AREA
GUIDES FOR THE MILLIONAIRE PROPERTY MARKET
THE SOUTH EAST OF ENGLAND
(For a list of all the prime country estate properties sold
in the South East of England recently, scroll down to the
bottom of this page)
COUNTY BY COUNTY INFORMATION - SOUTH
EAST ENGLAND
Please scroll down the page for detailed
information by county:
Berkshire
Windsor, Ascot, Maidenhead, Newbury,
Thatcham, Reading, Bracknell, Wokingham, Lambourn, Pangbourne,
Hungerford, Burghfield, Winkfield and Eton areas of Berkshire.
Berkshire is a county of contrasts;
urban and industrial sprawls lie close to picture postcard
villages and tranquil waterways, flat plains border rolling
hills. The modern face of Royal Berkshire is somewhat
removed from its time as the playground of kings!
The principal reason for this rapid
change in character is that it lies on two lines of communication
– initially the River Thames and more recently the
M4. The Thames enters the county around Streatley and
winds its way through Reading, Henley, Maidenhead and
Windsor. The M4 has inspired a host of new businesses
to spring up along its route and encouraged development
ever westwards; it is the UK's own Silicon Valley. There
is, however, still a clear distinction between the east
and west of the county.
In east Berkshire, choosing the right
area is often the biggest hurdle. Areas such as Slough,
Bracknell and Staines are the obvious ones to avoid. There
are also, however, parts of areas such as Windsor, Virginia
Water and Sunninghill which should be avoided if you want
nice views and peace and quiet.
Much of this area between the M3 and
M4 surrounds the vast Windsor Great Park Estate, some
13,000 acres. Just on its edge, the village of Englefield
Green provides a suburban interpretation of English life.
Moving further south, Ascot, Sunningdale and Sunninghill
are much more suburban with some residential roads where
many smaller houses – built at the beginning of the
twentieth century – are now being knocked down and
replaced by larger, often technologically advanced, homes.
To the west of the area, Winkfield,
Holyport, Paley Street and Warfield provide more open
countryside but as you move closer to the M4 some of the
villages tend to be affected by varying degrees of road
noise. Planes from Heathrow can also be a problem.
Most of west Berkshire is within 75
minutes of London. It remains one of the most popular
areas for the country house market as much of it is extremely
pretty and within a comfortable commute of London.
In the north, the Berkshire Downs stretch
as far as the Ridgeway, which marks the border between
Berkshire and Oxfordshire. Lambourn, which is the second
largest racehorse-training centre in the UK, is based
here. There are only a few villages dispersed amongst
the wide open spaces of the downs meaning fewer country
houses come to the market here than elsewhere in the county.
The M4 dissects the Downs and the rest
of the county from east to west. The noise affects a wide
area either side and can pull down house prices.
South of the M4 and around Hungerford,
the countryside remains extremely attractive although
not as exposed as the Downs. This area has the benefit
of having easy access east and west yet, at the same time,
is rural.
East of Newbury there are many developments
dotted along the A4 towards Reading. Small towns such
as Thatcham and Theale are growing with new business parks
and industrial sites. The visual and audible impact these
have had on the area has blighted prices in this pocket
of West Berkshire.
Finally, moving north to Goring and
Pangbourne, which are both attractive market towns, there
are many villages popular with commuters due to their
proximity to Reading and Newbury. Trains from Reading
to Paddington take approximately 25 minutes. Land here
is, predominantly, pretty wooded valleys, and it has remained
as such, due to management policies of local estates.
As much of the area is in the ownership of these estates,
it is rare that properties with large acreages come on
to the market.
THE BEST BERKSHIRE COUNTRY HOUSES FOR
SALE IN 2004
(A breakdown of what was for sale & purchase prices)
Harewood Estate, Windsor (Mansion, helipad,
36.59 acres): £27.5m
Old Titness, Sunningdale (new mansion):
£9.5m
Hillfields Farm, Basildon: £6.4m
Ruscombe Estate, Twyford (Elizabethan
manor, 128 acres): £4m
Oakfield House, Mortimer (Georgian house):
£3.6m
Battle House, Pangbourne (Georgian country
house): £2.6m
Stone House, Brimpton (95 acre sporting
estate): £2m
Country Life - June 2005
Buckinghamshire
Stoke Poges, Marlow, Bourne End, Chalfont
St. Giles, Aylesbury, Amersham and High Wycombe.
Buckinghamshire has very good links
to the north and west end of London via road and rail
and is correspondingly popular with commuters.
Buckingham in the north is a market
town with a good range of shops and a university. Heading
east towards the Wadden Chase, there are some attractive
villages until the outskirts of Milton Keynes 'no beauty
spot' begins to adversely influence the landscape.
South of Milton Keynes lies the Aylesbury
Vale which is dominated by Quainton Hill and Pitchcott
Hill at its centre. Close to these hills is the electricity
substation at East Claydon from which five lines of pylons
run to different parts of the county. Allied with the
large aerial mast site at Whitchurch, this makes picking
the right spot more important than ever.
Aylesbury is a large expanding market
town of no particular architectural merit. The country
south and west of here back towards the M40 is far more
undulating than it is further north. Houses are generally
more expensive as they are in the vicinity of the small
towns of Long Crendon and Haddenham. London on the M40
is approximately 1 hour away with trains taking under
an hour from Haddenham to Marylebone. Although convenient,
north Buckinghamshire lacks the beauty and charm of its
neighbour Oxfordshire.
