Country Life: 27th July 2022 Early Property Pages

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ONE FAMILY SPECIALISING IN FINE FURNITURE SINCE 1866

A very fine mahogany and etimoe veneered cocktail table, the Morado and Primavera crossbanded top with fine stringing and a paper twist marquetry design in sycamore and mother of pearl, inlaid to the center with a bold flowerhead with mother of pearl floral details, bound in brass above a paneled frieze with floral brass accents and brass inlay, on fluted columns with acanthus capitals and bases, joined by a Primavera crossbanded concave sided undertier.

Inspired by an Empire original designed by Stephen Church.

£8,935

Width: 63¾ inches (162cm) Depth: 41 inches (106cm) Height: 20¾ inches (53cm)

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

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OXFORDSHIRE

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RG9 5DD (OPEN TUES-SAT)

KING’S RD

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LONDON

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SW6 2DX (OPEN MON-FRI)

1 2

3 REF: STW012209658

Kingham, Oxfordshire 5 bedrooms | 3 bathrooms | 4 reception rooms | 2 barns | Potential games room/storage | Home office | Guest annexe | Workshop Garden store & covered entertaining space | Parking area for several cars | Approximately 0.5 acre | EPC D | Freehold

A stunning period home presented in beautiful order throughout, on the edge of the North Cotswolds' most desirable village.

Daylesford 1.3 miles | Kingham station 1.4 miles (London Paddington from 80 minutes) | Chipping Norton 4 miles

Guide price £4,000,000 Knight Frank London & Stow-on-the-Wold jamie.robson@knightfrank.com 020 4502 7203

leigh.glazebrook@knightfrank.com 01451 888130

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ASPLEY GUISE, BEDFORDSHIRE Asking Price: £1,750,000

5 Bedrooms | 3 Reception Rooms | 2 Bathrooms | D EPC

An Edwardian house dating from 1907 and built in the Lutyens style of brick and render with a tiled roof. The house is set well back from the road on a plot of 0.31 acres of mature private gardens and terraces and offers 3,079 sq. ft. of immaculately presented living space. There is extensive driveway parking at the front and open views over mature woodland.

Michael Graham Woburn Sands Richard Tyrrell 01908 586400 Michael Graham London Bob Bickersteth 0207 839 0888

michaelgraham.co.uk michaelgraham_living

1 2 3 4

REF: HAR012284096

Upper Poppleton, North Yorkshire

7 bedrooms | 6 bathrooms | 4 reception rooms | Cinema/games room & gym | 3 bay car port with store | Store room Summer house | Mature walled gardens | EPC C | Freehold

This remarkable, architect designed house was completed 22 years ago to an impressive scale using the finest materials.

York 2 miles | A1 10 miles | Harrogate 18 miles | Leeds 25 miles | London 110 minutes

Guide price £2,950,000 Knight Frank London & Harrogate edward.welton@knightfrank.com 020 4502 7216

daniel.rigg@knightfrank.com 01423 593115

Blenkin & Co sales@blenkinandco.com 01904 671672

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Magnificent Bespoke Family Home Sunningdale, Berkshire Sunningdale: 0.8 miles, Virginia Water: 4.6 miles, Heathrow Airport: 9.4 miles Titlarks House is a stunning and truly bespoke family home of epic proportions, designed and built to an exceptional standard with some of the finest finishes throughout. 8 reception rooms, 7 bedrooms (5 en suite), study, library/cigar room, media/games room, gym, indoor swimming pool, treatment room, steam room, sauna, 2 double garages, entertaining patio and landscaped gardens. Freehold | Council Tax Band = H | EPC = B

About 1.4 acres | Guide £19.5 million

Trevor Kearney Savills London Office 07807 999 872 tkearney@savills.com

Charles Broadbent-Combe Savills Sunningdale 07972 000 224 chbroadbent@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Somerset, Brompton Regis

A superb residential farm in an enviable location on Exmoor Dulverton: 4.5 miles, Tiverton Parkway Station: 22 miles, Taunton: 24 miles, Exeter: 28 miles Grade II listed 5-bedroom farmhouse | 3-Bedroom barn conversion | Courtyard of traditional stone buildings A number of large commercial farm buildings | Productive pasture split between well-fenced enclosures Dramatic valley and woodland with involvement in a neighbouring shoot About 219 acres (88 ha) For sale as a whole

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

Guide Price £5,200,000

Chris Johnson

Will Whittaker

South West Estates & Farm Agency 01392 229 408

National Estates & Farm Agency 020 7318 5166

chris.johnson@struttandparker.com

will.whittaker@struttandparker.com

/struttandparker

@struttandparker

struttandparker.com

Exclusive Gated Residence Oxshott, Surrey Cobham: 4.5 miles, Central London: 17 miles, London Heathrow: 21.4 miles Regency House is a striking white stucco residence built in recent years by Royalton, located on the exclusive Crown Estate with stunning interiors and well-thought-out gardens. 8 reception rooms, 5 en suite bedrooms, study, wine room, cinema room, gated driveway, triple garage, 4G astro football pitch and landscaped gardens.

