT E LY 2 . 3 3 A C R E S | E P C E P E W S E Y 5 M I L E S ( L O N D O N PA D D I N G T O N F R O M 6 5 M I N U T E S ) | D E V I Z E S 1 0 M I L E S
Guide price available upon request Knight Frank London & Hungerford edward.cunningham@knightfrank.com 020 4502 7121 mark.potter@knightfrank.com 01488 758437 Ref: HNG012210226
knightfrank.co.uk Winner of six customer service experience awards in 2021
1 2 SIDMOUTH, DEVON
A
Grade II listed landmark property located in a magnificent cliff-top position with uninterrupted sea views. The property has extensive landscaped gardens and direct access to the beach.
6 B E D R O O M S | 4 B AT H R O O M S | 3 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S PA R K I N G F O R 5 CA R S | G A R AG E | T E R R AC E | F O R M A L L A N D S CA P E D G A R D E N S H O N I T O N 1 0 M I L E S ( L O N D O N WAT E R L O O F R O M 2 H O U R S 5 4 M I N U T E S ) | E X E T E R A I R P O R T 1 0 M I L E S
Guide price £2,950,000 Knight Frank London & Exeter hamish.humfrey@knightfrank.com 020 4502 7856 louise.glanville@knightfrank.com 01392 240978 Ref: EXE190077
knightfrank.co.uk Winner of six customer service experience awards in 2021
1 2
3 SWALCLIFFE , OXFORDSHIRE
A
delightful country house located in a quiet and rural location near Soho Farmhouse. Positioned within approximately four acres of delightful gardens and grounds, the property offers fabulous views.
7 B E D R O O M S | 5 R E C E P T I O N R O O M S | 4 B AT H R O O M S T E N N I S C O U R T | S W I M M I N G P O O L | S TA B L E S | PA D D O C K S | E P C F H O O K N O R T O N 2 M I L E S | S W E R F O R D 5 M I L E S | G R E AT T E W & S O H O FA R M H O U S E 9 M I L E S
Guide price £2,500,000 Knight Frank Oxford harry.sheppard@knightfrank.com 01865 987983 Ref: OXF150326
knightfrank.co.uk Winner of six customer service experience awards in 2021
Own It.
Co-owned dream homes p a ca so.com
DORKING, SURREY £2,000,000 FREEHOLD
[3 bedrooms] [5 bathrooms] [riverside location] [double garage] A beautifully restored Grade II listed water mill in an idyllic setting overlooking the River Mole only one mile from the town. The property has stunning gardens that adjoin the river and Mill Pond that can be enjoyed from the raised terrace perfect for entertaining. Hamptons Dorking
01306 867614
HAMPTONS.CO.UK
BOARS HILL, OXFORDSHIRE £2,750,000 FREEHOLD
[5 bedrooms] [3 receptions] [4 bathrooms] [garage & office] A spectacular detached family home which has been beautifully decorated and redesigned to offer open plan and flexible accommodation. The property is situated in a highly desirable location just outside Oxford and is set in beautiful landscaped gardens & grounds. EPC D. Hamptons Oxford
01865 986320
HAMPTONS.CO.UK
EVESHAM, WORCESTERSHIRE GUIDE PRICE £1,695,000 [6 bedrooms] [3 receptions] [3 bathrooms] A wonderful Grade II listed classic Georgian style home offering spacious accommodation over three floors with a three bedroom self contained annexe, walled garden, heated pool, gym & tennis court. Hamptons Broadway 01386 897876
EGHAM, SURREY £1,875,000 FREEHOLD
NEAR CIRENCESTER, GLOUCESTERSHIRE GUIDE PRICE £2,500,000
GUIDE PRICE
A stylish exceptional and immaculate five bedroom, 5600 sq ft family home set in two acres with a one bedroom detached cottage, two triple garages and a range of outbuildings. EPC B
A seven bedroom, five bathroom and five reception room handsome family home with kerb-appeal, set in mature landscaped gardens, with a selfcontained annexe and double garage. EPC C
Hamptons Cirencester 01285 895660
Hamptons Sunningdale 01344 985941 HAMPTONS.CO.UK
BEECH, HAMPSHIRE £2,250,000 FREEHOLD [7 bedrooms] [5 receptions] [3 bathrooms] An outstanding Victorian family house, full of character and style, standing in a tranquil village location with views, tennis court and gardens and grounds of c. 2.7 acres. EPC D Hamptons Alton 01420 446705