The county splits easily in two with
most of south Buckinghamshire being the hub for commuters
into north and west London. There is a small pocket of
countryside between the M4 and M40, north of Slough, which
is surprisingly villagey yet minutes from London. Houses
tend to be few and far between in this area and, consequently,
sell well, often privately. North of the M40 on to the
edge of the Chiltern Hills, areas such as Beaconsfield,
Amersham and the Chalfonts are excellent for commuting
into northern London; the Chalfonts, Amersham and Chesham
are remarkable in the fact that you can step straight
on to the Metropolitan line tube. Further west, the villages
and towns are easily commutable with surrounding pretty
countryside. The riverside town of Marlow arguably enjoys
one of the prettiest stretches of the Thames with excellent
access to both M4 and M40 motorways.
Like Berkshire, Buckinghamshire can
be divided into two for the country-house buyer: this
time, north and south. In between lie the sweeping hills
of the Chilterns, acting as a dramatic natural barrier
between the commuting towns and villages of the south,
easily reached from London, and the more rural but less
accessible countryside of the north.
The south tends to have a more fluid
population than the north, and a better supply of country
houses, but prices are inevitably higher; the completion
of the M40 has, however, seen prices in the north rise.
The new town of Milton Keynes has also boosted the economy
of the north, and has a commuter market of its own.
Buckinghamshire's diverse countryside
gives rise to an unusual variety of soils and building
materials, including brick, flint and timber. The county
crosses the agricultural Vale of Aylesbury, renowned for
its duck, rises over the Chilterns and drops down into
the Thames Valley; on the fringes of London, the scenery
is gentler.
The areas most in demand are in the
south, with good commuting links to the capital; they
include the Hambledon Valley and the riverside areas of
Marlow.
Major towns
Buckingham, Bletchley, Milton Keynes,
Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Stokenchurch, Chesham, Beaconsfield,
Amersham.
Transport links
Train: Marylebone to High Wycombe 30min,
Network StayAway £12 return; Aylesbury 53min, Network
StayAway £13.70 return; Milton Keynes 36min, Network
AwayBreak £15.20 return.
Car: High Wycombe is 27 miles from central
London, via the M40; Aylesbury 36 miles, via the A41;
Milton Keynes 52 miles, via the M1.
Public schools
Beaconsfield High School (01494 673043).
Girls only, age range 11-18, day. www.beaconsfieldhigh.bucks.sch.uk
Caldicott School, Farnham Royal (01753
646214). Boys only, age range 7-13, day and boarding.
www.caldicott.com
Pipers Corner, Great Kingshill (01494
718255). Girls only, age range 4-18, day and boarding.
www.piperscorner.co.uk
Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe (01494
524955). Boys only, age range 11-18, day and boarding.
Assosiated preparatoryschool. www.rgshw.com
St Mary's School, Gerrards Cross (01753
883370). Girls only, age range 3-18, day. www.stmarys-gx.org
Stowe School,near Buckingham (01280
813164). Co- educational, age range 13-18, day and boarding.
www.stowe.co.uk
Wycombe Abbey, High Wycombe (01494 520381).
Girls only, age range 11-18, boarding. www.wycombeabbey.com
Leisure
Golf courses: Gerrards Cross (01753
883263); Denham (01895 832022); Harewood Downs, Chalfont
St Giles (01494 762308); Ellesborough, Aylesbury (01296
622114).
Hunts: The Vale of Aylesbury, the Oakley.
Fishing: river Thames.
THE BEST BUCKINGHAMSHIRE COUNTRY HOUSES FOR SALE IN 2004
(A breakdown of what was for sale & purchase prices)
Ridgewood, Knotty Green, Beaconsfield
(new mansion): £6m
The Manor, Little Marlow (12,000 sq
ft manor, 8.75 acres): £4.95m
Old Rectory, Amersham (7 bedroom Old
Rectory, 14 acres): £3m
Vale Farm, Kimble Wick (renovated country
house, 31 acres): £2.3m
Source: Country Life
Hampshire & The Isle of Wight
Winchester, Southampton, Basingstoke,
Hamble, Portsmouth, Fareham and The New Forest Areas of
Hampshire and The Isle of Wight.
Hampshire has a mixture of very pretty
countryside and good rail links to Waterloo station and
the City of London – with correspondingly high property
values.
The county divides into the commuting
areas in the north, centred on the characterless town
of Basingstoke. South and west of Basingstoke is some
beautiful countryside and villages, including the famous
trout rivers, the Test and Itchen with the historic and
charming city of Winchester in the centre of the county.
In the south is the conurbation of Southampton, Fareham
and Portsmouth served by the M27 motorway. To the west
is the New Forest, a large protected area of heathland
and woodland popular for walking and riding with the town
of Lymington and the Beaulieu river providing some good
sailing facilities. On the eastern border of the county
is the market town of Petersfield, which is close to the
beautiful unspoilt South Downs of West Sussex.
Communications are excellent. The fast
trains from Basingstoke to Waterloo take approximately
45 minutes and from Winchester approximately 60 minutes.
The M3 motorway connects Basingstoke, Winchester and Southampton
to London and provides access to the West Country via
the A303 trunk road and the south coast via the M27 motorway.
Petersfield is connected to south London by the A3 dual
carriageway and trains to Waterloo, which take approximately
70 minutes.