Freehold | Council Tax Band = H | EPC = B

About 1 acre | Guide £7 million

Trevor Kearney Savills London Office 07807 999 872 tkearney@savills.com

Louis Winterbourne Savills Cobham 07807 999 285 lwinterbourne@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Wonderful Country Estate Binsted, Hampshire Bentley: 2.7 miles, Alton: 3.9 miles, London: 50 miles Conveniently located and fertile estate with excellent development, sporting and biodiversity opportunities. Unlisted 8 bedroom principal house, traditional courtyard with planning to convert into 4 dwellings, 4 further rental cottages and rolling countryside with a popular shoot. Available as a whole and in lots. Freehold | Council Tax Band = H | EPC = D-F

About 569 acres | Guide £12.5 million Alex Lawson Savills National Farms and Estates 020 4579 8955 alawson@savills.com

Geoffrey Jones Savills Winchester 01962 418 710 geoffrey.jones@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Elegant Regency House Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire Princes Risborough: 0.9 miles, Central London: 38 miles Wonderful family home situated in a rural yet accessible position, retaining its delightful original character and charm with a contemporary extension. 4 reception rooms, 4 bedrooms (2 en suite), family bathroom, swimming pool, workshops, separate 4 bedroom Coach House, double garage, stabling, manège, lake, woodland and beautiful landscaped gardens and grounds. Freehold | Council Tax Band = H

About 5.06 acres | Guide £4.5 million Hugh Maconochie Savills London Country Department 020 4579 6437 hmaconochie@savills.com

Chris Moorhouse Savills Beaconsfield 01494 211 640 cmoorhouse@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Blair Imrie Period Home Esher, Surrey Esher: 0.4 miles, Kingston Upon Thames: 5.43 miles Beautiful home tucked away in a private estate with stunning views. 4 reception rooms, principal bedroom with en suite and dressing room, 4 further bedrooms, 4 further bathrooms, self-contained annexe, swimming pool and manicured grounds.

Freehold | Council Tax Band = H | EPC = D

About 0.61 acre | Offers in excess of £4 million Trevor Rawlings Savills Esher 01372 898 308 ttrawings@savills.com

Trevor Kearney Savills London Office 020 4579 8437 tkearney@Savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Heart of The South Downs Weston, Hampshire Petersfield: 3 miles, Winchester: 22 miles Exquisite Grade II listed farmhouse with attached tithe barn conversion, vineyard and land. 4 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms (2 en suite), further bathroom, swimming pool, outbuildings including garaging and studio, gardens, orchard and paddocks. Available as a whole or in 5 lots, including 249.3 acres of additional arable land and woodland. Freehold | Council Tax Band = H | EPC = F

Lot 1: About 11.17 acres | Guide £3.15 million Geoffrey Jones Savills Winchester Rural 01962 418 780 geoffrey.jones@savills.com

Camilla Elwell Savills London Country Department 020 4579 9626 camilla.elwell@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Idyllic Rural Setting Blackheath, Surrey Guildford: 4 miles, Dorking: 10 miles, London: 36 miles A substantial family home in this picturesque and popular location. 5 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms (3 en suite), 1 further bathroom, breathtaking countryside views, entertaining area, garaging and large store.

Freehold | Council Tax Band = G | EPC = E

Guide £2.25 million Alastair Mercer Savills Guildford 01483 945 379 alastair.mercer@savills.com

Lee Shipp Savills Guildford 01483 944 572 lee.shipp@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Sensational Panoramic Views St George’s Hill, Weybridge Cobham: 2.6 miles, Weybridge: 2.9 miles Striking mansion situated at the summit of St George’s Hill private estate. 3 reception rooms, 6-7 bedrooms, 6-7 bathrooms, study, day room, annexe, double garage and landscaped gardens.

Freehold | Council Tax Band = H | EPC = B

About 1 acre | Guide £6.5 million Trevor Kearney Savills London Office 020 4579 6087 tkearney@savills.com

Simon Ashwell Savills Weybridge 01932 731 165 sashwell@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Your home is more than just bricks and mortar.