CHESHAM, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE GUIDE PRICE £1,500,000 FREEHOLD
CHALFONT-ST-GILES, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE £12,950 PCM FURNISHED
A charming four bedroom cottage set in lovely gardens and open countrywide to the rear. The bespoke kitchen with Aga is at the heart of the home. Outside is a driveway & double garage. EPC F
An outstanding executive six bedroom family home with seven bathrooms and three receptions, furnished to a superior level located behind security gates and with a triple garage. EPC B
Hamptons Amersham 01494 855703
Hamptons Gerrards Cross Lettings 01753 257531 HAMPTONS.CO.UK
Easter issue
CELEBRATING THE BRIGHTENING NIGHTS, LENGTHENING DAYS AND BLOSSOMING WILDLIFE THAT COMES WITH EASTER’S ARRIVAL ON S A L E A PR I L 13 , 2022
Don’t miss your chance to advertise in our Easter special issue Booking/copy deadline: March 30, 2022 For more information on advertising, please contact Lucy Khosla lucy.khosla@futurenet.com – 07583 106990
Only With Us property showcase
Only With Us All these properties appeared exclusively with us, 24 hours or more before Rightmove or Zoopla.
Washbourne, Devon
Witherley, Leicestershire
£1,600,000
guide price
A superb 17th century seven-bedroom property sympathetically restored to retain its character and set in approx. 1.7 acres. Contact: Totnes office 01803 268707
£995,000
offers over
Westcliffe, Kent
£1,950,000 guide price
A late Georgian country house providing six bedrooms and six reception rooms, as well as generous garaging and office space. Contact: Market Bosworth 01455 364852
A Grade II* listed five-bedroom family home set in approx. 2 acres with annexes, outbuildings and a tennis court. Contact: Deal office 01304 267926
Chadlington, Oxfordshire
Downholme, North Yorkshire
£1,000,000 guide price
£675,000 guide price
A detached four-bedroom home accessed via a private drive, with ample parking, and rural views on the edge of a well-served village.
A double fronted three-bedroom cottage, detached barn with planning permission, and a small paddock, in a popular village location.
Contact: Chipping Norton 01608 503956
Contact: Leyburn office 01969 738984
Create an alert To view these and the finest selection of premium properties, search OnTheMarket Ringwood, Hampshire
£2,950,000
guide price
A one-off opportunity to purchase one of the most spectacular residences in the whole of Avon Castle with panoramic rural views. Contact: Ringwood office 01425 292816
Harberton, Totnes
£600,000
guide price
A three-bedroom detached cottage in a rural but accessible location, with a large private garden and 3 acres of communal grounds. Contact: Totnes office 01803 268823
Verify at www.onthemarket.com/only-with-us/. Agents specify exclusivity.
at CountryLife.co.uk and set up a property alert today.
Cotswolds issue E X PLOR ING T HE SPLENDOUR OF T HE COTSWOLDS COU N T RYSIDE ON SA LE M AY 4, 2022
Don’t miss your chance to advertise in our Cotswolds special issue
Booking/copy deadline: April 20, 2022
For more information on advertising, please contact Julia Laurence julia.laurence@futurenet.com – 07971 923054
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
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
Drawing of St Dunstan-in-the-West by SPAB Scholar Ptolomy Dean
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.
Information about maintaining your home is available through events, courses, lectures, publications and telephone advice. To support our work why not join the SPAB? Members receive a quarterly magazine, our list of historic properties for sale and access to our regional activities.