Hampshire is renowned for its private
schools. In particular, Winchester has a good choice of
pre-prep, prep and public schools, Winchester College
and St Swithun’s Girls School being the best known.
The country house market in Hampshire
is particularly popular for those moving out of London
with young families looking for commuting facilities and
good schools. The best commuting areas are south of Basingstoke
to the charming small market town of Alresford and west
towards the town of Andover. Property values are similar
around Winchester but south of the M27 it is densely populated
and difficult to commute to London and consequently cheaper.
The New Forest is popular with local buyers working in
Southampton and weekenders from London attracted by the
sailing. It is considered by most buyers to be too far
to commute to London.
'Hampshire has something almost everybody
wants,' says Ed Cunningham, from FPD Savills. But he is
not just talking about proximity to London, he is talking
about the varied nature of much of the county. From the
horse-lovers' New Forest to the beaches for sailing and
watersports, Hampshire for those who live there is more
than just a convenient commute.
With developing centres such as Portsmouth
and Southampton and a rapidly expanding airport (Southampton
International), fantastic schools, sailing, riding and
plenty of Michelin starred restaurants, Hampshire is totally
self sufficient, and has the advantage of being lived-in
all year round, rather than suffering from the seasonal
fluctuations which mark out areas made up mostly of second
homes.
For many reasons, entering the Hampshire
property market is extremely difficult. Mark Potter, from
Knight Frank's Basingstoke office claims that in quintessential
Hampshire villages such as Upton Gray, it is virtually
impossible to buy a house. 'The Hampshire property market
is on fire,' says Potter, 'Demand is great and supply
is very short'.
Potter claims the area surrounding Basingstoke
is one of the most sought after in the county. 'You can
be in London in 42 minutes and many of the nice houses
are within only 10 or 15 minutes of train stations and
good schools', he says. According to Potter Odium, Dummer,
Monk Sherborne and Upton Gray are the prettiest villages,
'People forget Watership Down is in Hampshire,' he comments.
Only houses that are not correctly priced
or have a major problem (railways, pylons, roads) stick
on the market, the rest sell competitively.
However, taking a different tack, education, education,
education is the mantra of Mr Cunningham at Savills in
Winchester: 'We see lots of families looking to move to
the area who come down, and see which of the schools they
can get their children into, and then start to look for
a house in that area,' he says.
And any parents looking to find good
schools are spoilt for choice in terms of quality, if
a little pushed when it comes to getting all the children
accepted: places are highly prized. And rightly so, as
many of these are considered to be amongst the finest
schools in the country.
Apart from schools, however, there are
other differences in area and in atmosphere which make
the difference between a high price and an extremely high
price, points out Mr Cunningham, and much of this has
to do with who owns the land near a property.
Hampshire now commands such high prices
for land that many landowners are tempted to sell when
in need of a quick cash injection, and therefore areas
which are owned by large estates, or which are protected
from development are considered to be more desirable in
what can feel like a crowded county. In short, people
are willing to pay for what they know will be seclusion,
rather than worrying about new builds encroaching on a
peaceful community without warning.
Interestingly some of the highest prices
for Hampshire properties recently are being paid in the
New Forest area, where a London commute is not really
an option, explains George Hyde of Knight Frank: 'It is
an extremely nice area with no big roads and Lymington
is a very nice centre,' he points out.
The New Forest was traditionally the
haunt of the extremely horsey, or those who wanted a second
home, rather than a primary residence, but since it won
National Park status, the Forest is becoming more popular
with those who do not have to be in London for every single
working day of the week, and who admire the wildlife and
landscape such a place provides, even if the tourists
in summertime can be somewhat taxing.
But although hotspots will come and
go in Hampshire, the one thing you can be sure of is that
good property will be in high demand when it comes onto
the market, a fact reflected in the prices. 'We always
say nothing is recession proof,' says Mr Cunningham, 'But
we are about as close as it gets!'
The advice from most agents is that
Hampshire is a county where you will pay a higher price
on a property than you would in any of the neighbouring
counties, merely because it is Hampshire. Therefore the
most important thing is to understand the area and surroundings
you buy in, and find out the potential for development,
to ensure you get value for your money - once you've found
those crucial school places, of course.
Major towns
Southampton, Portsmouth, Basingstoke,
Winchester, Alton, Andover, Farnborough, Stockbridge,
Lymington, Gosport; (Isle of Wight) Newport, Cowes, Ryde.
Transport links
Train: Waterloo to Southampton 1hr 10min;
to Portsmouth 1hr 30min; to Basingstoke 45min.
Car: Southampton is 80 miles and Basingstoke
48 miles from central London via the M3; Portsmouth is
74 miles via the A3(M) and A3.
Public schools
Bedales School, Petersfield (01730 300100).
Co-educational, age range 3-18, day and boarding. Associated
preparatory school. www.bedales.org.uk
King Edward VI School, Southampton (01703
704561). Co-educational, age range 11-18, day. www.kes.hants.sch.uk
The Pilgrims' School, Winchester (01962
854189). Boys only, age range 7-13, day and boarding.
www.pilgrims-school.co.uk
Portsmouth High School (01705 826714).