It’s that round-the-world trip you didn’t take in your twenties, the holiday home you’ve been dreaming of, the long-term security for you and your loved ones.

With modern Equity Release, your property can open the door to a more fulfilling future.

Take a different path with Knight Frank Finance.

Your property, your choice.

Equity release is a market on the move. With a rapidly increasing number of sophisticated products available, coupled with reductions in costs, it’s no wonder that more and more wealthy homeowners consider it an essential part of their financial planning. This growing popularity is down to the flexibility of modern forms of equity release: a sensible way of maximising your most precious asset, your home, to make lifestyle choices for you and your family, while reducing the inheritance tax liability for those you leave behind.

Here’s how it works. Your main residence will be subject to inheritance tax, but for those over 55, taking what’s known as a lifetime mortgage can help reduce this future liability. A lifetime mortgage lets you release capital from your property and move it out of your estate, thereby reducing its overall taxable value.

Doing this means you can also make financial gifts to your family and see them enjoy the benefits of your wealth within your lifetime, whether that be helping younger family members take their first step on the housing ladder or covering the costs of your grandchildren’s education.

What’s more, equity release can help you realise other personal goals: a kitchen makeover or a holiday home by the sea, perhaps. That’s because modern equity release products like lifetime mortgages allow you to take a lump sum, a fixed monthly amount or enjoy the flexibility of accessing funds as and when you need them, all with an interest rate that’s fixed for life.

Equity release opens doors by putting you in control.

Whatever aspirations top your wish list, equity release can play an important role in achieving them.

Making use of your property wealth in this way requires careful consideration and specialist advice. That’s where Knight Frank Finance’s Later Life Finance team can help.

Knight Frank comes with a 126-year legacy of property expertise and we offer the same outstanding service when it comes to finance.

Our trusted advice and detailed knowledge have helped hundreds of homeowners achieve their property goals, so why not let us demonstrate how your property can open the door to a more fulfilling future.

Contact our equity release expert, David Forsdyke, on 01483 491 069 or david.forsdyke@knightfrankfinance.com

Rutherstone presents a selection of unique properties in the delightful village of Hawkesbury Upton.

Sympathetically designed in keeping with their Cotswold setting, each of the 14 private homes available has been individually designed to suit the ever-changing needs of modern life.

Striking façades reflective of the architectural heritage of the surrounding village blend seamlessly with thoughtfully designed layouts for modern lifestyles. With homes benefiting from open plan living, ideal for entertaining or relaxation.

Prices from £775,000 for a four-bedroom home

spitfirehomes.co.uk To schedule your private appointment to view, please call 0117 317 1974.

Rutherstone, Park Street, Hawkesbury Upton GL9 1BA

1 2 3 4

REF: EDN012258876

Kelso, Scottish Borders

5 bedrooms | 5 bathrooms | Open plan reception room | Walled garden with barbeque & games areas | Large private driveway Timber garage | Trout fishing rights | EPC C | Freehold

An imaginative Georgian mill conversion in a spectacular position with a wonderful outlook on the banks of The River Teviot.

Kelso 4.5 miles | Jedburgh 9.5 miles | Edinburgh 48 miles

Offers in excess of £895,000 Knight Frank Melrose james.denne@knightfrank.com 01896 888502

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Only With Us property showcase

Llangunllo, Powys

£925,000

Guide price

Carradale, Argyll and Bute

£625,000

Offers over

Thorpe Arnold, Leicestershire

£825,000

Offers in excess of

A spacious home suited to multi-generational family living with panoramic views set within approx. 7.5 acres (3.04ha).

Contact: Ludlow office 01584 539966

A substantial five-bedroom house, set on the fringe of the village of Carradale with views over the surrounding countryside.

Contact: Oban office 01631 583984

An elegant Grade II listed three storey, five-bedroom detached period residence, retaining many original character features.

Contact: Melton Mowbray 01664 518924

Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire

Stainton, South Yorkshire

Ashford, Kent

£875,000

£550,000

Guide price

£825,000

Guide price

‘A cottage to die for’. This period gem actually featured within the popular television series ‘Midsomer Murders’.

Contact: Thame office 01844 447905

The Old Vicarage is a rare 17th century, sixbedroom manor house oozing character on a generous plot with a stream in the grounds.

Contact: Rotherham office 01709 619794

This attractive Grade II listed farmhouse is full of interesting features, with a generous driveway and garden with mature trees.