www.spab.org.uk 020 7377 1644 A charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales. Company no: 5743962 Charity no: 1113753 37 Spital Square, London E1 6DY
The
Sale
Jewellery, Silver & Watches
Thursday 7th April 2022 at our Cambridge Sale Room
Lot 234 An important early 20th century diamond solitaire ring with accompanying certificate, 11.03ct colour L, clarity VS Estimate £40,000 - £60,000
For further information please contact Steven Collins – steven.collins@cheffins.co.uk Fay Roach – fay.roach@cheffins.co.uk E-catalogue for the entire sale available to view at www.cheffins.co.uk
Cheffins Fine Art, Clifton House, 1-2 Clifton Road, Cambridge, CB1 7EA T 01223 213343 E fine.art@cheffins.co.uk
cheffins.co.uk
Property market
Carla Passino
Bath time The launch of two striking period houses bring further appeal to the Regency city Rus in urbe: six-bedroom York Place, on the northern edge of Bath, Somerset, is set in about an acre of well-tended garden. £3.95m
T
HE instructions were peremptory: the builder of York Place, a Georgian house in Bath’s Richmond Road, was to complete it by 1794 and spend ‘no less than £300’ on the works. Although today’s equivalent (about £42,000) wouldn’t cover a small bungalow, a quick trawl through the National Archives shows that, at the time, it would have paid for about 2,000 days of skilled tradesmen’s work. The reason for
the owner’s lavish disposition, explains Alistair Heather of Savills, is that York Place, now for sale through Savills (01225 474500) and Knight Frank (01225 805228) at an asking price of £3.95 million, ‘was to be a real signature house’. It remains so today, thanks not only to its elegant architecture, but also to the extraordinary setting—even the entry for its Grade II listing notes the commanding hilltop position
on the city’s northern fringes. Incidentally, the listing dates the house as early 19th century, a few years after the 1794 deadline, suggesting schedule creep may have been as much an issue in Georgian times as it is today. For both Mr Heather and Charlie Taylor of Knight Frank, the most striking feature of the 7,309sq ft property is the beautiful garden, which, at about an acre, is a rare find in any urban home and particularly so in
116 | Country Life | March 23, 2022
CLI348.prop_market.indd 116
17/03/2022 12:48
Find the best properties at countrylife.co.uk
The interiors of York Place include an elegant entrance hall and first-floor drawing room
was originally intended, staff—although perhaps not quite as many as in 1820, when records show that six people attended to a family of four. Having lived at the property for more than 20 years, the current owners are ready to pass the baton to a new generation. With Bath in high demand ever since the remoteworking boom added an extra draw to the city’s allure, interest in York Place has been predictably high. Much of it comes from young families, who prize the house’s sense of space and sizeable plot, but also the home office above the garage and the proximity to good schools such as Royal High, St Stephen’s and Kingswood. If any prospective buyer is a keen tennis player, so much the better—York Place is on the doorstep of the Lansdown Tennis Club. ‘It’s the house you dream of selling as an estate agent,’ says Mr Heather, before adding (with a touch of wistfulness): ‘I love it.’ Should Bath need yet another claim to fame, the Netflix series Bridgerton provides it: many scenes were filmed in Jane Austen’s onetime home for Regency authenticity. The show’s new season is about to start and, with perfect timing, Strutt & Parker (01225 637531) are launching a Regency property where it would be easy to imagine Anthony Bridgerton brooding in his study or Lady Violet gently teasing one of her children in the drawing room. Perched in a lofty spot, taking in farreaching country views, Grade II-listed Box
House, with a guide of £6m, sits in five acres in the village of Box, about four miles from the city. ‘It is a superb example of a classic Old Rectory, in that it is built of Bath stone, with Classical elevations and a porticoed porch,’ says selling agent Andrew Cronan. The house’s history could also be straight out of Bridgerton. Situated on the site of one of the West of England’s largest Roman villas—a grand affair with 50 rooms and mosaic floors, according to Alan Payne, editor of local history website Box People and Places (www. boxpeopleandplaces.co.uk) —it was built for the Revd Dr Isaac William Webb Horlock, vicar of St Thomas à Becket Church, after the original rectory burnt down in 1805. Webb Horlock had had a lucky break in life: he was born male in a family in which that was a rare commodity. He found himself heir to his great-grandfather’s fortune—worth at least £20,000 by the time his mother married in 1754, albeit somewhat diminished later by his father’s bad banking investments. Even better, the estate included the advowson to the Box parish, of which he became vicar. Webb Horlock’s wealth expanded further with marriage; his wife, Ann Smith, was one of the many daughters of Leicestershire attorney Holled Smith, another man who had no male heir, and local historian David Ibberson believes her money may have funded the construction of Box House. An unfounded rumour even had it that the