Girls only, age range 4-18, day. www.pdst.net/portsmouthhigh
St Swithun's School, Winchester (01962
861316). Girls only, age range 8-18 (boys and girls, 3-8),
day and boarding. www.stswithuns.com
St Mary's College, Southampton (01703
671267). Co- educational, age range 11-18, day. www.stmaryscollege.co.uk
The Portsmouth Grammar School (01705
819125). Co-educational, age range 4-18, day. www.pgs.co.uk
Winchester College (01962 854328). Boys
only, age range 13-18, day and boarding. www.winchestercollege.org
Leisure
Golf courses: Royal Winchester (01962
852462).
Hunts: the Hampshire (HH), Mr Goschen's,
the Hursley Hambledon, the Isle of Wight and the New Forest.
Staghounds: the New Forest.
Yachting clubs: the Royal Southampton,
Ocean, Royal Solent, Royal Southern and Royal Lymington
Yacht Clubs; (Isle of Wight) Island Sailing Club, Cowes
Corinthian, Royal Corinthian, Royal London and Royal Victoria
Yacht Clubs and the Royal Yacht Squadron.
Fishing: rivers Avon, Bourne, Itchen
and Test.
THE BEST HAMPSHIRE COUNTRY HOUSES FOR SALE IN 2004
(A breakdown of what was for sale & purchase prices)
Deane House, Basingstoke (classic Georgian):
£6.5m
Moundsmere, Preston Candover (14 bedroom
house, 83 acres): £6m
South Hall House, Preston Candover (classic
Georgian house): £5m
Morestead Manor, Twyford (Grade 11*
stabling, 51.5 acres): £2.8m
Peake Farm, Warnford, Winchester (690
acre estate, 5 houses): £4.815m
Cawley Manor, Kimpton (neo-Georgian
house): £2.9m
Dawn House, Winchester (Grade II 6 bedroom
house): £2m
Hall Farm, Bentworth, Alton (6 bedroom
house, 4.8 acres): £2.5m
Fairfields, Godshill, Isle of Wight
(Grade II, 17.5 acres): £2.5m
Source: Country Life
Hertfordshire
Despite its proximity to London and
excellent communications to the capital by road and rail,
Hertfordshire is deeply rural - and house prices are surprisingly
reasonable
Although it is one of the smallest counties
in England, Hertfordshire has a great variety of scenery,
mostly, in the words of Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, 'uneventful
but lovable'. Despite its proximity to London and excellent
communications to the capital by road and rail, parts
are surprisingly rural.
Hertford, the county town, is still
an old market town, and wheat and barley are grown in
abundance in the north, on the Cambridgeshire border.
The Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty just
touches the south-west of the county.
In the south, the soil is clay and the
landscape heavily wooded. Building materials include the
traditional timber - the county has an exceptionally high
number of timber-framed buildings, constructed from the
13th to the 18th centuries.
The county has a long history: as Verulamium,
St Albans was one of the main Roman towns in Britain,
and more recently, a succession of great houses were built,
including Hatfield House and Knebworth.
Given Hertfordshire's accessibility
from London, house prices are surprisingly reasonable.
The most popular areas include the corridor close to the
M11 , within easy reach of Harlow and Saffron Walden,
and the towns of Berkhamstead and Hampenden.
Major towns
Hertford, St Albans, Watford, Hemel
Hempstead, Stevenage, Ware, Hatfield, Letchworth, Welwyn
Garden City, Hitchin, Harpenden, Potters Bar, Cheshunt,
Bishops Stortford and Royston.
Transport links
Train: King's Cross to Stevenage 19min;
Euston to Hemel Hempstead 25min; Ware 35min.
Car: Stevenage is 28 miles from central London, via the
A1(M); Hemel Hempstead 25 miles, via the M1 and Ware 23
miles, via the A10.
Public schools
Berkhamsted Collegiate School (01442
863236). Co- educational, with separate campuses for girls
and boys in the senior school. Fully co- educational preparatory
school and sixth form, day and boarding. Age range 7-
18.
www.berkhamstedcollegiateschool.org.uk
Bishops Stortford College (01279 838575).
Co-educational, age range 4-19, day and boarding. www.bishops-stortford-college.herts.uk
Haberdashers' Askes School, Elstree
(0208-207 4323). Boys only, age range 7-18, day. www.habsboys.org.uk
Haberdashers' Askes School for Girls,
Elstree (0208-953 4261). Girls only, age range 4-18, day.
www.habsgirls.org.uk
Haileybury College, near Hertford (01992
463353). Co-educational, age range 11-18, day and boarding.
www.haileybury.herts.sch.uk
Princess Helena College, Hitchin (01462
432100). Girls only, age range 11-18, day and boarding.
www.phc.herts.sch.uk
St Albans High School for Girls (01727
853800). Girls only, age range 7-18, day. www.stalbans-high.herts.sch.uk
St Albans School (01727 855521). Boys
only (co-educational sixth form), age range 11-18, day.
www.st-albans.herts.sch.uk
Leisure
Golf courses: Dyrham Park, Barnet (0181-440
3361); Moor Park, Rickmansworth (01923 773146).
Hunts: The Aldenham Harriers, the Enfield
Chase, the Puckeridge and Thurlow.
Yachting club: Aldenham Sailing Club.
Fishing: rivers Bure, Wissey, Yare,
Waveney, and the Broads.