Contact: Ashford office 01233 238793

Denshaw, Greater Manchester

Jacobstow, Southcott, Cornwall

Rednal, Shropshire

£305,000

Offers in excess of

An attractive period cottage with plenty of character situated in a lovely garden with cobbled courtyard and private driveway.

Contact: Saddleworth office 01457 356551

£850,000

Guide price

Five-bedroom barn conversion with annexe in 5.33 acres. An ideal family home or has previously been run as a successful holiday let.

Contact: Launceston office 01566 339972

Verify at www.onthemarket.com/only-with-us/. Agents specify exclusivity.

£1,100,000 Guide price

A characterful five-bedroom farm house with vaulted drawing room and minstrels gallery, set within 1.13 acres of mature grounds.

Contact: Shrewsbury office 01743 534859

All these properties appeared exclusively with us, 24 hours or more before Rightmove or Zoopla.

Deal, Kent

£895,000

Guide price

Fern, Angus

£475,000

Offers over

Newton under Roseberry, £1,250,000 Offers over North Yorkshire

The Briars is a substantial, beautifully presented detached family house with original features and lovely, mature gardens.

Contact: Deal office 01304 267926

Outstanding country property in a secluded setting with beautiful gardens and grounds of around 6 acres.

Contact: Cupar office 01334 408969

A fine Grade II listed village house, with a substantial range of buildings and outstanding views of Roseberry Topping.

Contact: Stokesley office 01642 966693

Leigh, Surrey

Bath, Somerset

Kingswood, Surrey

£995,000 Guide price

A delightful, detached period home in an unspoilt rural location with glorious views over surrounding farmland and a large garden.

Contact: Dorking office 01306 293954

£2,250,000 Guide price

A detached Grade II listed home with a one-bedroom cottage combining the best of Georgian and Victorian architecture.

Contact: Bath office 01225 288677

£2,500,000

Guide price

This impressive Costain house enjoys privacy in its unspoilt, original plot of some 1.25 acres with magnificent gardens.

Contact: Kingswood office 01737 483772

Create an alert To view these and the finest selection of premium properties, search OnTheMarket Bressingham, Norfolk

£875,000 Guide price

A four-bedroom listed period house with barn set in 4.77 acres of garden and paddocks in a quiet location.

Contact: Diss office 01379 441944

Wedhampton, Wiltshire

£785,000

Guide price

A Grade II listed picture perfect fourbedroom house with guest annexe and an outstanding garden.

Contact: Devizes office 01380 584955

at CountryLife.co.uk and set up a property

Create alert alert today.

HIGHSIDE FARM BASSENTHWAITE, KESWICK, CUMBRIA, CA12 4QG Rare to the market. Overall the farm extends to approximately 114.16 Ha (282.16 Ac) and includes a Grade II Listed farmhouse and full farm steading along with a successful holiday accommodation business. The farm has outstanding views over Bassenthwaite Lake and beyond to the dramatic scenery.

SOLD AS A WHOLE OR IN LOTS GUIDE PRICE £4,000,000 0333 920 2220

sales@georgefwhite.co.uk

georgefwhite.co.uk

Property is now on Instagram

Gables Farm offers a rare opportunity to renovate an impressive 17th Century Grade II listed farmhouse with outbuildings set in grounds extending to around 4.5 acres. Aspects of the property need to be renovated and modernized which is reflected in the price. Gables Farm has an abundance of original features, including; exposed timber, mullion windows, raised hearths, inglenook fireplaces and cellar.

The property holds a superb position with a great deal of privacy/seclusion within the rear gardens. In essence the gardens wrap around the property now well established with a great deal of privacy/seclusion within. A large area abuts the rear of the property creating an excellent space for alfresco dining whilst t he rear garden backs onto rural farmland giving pleasing views.

Located within the sought-after village of Roydon, the property enjoys a superb position set adjoining the village of Roydon off a small country lane in a rural yet not isolated situation.

Roydon has proved to have been a popular and desirable location having an attractive assortment of many period and modern properties, country paths for walking and cycling, found just two miles to the west of Diss still retaining a good range of day-to-day amenities by way of having petrol station with village shop, schooling, public house, community hall and fine church. The historic market town of Diss offers a more extensive and diverse range of many country amenities such as country pubs, markets, cafés as well as fine dining restaurants along with the benefit of a mainline railway station with regular/direct services to London Liverpool Street and Norwich. The accommodation briefly comprises a kitchen/breakfast room, dining room, sitting room, study, utility, and a shower room. The kitchen also gives access to a loft room/possible bedroom via a steep staircase. 5 bedrooms (2 interlinked) and 3 bathrooms.