The history of Grade II-listed Box House could be straight out of Bridgerton
Bath. The interior makes the most of the views, whether from the elegant entrance hall or the first-floor drawing room, which has floor-to ceiling windows. The house also has a sitting room and a formal dining room on the ground floor, featuring fine fireplaces and elegant cornicing, plus a bright kitchen/ breakfast room with Aga and a large orangery. Upstairs, split across two floors, are a television area and six bedrooms. A family could easily live on the ground and first floor, leaving the top one for guests or, as it
March 23, 2022 | Country Life | 117
CLI348.prop_market.indd 117
17/03/2022 12:48
Property market
A perfect small estate, Box House in Box has 13,500sq ft of living space, plus outbuildings, a coach house and a pool. £6m
vicar deliberately set fire to his previous home because it wasn’t grand enough. A few decades later, the gossip mill went into overdrive: ‘Box House became the centre of a village storm when vicar Dr Holled Darrell Cave Smith Horlock was accused of poisoning his heiress wife, Elizabeth Sudell, and his sister-in-law, Alice Sudell, at Christmas 1857,’ says Mr Payne. It was quickly proven groundless in an inquest, further supported by the fact that the slandered vicar didn’t inherit a penny, with the inheritance going to his grown children. Since the Horlock dynasty sold Box House in the late 19th century, it has had many incarnations, from boarding school to BT training centre and hotel, as well as home to Alfred Shaw Mellor and his formidable wife, Dora (a character reminiscent of Bertie Wooster’s Aunt Agatha, according to Mr Ibberson). The Shaw Mellors ‘were stalwarts of Box society, the Girl Guides movement and work to improve Box church,’ notes Mr Payne, who adds that the villagers are determined that Box House, with its Roman heritage and rich history, should be preserved and not redeveloped. Today, the property is a miniature estate, complete with main residence, coach house, outbuildings, outdoor pool and tennis court
and, although it is currently used as offices, ‘it wouldn’t take a lot to reverse it into a private house, because the fabric is in good order,’ says Mr Cronan, who believes planning consent for conversion should be possible to obtain because it was built and used as a house for many years. ‘The panelled doors, chimney pieces, stone and marble chimney surrounds, moulded ceilings… it’s all there.’ Equally appealing are the manicured grounds, which reach to the River Bybrook and feature a boating lake, a waterfall and several ponds, all set in landscaped Italianate gardens.
Overall, Box House offers about 13,500sq ft of living space, with permission in place to add another 15,000sq ft. ‘It could provide an indoor pool, underground car parking, party room with basement nightclub—the planning is there, so you can build as much or as little as you want,’ says Mr Cronan. With such an abundance of space, he sees Box House going to a family, ‘likely with school-age children, whether their own or the grandchildren. It will be a wonderful family home. I don’t think it will be a business’. Here’s hoping he’s right.
118 | Country Life | March 23, 2022
CLI348.prop_market.indd 118
17/03/2022 12:48
Be a winner at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show Green fingers not requıred Enter our prize draw and as well as entry to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, you’ll win a three-course lunch, music and live cookery; all part of Raymond Blanc OBE’s ‘Le Sunflower’ package. And later, you can admire ‘A Garden Sanctuary by Hamptons’. To enter, and for terms and conditions, visit hamptons.co.uk/CFS
Entry into the prize draw opens at 4pm on 1st April and will close at 5pm on 30th April 2022. Entrants must be 18 years old or over. Two separate winners will receive ‘Le Sunflower’ hospitality package for two which includes entry to RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022 for two. Runners up will receive two standard day tickets to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022. Selected dates only. Further terms and conditions apply.