THE BEST HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTRY HOUSES FOR SALE IN 2004
(A breakdown of what was for sale & purchase prices)
Ayot Montfitchet, Ayot St Peter (remodelled
15th Century house, 21 acres): £5.5m
Tom's Hill Estate, Aldbury (period house,
150 acres): £4.2m
Danes Estate, Little Berkhampstead (436
acre residential estate): £3.5m
Rectory Farm, Shenley (new 6 bedroom
house, 134 acres): £4m
Essendon House, Essendon (8 bedroom
Georgian House, coach house, stabling, 17 acres): £2.85m
Source: Country Life
Kent
Margate, Folkestone, Ashford, Royal
Tunbridge Wells, Sittingbourne, Canterbury, Dover, Hythe,
Herne Bay, Whitstable, Maidstone, Ramsgate, the Sevenoaks
areas of Kent.
Kent is a county steeped in history.
It was settled well before most other parts of England
and has the oldest recorded place name in the British
Isles. When Julius Caesar briefly invaded Kent in 55 and
54BC, he found it the most civilised part of Britain and
it was to Kent that Pope Gregory sent his first missionaries
under Augustine who founded Caterbury Cathedral in 597AD.
The Kent motto is ‘Invicta’
meaning unconquered or untamed an allusion to the belief
that Kent has kept its boundaries intact since Roman times.
This, however, is not quite the case. Since the 1750s,
as London has grown, so Kent has had to forsake land.
In 1889 the county boundary was redrawn as the present
boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham became part of London,
joined in 1965 by the present boroughs of Bromley and
Bexley and further areas lying between the A21 and M25
were added to London in 1974.
As a farm based economy, the Kent countryside
has grown around a proliferation of pretty villages and
small towns, some of the prettiest being Benendon, Cranbrook,
Goudhurst, Matfield and Penshurst. Timber framed houses
abound and much is now made of converting barns and one
of the symbols of Kent, the oast house, into highly prized
dwellings. Despite this variety there is a shortage of
Georgian houses with their finely proportioned rooms,
consequently they are highly prized.
Due to the Kentish custom of gavelkind
or partible inheritance, estates did not evolve to the
eldest son but were divided equally between the male children
on their father’s death. This resulted in a good
supply of houses with land and small holdings.
Commuting to London from Kent is best
done by train with typical times of 49 minutes from Tunbridge
Wells and 62 minutes from Maidstone. The road network
is not so good without fast roads into the centre of London
beyond the M25. It is often quickest to take the M25 to
use one of the main western routes into the capital.
The Channel Tunnel has served to reinforce
Kent’s position as the gateway to Europe with many
European companies using the county to site their offices.
The proposed fast rail link from Ashford to London should
also help to open the eastern parts of the county to the
commuter.
Demand for good family houses in Kent
has been pushed up in recent years thanks to the improvements
in transport communications, but prices can still surprise.
Known as the Garden of England, Kent is still an agricultural
county, renowned for its fruit and hops, and home to thriving
dairy and sheep farms.
Kent seemed relatively remote, despite its proximity to
London; transport links were worse than in other Home
Counties, and the south-east of Kent in particular remained
untouched by progress. Extensive improvements to transport
communications in recent years, however, have transformed
the county, but its strong rural character survives intact.
Kent is the nearest English county to the Continent, and
has long been regarded as the gateway to Europe, thanks
to its position on the Channel. It used to be said that
he who held the keys to Dover Castle held the keys to
England.
Timber-framed and weather-boarded houses are plentiful,
and the brickwork and tiles in the county are some of
the best in England. One of the symbols of Kent is the
oasthouse, with its conical roof used for drying hops;
most have now been converted into unusual homes.
The most popular areas for commuters are within easy reach
of Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells, but good country houses
are found throughout Kent.
History
Kent's position as the 'Gateway to Europe'
means it has a violent past, which is evident from the
county's architecture. Castles were built at Dover, Rochester
and Canterbury, and later, by Henry VIII, at the Downs
in Sandgate, Walmer and Deal, to protect the county from
invasion.
Since Roman times, when Julius Caesar invaded Kent in
55 and 54 BC, to the Second World War, Kent has always
been vulnerable to invasion. While German bombing raids
destroyed much of Canterbury and Dover, much of the county's
most treasured architecture, such as the wonderful cathedrals
in Canterbury and Rochester, have survived.
Garden of England
Kent enjoys something of a micro-climate,
with temperatures and rainfall levels more similar to
France than the rest of England. As a result, and thanks
to the abundance of chalk soil, crops more commonly found
in Provence or Champagne are being grown enthusiastically
by farmers. The English lavender, wine and champagne industries
are all based primarily in Kent, and are currently enjoying
a renaissance.
'The Garden of England' also has some of the best gardens
in the country, again thanks to the mild climate and fertile
soil. Around 180 beautiful and diverse gardens are open
to the public. Some of the best can be found at Emmetts
Garden, which adjoins the National Trust's Toys Hill properties
in Sevenoaks; Beech Court Gardens, a woodland garden surrounding
a medieval farmhouse in Challock; and Church Hill Cottage
Gardens in Ashford.
Kent is a largely rural county, and is home to several
beautiful country parks. The Kent Downs Area of Natural
Beauty, which are the eastern half o the North Downs,
cover nearly a quarter of the county, stretching from
the White Cliffs of Dover up to the Surrey/London border.
Kent Today
Kent is a largely rural county, although
homebuyers are also attracted to the historical towns
and the beautiful coastline.
Ashford is situated just 12 miles from
the Eurotunnel car shuttle terminal, and its train station
also operates direct Eurostar links to Brussels and Paris,
making it popular for those with close ties to the continent.