There is a further staircase leading to extensive attic space, which could be well-suited to conversion (STP). The property sits within grounds of approximately 4.5 acres and a further 3.5 acres (STMS) may be available by separate negotiation.

The extensive outbuildings (approx. 115sq.m) were previously granted planning consent t o convert into a 3 bedroom barn conversion which has recently lapsed (June 2022). Details upon request.

T: 01379 642233

CL WP.indd 1

Durrants, 2b Market Hill, Diss IP22 4JZ

www.durrants.com

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20/07/2022 14:43

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

Country Life International

Mediterranean gems Holly Kirkwood has the pick of properties across the Balearic Islands

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LESSED with natural beauty, balmy weather and excellent transport links, Spain’s Balearic Islands have a great deal to offer buyers looking for a holiday home.

Mallorca has consistently been one of Europe’s most popular locations because of the sheer variety of properties and settings: buyers can choose from historic fincas in dramatic mountain locations, pretty village houses and elegant modern villas with magnificent sea views. Smaller and more laid back, Menorca was an early adopter of sustainable tourism and now has everything from exceptional country estates to modern holiday homes dotted along its coastline.

Ibiza, the archipelago’s most buzzing island, has grown up in recent years.

The young, cool people who partied here a decade ago now have children of their own and there is a more sophisticated glamour to the island. Rambling villas in the hills to the north are favoured by a bohemian crowd; buyers who want to be near the still-vibrant party scene should look closer to San Antonio and Ibiza Town.

Santa Maria, Mallorca €3.495 million This picture-perfect finca only minutes from the centre of Santa Maria provides far-reaching views to the Tramuntana mountains. It’s an ideal property for entertaining: the kitchen leads directly onto the terrace, which is a perfect spot for long lazy lunches. The ground level has two bedrooms; upstairs are the main suite and two further bedrooms, plus a terrace with sensational views. Expansive covered terraces surround the property, which also boasts a large swimming pool and landscaped gardens. Engel & Völkers (00 34 97 162 1629; www.engelvoelkers.com)

Portals, Mallorca €4.95 million This striking villa is close to the marina at Puerto Portals and Portals Nous village, so is ideal for buyers interested in water sports. Downstairs, the open-plan kitchen and dining areas lead out to a spacious terrace, saltwater pool and summer kitchen. Upstairs are the master and guest suites and two further bedrooms. Engel & Völkers (00 34 97 167 6836; www.engelvoelkers.com)

Porto Cristo, Mallorca €11.5 million This substantial country house has been built using traditional materials and makes a perfect retreat for both weekends and longer stays. There are six bedroom suites in total—three within the guest houses—plus a number of charming living areas inside and out, which include extensive terraces, an outdoor cinema and an outdoor kitchen. There is also a 25-metre (82ft) pool with a pool house, and jogging trails traverse the 27 acres of immaculate gardens and grounds.

Savills (020–7016 3866; www.savills.com)

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16th Century Estate Soller, Mallorca Palma Airport: 25 miles Two beautifully renovated homes situated in a peaceful valley between the picturesque villages of Soller and Deia. 2 houses with flexible accommodation, 8 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, original features, swimming pool, hotel license, mountain views, several terraces, private and mature Mediterranean gardens.

Freehold

About 1.5 acres | Guide €4.3 million Alice Storrie Savills Global Residential 020 4579 8487 astorrie@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Country Life International Formentor, Mallorca Price on application The owners of this waterside property on the northernmost tip of the island enjoy direct access onto the beach.

The main villa has large, chic living spaces on the ground floor—including a fantastic kitchen and a home cinema— and four bedroom suites. Upstairs, the master suite has its own private terrace and there is a roof terrace with summer kitchen and bar. The handsome guesthouse can sleep up to eight and the grounds feature a pool and several outdoor terraces. Knight Frank (020– 7861 5034; www.knightfrank.co.uk)

San José, Ibiza Price on application This seven-bedroom villa in the prestigious Vista Alegre development in the south-west of the island is a perfect example of indoor-outdoor living. The large openplan living and dining area enjoys an abundance of natural light from floor-to-ceiling glass doors and magnificent views of Las Brisas, Las Salinas and Formentera. The master suite is on the ground floor and, outside, the terrace houses an L-shaped infinity pool and a large covered porch ideal for entertaining.