Properties of the week
Annunciata Elwes
Coming up roses Roses are red, violets are blue, these houses are blooming and so are you Warwickshire, £1.75 million White roses and wisteria mingle in a carefree manner around the front door and sash windows of Georgian Stamford Hall Farm, eight miles from Stratford-upon-Avon near the village of Ettington. Set in just over eight acres—much of which, apart from the gardens, is wildflower meadow (and looks very pretty seen through the windows)—the secluded six-bedroom house has all the cornicing, fan lights, exposed timbers and fireplaces one expects from a property of its era. It is approached by two drives—one, from the west, from the ancient Fosse Way. A garage block is currently an artist’s studio, but could be a home office or separate accommodation. Savills (01295 228000) London N20, £1.95 million Historically in Hertfordshire and now technically in the far-northern realms of the capital, common land Totteridge Common is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation and was once a part of the former manor of Totteridge. Just around the corner on Totteridge Lane is a little idyll in the form of a one-acre garden of mature shrubs, roses and trees overlooking farmland and greenbelt, attached to fivebedroom Willow House. Although Grade II listed and dating back to the 16th century, various additions were made from the 18th to the 20th century and planning permission has previously been granted for an extension to the rear, opening the house further into the garden. Hamptons (020–3369 4283) 120 | Country Life | March 23, 2022
CLI348.props_week.indd 120
17/03/2022 12:08
Properties of the week
Bedfordshire, £860,000 Those lucky Rothschild laundry maids… The day job may have required more elbow grease than I care for, but the living arrangements were not that bad at all. Grade II-listed Laundry Lodge was built in the 1850s to house the laundry and its maids’ accommodation for Mentmore Towers, which is said to have once housed the finest ever collection of art and furniture, sold in a great sale in the 1970s. Opposite St Mary’s Church in the Aylesbury Vale village, the Lodge’s well-curated half-acre is centred around a fragrant rose garden, with mature trees, vegetables and areas planted for wildlife; indoors, there are high ceilings, original fireplaces and cottage windows, plus two reception rooms, a breakfast room off the kitchen, three bedrooms and a home office. For those commuting by train, Leighton Buzzard and Aylesbury are within easy reach. Jackson Stops (01525 290641)
Kent, £2.25 million Old English roses and established yews are scattered about the well-kept garden at Gould Farm, a medieval hall house with a timbered front elevation similarly adorned in yellow blooms. Grade II listed, with 16th- and 18th-century additions, unusual architectural features include original mullion windows, a medieval oak screen, jettied cross wing and a crown post roof. The property comes with about 2¾ acres of gardens and paddock, as well as a separate home office in an old brick bakehouse, and adorns a tiny hamlet formerly known as The Brook, just outside the village of Frittenden, nine miles from Tenterden. A separate stables and tractor store could be converted for residential use, subject to consent. Phillips & Stubbs (01797 227338)
122 | Country Life | March 23, 2022
CLI348.props_week.indd 122
17/03/2022 12:08
Advertisement promotion
Outdoor attractions
From pods to stonework, discover four fresh ideas to turn your garden into the perfect place to relax and enjoy spring
Architectural Heritage
The Handmade Garden Collections are the first choice for many award-winning garden designers and private clients alike. These six collections, each defined by a different material, include fountains, planters, sundials, furniture, statuary and ornaments. The Forged Iron Collection, in particular, features an extensive range of dining tables, chairs and garden seating inspired by 19th-century French originals. Each hand-crafted piece is zincgalvanised to protect against rust, then primed and painted to standard white, or to a paint colour and brand of your choice. (01386 584414; www.architectural-heritage.co.uk)
Podmakers Limited
9000
Podmakers specialises in designing unique outdoor spaces. The Escape Pod’s organic shape and high-quality contemporary interior provides the perfect place to work, meditate, socialise or sleep. Each pod is made bespoke to your needs, from the window placement to the furnishings and fittings. Pods are prefabricated in our workshop in the Gloucestershire countryside and installed in your garden by the company’s small team. They adhere to planning laws, so planning permission is not required in most cases—advice can be provided. Please contact Podmakers for more information. (01285 343016; www.podmakers.co.uk) 30
Haddonstone
This family-owned Northamptonshire brand has been handcrafting its made-to-order, cast-stone home, garden and landscaping designs for more than 50 years. Available in a range of tasteful colours, its extensive selection of products includes planters, water features, garden furniture and statuary, as well as bird baths, bird tables and sundials. For larger landscaping projects, its highly skilled, vastly experienced team can produce garden buildings, paving and balustrading. Haddonstone’s beautiful Show Gardens are open to visitors by appointment throughout the year. (01604 770711; www.haddonstone.com)
The Wilverley Idler
The Idler swing seat is the perfect antidote to today’s frenzied and hurried lifestyle, truly enabling you to take it easy and while away whole afternoons doing as much or as little as you choose. Made for the British summer, the Idler swingseat from Wilverley is a traditionally upholstered swinging garden sofa. Marine canvas, spring cushions and a 100% stainless-steel frame ensure the Idler is not only a fair-weather friend. It will transform your summers, enticing you to sit back in the garden and smell the roses in unequalled comfort and style. Wilverley can ship internationally, £2,200. (01843 603462; www.wilverley.com)