Canterbury, home of Kent University
and the cathedral, is a popular and vibrant historical
town, while coastal towns such as Margate and Gravesend
have been transformed by extensive redevelopment in recent
years.
The Turner Contemporary gallery, to be housed in striking
sail-shaped building on the Gravesend waterfront, is scheduled
to open in 2007, and is set to further enhance the cultural
landscape of the county.
East of England Plan
The character of Kent may soon change
dramatically as a result of the Deputy Prime Minister's
plans to build up to 720,000 new homes in the South East
over the next twenty years.
Ashford has been identified as an area
with the potential to grow significantly, although many
believe that the infrastructure in the area will be unable
to cope with the influx of new residents.
The South East of England Regional Assembly
has since reduced the recommended number of new houses
to a maximum of 640,000, and a public consultation on
the plans is currently under way. The final decision on
the plans rests with the Deputy Prime Minister.
Property Market
According to Edward Church from Strutt
& Parker in Canterbury, the top end of market has
been especially robust recently, following the downturn
in activity felt throughout the country towards the end
of 2004 and the start of 2005.
Canterbury is still a very desirable
area, Mr Church says. He recently handled the sale of
a five bedroom Georgian house with five acres of land
and a swimming pool, which went for just over £1million.
However, the closer you get to London, the less you get
for your money.
Thanks to the international rail link,
which will also have a fast, direct service to London
St Pancras by 2009, the property market in Ashford is
currently very active and prices have reacted accordingly.
Once the new rail service to the capital is in place,
the journey will take just 40 minutes, which is understandably
luring many buyers from the city.
In general, transport links have been
improve dramatically throughout the county, and commuting
by train or by car to the capital is now easy compared
with a few years ago. The most popular towns are within
commutable distance of the capital and include Sevenoaks
and Tunbridge Wells. Other sought after areas include
Plockley, Petham and Smarden.
According to Mr Church, buyers come
from throughout the country to Kent thanks to its proximity
to both London and the Continent: 'Lots of people move
here from the capital, and lots of people move here to
be closer to France, particularly those who have a second
property in France.'
The typical Kentish property is a farmhouse
with a timber frame, for which anything between £700,000
and £1,500,000 can be paid. Oasthouses are also
common and highly sought after, and their round 'kilns'
can offer interesting living arrangements. But their desirability
depends entirely on the quality of the conversion: 'Some
have been splendidly converted, but others, especially
the older conversions, are not so appealing,' said Mr
Church.
Major towns
Canterbury, Maidstone, Dover, Folkestone,
Ashford, Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Margate, Ramsgate,
Gillingham, Chatham, Deal, Faversham.
Transport links
Train: Victoria, Waterloo East or London
Bridge to Canterbury 1hr 30min; London Bridge to Folkestone
1hr 30min; Victoria to Maidstone 1hr.
A high speed rail link will connect
Ashford with London St Pancras is scheduled for completion
by 2009. The journey will be cut from 1hr 10mins to approximately
40 minutes.
Car: Canterbury is 60 miles from London
via the M2; Folkestone is 66 miles, via the M20; Maidstone
is32 miles, via the M20.
Public schools
Benenden School, Cranbrook (01580 240592).
Girls only, age range 11-18, boarding. www.benenden.kent.sch.uk
Cranbrook School (01580 712163). Co-educational,
age range 13-18, day and boarding. www.cranbrookschool.co.uk
The King's School, Canterbury (01227
595501). Co-educational, age range 13-18, day and boarding.
Associated preparatory school. www.kings-school.co.uk
Sevenoaks School (01732 455133). Co-educational,
age range 11-18, day and boarding. Associated preparatory
school. www.sevenoaksschool.org
Tonbridge School (01732 365555). Boys
only, age range 13-18, day and boarding. www.tonbridge-school.co.uk
Ashford School (01233 625171). Co- educational,
age range 3-18, day and boarding. www.ashfordschool.co.uk
Kent College, Canterbury (01227 763231).
Co-educational, age range 3-18, day and boarding.
St Edmund's School, Canterbury (01227
454575). Co-educational, age range 3-18, day and boarding.
www.stedmunds.org.uk
Dover College (01304 205969). Co-educational,
age range 11-18, day and boarding. Associated preparatory
school. www.dovercollege.org.uk
Leisure
Golf courses: Royal Cinque Ports, Deal
(01304 374328); Royal St George's, Sandwich (01304 613090).
Hunts: the Ashford Valley, the Tickham,
the East Kent, the West Kent and the West Street.
Yacht clubs: Whitstable Yacht Club;
Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club; Erith Yacht Club; Hollowshore
Cruising Club; Royal Temple Yacht Club.
Fishing: rivers Darent, Medway and Stour;
Bewl Water and Bough Beech Reservoir.
THE BEST KENT COUNTRY HOUSES FOR SALE IN 2004
(A breakdown of what was for sale & purchase prices)
Great Maytham Hall, Tenterden (Lutyens
'Wrenaissance', Grade II*): £4m
Salutation, Sandwich (Lutyens 'Wrenaissance',
Grade 1, 3.5 acres): £2.5m
The Vines, Hildenborough (17th century/victorian,
6 Bed house, 22.3 acres): £2.5m
Old Farm, Bidborough, Near Tonbridge
(6 bed country house, 10.3 acres): £2.45m
Petham House, Canterbury (Italianate
house, 31 acres): £2.25m
Lower Court, Ottinge (Grade II, 33.5
acres): £2m
Summerhill, Tenterden (prime contry
house/estate): £3.4m
Source: Country Life
Surrey
Guildford, Woking, Epsom and the North
& South Downs areas of the beautiful county of Surrey.