There also are four additional bedroom suites, each with a private terrace, plus staff accommodation and a charming one-bedroom guesthouse set within the pretty landscaped gardens. Savills’ associate Lucas Fox (00 34 971 590 630; www.savills.com)

Siesta, Ibiza €11.95 million Located on a hillside on the east of the island, this modern waterside villa affords spectacular views out across the Mediterranean. The living areas and a staff apartment are located on the ground floor. The kitchen opens onto the large terrace with its saltwater pool and pool house, which doubles up as cinema. Upstairs are three double bedroom suites and a second living room, plus, one floor up, the master suite and a large private terrace. A staircase leads up to the roof deck, which turns this house into an amazing party pad. Engel & Völkers (00 34 97 180 7180; www.engelvoelkers.com) Alaior, Menorca €6.4 million Located in a spectacular setting on Menorca’s south coast, this finca has been renovated to preserve its wonderful character. The living areas are open, spacious and cool—the spectacular period fireplace and stone oven have been preserved as features—and there are six bedrooms in total. Several auxiliary buildings for agricultural use are dotted across the more than 207 acres of land. Outside, the infinity pool is set next to a set of natural caves, which make a handy spot for relaxing in the shade. Engel & Völkers (00 34 971 179 700; www.engelvoelkers.com)

28 | Country Life | July 27, 2022

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Luxurious Country Oasis Andratx, Mallorca Beautiful country home in an elevated position with expansive views. 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, underfloor heating throughout, tiled swimming pool, several terraces and manicured gardens.

Freehold

About 4.5 acres | Guide €3.25 million

Alice Storrie Savills Global Residential 020 4579 8487 astorrie@savills.com

Lavish Character Home Pollensa, Mallorca Newly renovated property within easy reach of Pollensa and the coast. 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, garage, swimming pool and newly landscaped gardens.

Freehold

About 6 acres | Guide €3.975 million

Alice Storrie Savills Global Residential 020 4579 8487 astorrie@savills.com

savills

savills.co.uk

Property market

Penny Churchill

Heroic restorations Three fine country homes have had new life breathed into them by their determined owners

Above and below: Saved from certain ruin, Runnymede Park, designed by Samuel Wyatt, offers 8,600sq ft of space on the Thames. £8m

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RITING in COUNTRY L IFE (May 11, 2000) of Grade I-listed Runnymede Park near Englefield Green, Surrey, the architectural historian John Martin Robinson commented: ‘Although many fine country houses were demolished in the aftermath of the Second World War, it is remarkable how many others have been rescued from the brink of demolition or ruin by optimistic and determined owners.

Runnymede Park in Surrey is a perfect example of such a heroic rescue.’

Known as Crippsfield in the Middle Ages when it was owned by Chertsey Abbey, Runnymede passed to the Crown at the Dissolution in 1538 and was later acquired

by Edmund Hilles, who built a home on lower ground to the south of the present house and owned the estate from 1575 to 1633.

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Find the best properties at countrylife.co.uk In 1760, John Jebb, Dean of Cashel in Co Tipperary, bought the old house and estate for £1,400. He died in 1787, leaving his property to his son, David, a prosperous flour miller who owned mills at Slane and Drogheda. He had the old house demolished and commissioned Samuel Wyatt to build the present one between 1789 and 1792 on a more elevated site to take advantage of the fine view south-east over Runnymede towards the River Thames and London. By a series of purchases and exchanges, including that of some Crown land in 1807, and the diversion of the nearby main road away from the house, he also established the boundaries of the park—still some 66½ acres overall.

That part of the house subsequently fell down, with a crash, one night David Jebb would have known of the Wyatt brothers—Samuel and his younger brother, James—through his Irish and milling connections. James designed Slane Castle for Jebb’s Irish business partner, William Conyngham, and Samuel designed and built, in 1783–86, England’s first steam-powered flour mill, Albion Mill at Blackfriars, London, a company with which Jebb was also involved.

Interestingly, Samuel was only confirmed as the designer of Runnymede Park by the relatively recent discovery of handwritten draft sales particulars in the Surrey Record Office, prepared when Jebb got into financial difficulties and was forced to sell the estate in 1805. Two Wyatt-office plans for the ground and first floors of the house also survive. They show the layout of the house much as it is today, with the drawing room and dining room, each 27ft by 19ft, on either side of the garden entrance, and a smaller library, main staircase and servants’ accommodation on the entrance front, with four principal bedrooms and two dressing rooms on the first floor.

From 1929 until 1939, when it was requisitioned by the military, Runnymede Park was the home of Lady King, the eldest sister of the 1st Viscount Rothermere. Following Lady King’s death in 1945, it was sold in poor condition to a company that planned to develop the park as a zoo, a project that never materialised. The house was to remain empty from 1945 to 1977.

Mr Robinson relates how ‘by the 1970s, most of the roof had gone, the interior was

Charlton Court in Kent was converted back from a school into a single residence. £6.5m

a demonstration case of dry rot and the subsidiary service wing was teetering on the brink of collapse. That part of the house subsequently fell down, with a loud crash, one night’. The way things were going, Runnymede Park might have been a prime candidate for inclusion in the ‘Destruction of the Country House’ exhibition at the V&A in 1974.

Instead, it was bought that year by Mr and Mrs Robert Collins who, in the course of the ensuing 20 years, painstakingly repaired the fabric of the building, redecorated and furnished the interior and also rebuilt the stables. Both having recently died, Runnymede Park is for sale, for the first time in 47 years, at a guide price of £8 million through Strutt & Parker’s country department (020–7591 2213).

The house offers more than 8,600sq ft of Classical living space on three floors, including a reception hall, three elegant reception rooms, a summer room, study and kitchen/breakfast room on the ground floor; the principal bedroom suite, three further bedrooms, two bathrooms and a roof terrace on the first floor; and a two-bedroom guest annexe on the second floor. It comes with a courtyard of four secondary dwellings, all currently let and producing a steady income.

Over in the garden of England, Will Peppitt of Savills Country Department (020–7409 5945) is handling the sale, at a guide price of £6.5m, of the impeccably restored Charlton Court at East Sutton, six miles south of Maidstone. Originally designed in 1612 by the early English architect, John Thorpe, for Sir Edward Filmer, High Sheriff of Kent, the house was remodelled and extended in Victorian times and sold following the death of Sir Robert Filmer during the First World War. From 1936, the imposing, 14,800sq ft building, listed Grade II, which stands high on the Greensand Ridge overlooking the Weald of Kent, was adapted for use as a school, which closed its doors in 1992.

It then stood empty for a time before being acquired by its current owner, who put together an ambitious scheme to convert the main building back into a single residence and restore the historic gardens. Charlton Court is being sold with some 23 acres of gardens and parkland, with a two-bedroom cottage and additional land available by separate negotiation.

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Property market

Above and right: Grade II-listed Lewins in Kent, built by J. M. Brydon, stands in 3.75 acres on the edge of Crockham Hill. £2.995m a reception hall, two main reception rooms, a family room, study, bespoke kitchen and breakfast room, plus a conservatory with doors leading to an outdoor terrace, a gym and a spectacular indoor/outdoor swimming pool complex. An impressive turned-oak staircase leads to a galleried landing and the two upper floors, where nine bedroom suites are located.

The renovation of Grade II-listed Lewins at Crockham Hill, six miles from Sevenoaks, Kent, has been a labour of love for interior designer Ashton Taylor Smith, whose home it has been since 2017. The elegant, 5,485sq ft house comprises the greater part of a Gothicstyle Victorian building designed in the mid 1870s by the architect J. M. Brydon, a colleague of Richard Norman Shaw, for Peter Robinson, the founder of London’s first great department store. It is now on the market through Savills in Sevenoaks (01732 789700) at a guide price of £2.995m.

Once the focal point of a grand Victorian estate, Lewins had interiors designed by the Suffragists and interior designers Rhoda and Agnes Garrett, who were apprenticed to Brydon before going on to found the first

interior-design company in Britain to be run by women. Agnes also worked alongside William Morris and one of his wallpaper designs now graces the library at Lewins. Miss Taylor Smith’s refurbishment translates the dynamic spirit of that era to today’s interiors with a lightness of touch that enhances the elaborate Victorian architecture: of particular note is the light-filled, central Great Hall with its moulded ceilings and Ionic pillars.

Lewins stands in 3¾ acres of delightful gardens and grounds on the edge of Crockham Hill village with far-reaching southerly views.

The house offers stylish accommodation on two floors including, in addition to the Great Hall and library, a large drawing room, a study, kitchen/breakfast room, butler’s pantry and garden room. Upstairs, all five bedrooms have either en suites or adjoining bath/shower rooms with lovely views over the gardens.

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Property comment

Annunciata Elwes

In with the new There’s no doubt about it–new-build homes are increasingly popular. From convenience and preference for local materials to environmental benefits, Annunciata Elwes finds out why

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ESPITE the lamented shortages of everything from timber to glass, not to mention workers, which has hampered the completion of many a property this year, the popularity of new-builds appears to be steadily rising. In fact, research from global investment gurus JLL shows that annual reservations in Q1 2022 were up by 45%.