Surrey is a diverse county; from the
typically English country towns of Farnham and Haslemere
in the west, to the more sophisticated and culturally
mixed areas such as Esher and Cobham.
There are four main areas of Surrey,
each with quite different characteristics. Inside the
M25 are the private estates that make up the areas around
Cobham, Esher and Weybridge, which contain a mix of Edwardian
and newer houses. Many people move to these areas for
access to the international schools, both international
airports, security and the choice of new or recently built
large houses. There are many golf courses in the area
and the pinnacle for a few people are the private gated
estates of St George?s Hill and Wentworth, both set amidst
championship golf courses.
Outside the M25, there is an equally
accessible area around Woking. There are areas with a
remarkably rural feel, such as the villages of Chobham,
Ripley and Worplesdon. By the same token, there are some
less good spots, particularly around Woking, which are
best avoided. On the edge of Woking is a private estate
called The Hockering where one can walk to Woking station
and be in Waterloo in approximately 20 minutes –
one of the best fast train services outside London. With
these areas, care should be taken avoiding hazards such
as Pirbright Military Ranges. For the avid golfer, there
are plenty of good courses. Many choose to live in the
area around Worplesdon Golf Course where houses back on
to the course.
If you head a little further down the
A3 (10 minutes from the M25 junction), Guildford is the
shopping and cultural centre. A good house in the surrounding
villages generally attracts a premium. In particular,
Peaslake and Shere make you feel as though you are an
hour west of Basingstoke, yet the reality is you are only
a 20-minute drive from the M25. The most popular villages
around Guildford – Shamley Green, Bramley and Shalford
– are a few minutes? drive from Guildford station
and 30-40 minutes from Waterloo. The Surrey Hills, as
they are known, can provide great views (particularly
on Hascombe Ridge) and good walking through the Hurtwood
Forest.
Further down the A3 takes you to the
Haslemere and Farnham areas which are even more rural.
The villages on the Surrey/Hampshire and Surrey/Sussex
borders, such as Chiddingfold, Dunsfold, Frensham and
Milford take a bit longer to get to and are less easily
commutable. Watch out for Dunsfold Aerodrome, the Gatwick
flight path, RAF Odiham and the future of the A3 crossroads
at Hindhead.
East of Guildford are the towns of Dorking,
Reigate and Redhill where prices tend to be lower. However,
this can be just as easily commutable, although the countryside
is flatter and the Gatwick flight path affects large swathes.
There are many good schools in Surrey,
such as the Danish School in West Byfleet, the American
Community Schools and Charterhouse.
As Surrey became increasingly popular
from the second-half of the 19th-century, it attracted
leading architects of the time, such as Lutyens, who designed
many of the county's late-Victorian and Edwardian country
houses.
Of all the Home Counties, Surrey has
the best access to London. As a result, it is densely
populated, but often appears surprisingly rural: the rolling,
wooded landscape is ideal for tucking houses away.
It has often been said that Surrey is
not 'real country', but there are some sweeping landscapes
and spectacular views, and wildernesses such as Box Hill.
The intervention of the National Trust, together with
the designation of green-belt tracts and Areas of Outstanding
Natural Beauty, has saved much of the countryside from
over-development.
The county was important in medieval
times and had a thriving wool trade. Today, the principal
industry is agriculture; the low rainfall and relatively
flat land is ideally suited to arable farming.
Surrey was poor in the 18th century,
largely because of the agricultural poverty of its sandy
soil. As a result, there are few Georgian houses, and
those that do exist command substantial premiums; there
is also a scattering of earlier houses.
It was only in the second half of the
19th and early 20th century that the county's popularity
took off: there are many substantial and well-built late-Victorian
and Edwardian houses. The most famous were designed by
Lutyens, who combined local materials and vernacular forms
with a feeling for drama and geometry.
There are many beautiful and well-tended
gardens, most notably at Wisley, where the Royal Horticultural
Society's gardens are open to the public. All of Surrey
is popular ; the most sought-after areas include the Surrey
Hills, between Guildford and Dorking, and the villages
round Guildford.
Major towns
Guildford, Cobham, Cranleigh, Dorking,
Epsom, Esher, Farnham, Godalming, Oxted, Redhill, Reigate.
Transport links
Train: Waterloo to Guildford 35min;
Waterloo to Reigate 50min; Waterloo to Godalming 45min.
Car: Guildford is 31 miles from central
London via the A3; Reigate, 23 miles, via the A217; Godalming,
35 miles, via the A3.
Public schools
Aldro School, Shacklefield (01483 810266).
Boys only, age range 7-13, day and boarding. www.aldro.org/
ACS Cobham, Cobham (01932 867251). Co-educational,
age range 3-18, day and boarding. www.acs-england.co.uk/schools/cobham/
City of London Freemen's School, Ashtead
(01372 277933). Co-educational, age range 7-18, day and
boarding. www.clfs.surrey.sch.uk/
Claremont Fan Court School, Esher (01372
467841). Co-educational, age range 3-18, day and boarding.
www.claremont-school.co.uk/
Cranleigh School (01483 273666). Co-educational,
age range 13-18 (boys only, 7-13), day and boarding. Associated
preparatory school. www.cranleigh.org/pages/cranleighschool/
Guildford High School (01483 561440).