‘Covid-19 highlighted the importance that you need to love where you live,’ explains Maria Harikantra of JLL’s capital markets team. In London at least, ‘choosing to live in a new-build home has become a lifestyle choice, with the opportunity to become part of a wider community’, as new-builds are often in ‘neighbourhoods that are either already

Sought-after newbuilds at London’s Cleveland (above) and Matlock Spa in Derbyshire (right)

sought-after… or in regeneration areas that are fast evolving… [into] cultural hotspots’.

The working-from-home benefits are obvious and, although countryside developments often offer buyers more opportunity to tailor a home to requirements, many in the city contain meeting rooms, 24-hour concierges and gyms. The 88 New York-loft-style apartments at 101 on Cleveland, London W1, are a great example, with applicants up 25% in three months and 62% on last year.

Interest has come from ‘a range of buyers— from students who want close proximity to university to frequent travellers who value connectivity,’ adds Miss Harikantra. Prices start from £1.3 million, or from £4.2 million for the recently launched three-bedroom penthouses (www.101oncleveland.com).

Another factor of increasing concern is the environment: ‘Whether they are driven purely by costs, social responsibility or likely a combination of both, what is clear is that

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Property comment buyers will be taking energy consumption into consideration more,’ says Meg Eglington, JLL’s senior residential research analyst.

‘Findings from JLL’s latest Living Priorities survey showed that 80% of respondents said the environmental impact of their home will be either crucial or important in their next move, with the number of people willing to purchase a new home (if it meant improved environmental efficiency) rising from 51% from their last move, to 78% going forward.’

Meanwhile, in the UK, ’83% of new-build properties boast an EPC rating of A or B, versus only 3% for existing stock’.

We have set out to create a new place of beauty and architectural merit

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The community and environmental aspects of new-builds in cities translate well into the countryside, particularly for clever developers who appreciate a dose of history; The Prince of Wales’s Poundbury in Dorset springs to mind, as does Charles Rifkind’s ongoing transformation of abandoned Cawdor Quarry—which once provided stone for Hyde Park Corner and the Thames Embankment— a short walk from Georgian Matlock in the Peak District. Working with David Morley Architects, the local landowner is creating five villages known as Matlock Spa, with 500 sustainable homes for some 2,000 people that focus on wellbeing, much like the spa towns of old (www.matlockspa.com).

Once complete in 2025, there will be Classical crescents, woodland lodges, courtyard cottages and villas, all in local stone and slate, with further eco credentials from an ecology park, modern insulation, air-source heat pumps and business units with grass roofs and solar panels; cars will be hidden and roads designed to encourage walking and cycling. ‘It will change Derbyshire,’ says the Duke of Devonshire, whose seat, Chatsworth, is eight miles away.

Mr Rifkind, who endured a 20-year-long planning process before work could begin, comments: ‘We have set out to create a new place of beauty and architectural merit that will stand the test of time, reflecting this extraordinary setting… We want Matlock Spa to establish positive principles for creating high-quality homes that enhance the landscape in other parts of England, rather than the nondescript housing delivered by some of the major housebuilders.’

Berkshire’s Winkfield Park offers 15 new homes set in five acres of landscaped grounds

The first phase of townhouses, terraced cottages, apartments and penthouses launched in 2020 (from £330,000) and with 60% already occupied, demand has been high, reports Anthony Taylor of Fine & Country (07726 314580), ‘from families… together with young professionals and couples…

There is nothing to compare with Matlock Spa’. The next phase of 24 apartments gets under way this week and will complete in September 2023.

More familiar to most, perhaps, are the smaller scale rural conversions, embellishments and new ‘country-house complexes’.

One example is Grade II-listed Downash House in Flimwell, East Sussex, where familyrun Nicol Developments has created eight two- and three-bedroom apartments, with

Victorian features alongside sleek, modern bathrooms and kitchens; from £495,000 with Hamptons (01892 640316). Another is Winkfield Park, near Ascot in Berkshire— a collection of 15 new houses and apartments set to be completed in August and September respectively, including coac houses and a five-bedroom farmhouse, with five acres of landscaped grounds within 30-acre Winkfield Park Polo Club; from £1.1 million through Savills (01344 295375).

Developments such as these have been popping up for years; the commuter links tend to be excellent and the quality is getting better and better as more people catch on to the benefits. Wherever it is, ‘a new home is a blank canvas that buyers can make their own,’ concludes Hamptons’ James Dalton.

Grade II-listed Downash House in East Sussex combines the traditional and modern

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