Girls only, age range 4-18, day.
Royal Grammar School, Guildford (01483
880600). Boys only, age range 11-18, day.
St Catherine's School, Bramley (01483
893363). Girls only, age range 4-18, day and boarding.
www.st-catherines.surrey.sch.uk/
Leisure
Golf courses: Wentworth, Virginia Water
(01344 842201); Sunningdale (01344 21681 ); St George's
Hill, Weybridge (01932 847758).
Hunts: the Old Surrey and Burstow; the
Surrey Union.
Yachting clubs: London River Yacht Club;
Frensham Pond Sailing Club.
Fishing: rivers Mole and Wey, Enton
Lakes and Tri Lakes.
THE BEST SURREY COUNTRY HOUSES FOR SALE IN 2004
(A breakdown of what was for sale & purchase prices)
Parkstone, St George's Hill, Esher (new
mansion): £8m
Horseshoe House, Sunningdale (new mansion):
£3.95m
Brompton Court, Kings Warren, Oxshott
(7 bed mansion, spa complex): £2.95m
Pick House, Chiddingford (Grade II*,
131 acre estate): £4.5m
Logmore Place, Westcott (Stabling, 98
acres): £4.5m
Old House, Pyrford (Queen Anne, 4.5
acres): £4m
Munstead Oaks, Godalming (Arts and Crafts):
£3m
Broadford, Chobham (Palladian House,
56 acres parkland): £2.8m
Tugley, Chiddingford (Grade II farmhouse,
38 acres): £2.5m
Source: Country Life
East Sussex
Hastings, Eastbourne, Crowborough, Hailsham
and Rye areas of East Sussex.
As with many counties in the south of
England, East Sussex cannot be described in general terms.
The northern areas are within easy reach of London for
the commuter whilst the south is far more rural, save
for coastal towns such as Eastbourne, Hastings and Bexhill.
For the country house buyer, there is
a world of difference between East and West Sussex. Where
the more open rolling countryside of the west has traditionally
been the preserve of the large estates, with few good-sized
family houses or even cottages, the hills and woods of
the east have been farmed on a much smaller scale with
relatively large villages and towns every few miles –
hence a larger number of properties of all types.
In the north-east of the county, villages
such as Hartfield and Forest Row have good access to London
via trains from East Grinstead (51mins) as well as the
amenity of the Ashdown Forest, a popular walking area.
To the south of Tunbridge Wells (London
50mins by train) is the Weald, a richly wooded area that
runs east to west through the middle of the county and
provides wooded scenery with pretty, small towns and villages,
such as Rotherfield and Wadhurst. Oak from the forests
was the main building material until the 16th century,
often weather boarded or tile hung for extra protection
from the elements. In the 17th century many of these houses
were encased in Sussex brick.
The south of the county is relatively
poorly serviced by main roads with the A21, A22 and A26
all predominantly single-lane. This means that many southern
areas, particularly towards Rye in the east, are quieter
and more rural.
East Sussex has some wonderful country
houses but, in the main, a poor road network has left
prices somewhat behind those of its neighbours in Surrey
and West Sussex.
West Sussex
Crawley, Brighton, Littlehampton, Chichester,
Haywards Heath, Horsham, Billingshurst, Eastbourne, Worthing
and Hove areas of West Sussex.
West Sussex is a diverse county –
from the new town of Crawley in the north-east growing
around Gatwick, to the undulating South Downs, to the
sailors' haven of Chichester Harbour. It is surprising,
given its close proximity to the capital that the total
population is only circa 750,000. There are a number of
reasons for this.
The county is predominantly made up
of small and medium-sized towns, controlled in size by
the district councils. Over half the county is made up
of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the large estates
such as Goodwood, Cowdray and Petworth have not in the
past released land for development. Relatively few houses
and ease of access have combined to push prices firmly
upwards.
The northern areas of the county are
popular with commuters. Trains from Haslemere to London
Waterloo take 51 minutes with the A3 providing a quick
road link. Particularly popular are houses in the Milland
Valley, Marley Common, and on Black Down where many houses
have exceptional views.
In the north-east the Thames Link commuter
train service to London Bridge and Blackfriars (33 &
43 minutes respectively from Three Bridges) along with
the M23 provide easy access to London. However, there
is a price to be paid – with a busy road network
and aeroplanes from Gatwick, picking a quiet area can
be tricky.
In the country house market, areas along
the South Downs and coastal plains are increasingly in
demand for second homes, particularly between Midhurst
and Petworth.
The coastal plain south of Chichester
and the A27 provide a mish-mash of settlements from the
pretty at Bosham, where high premiums are paid for views
over the water, to Bracklesham which is best described
as suburban sprawl.
Major towns
Brighton, Hove, Lewes, Worthing, Eastbourne,
Bexhill, Rye, Chichester, Hastings, Haywards Heath, Horsham,
East Grinstead, Crawley, Petworth, Midhurst.
Transport links
Train:Victoria to Brighton 1hr; to Crawley
45min; to Chichester 1hr 45 min.
Car: Brighton to central London 50 miles,
via the A23 and M23; Crawley, 31 miles, via the M23; Chichester
71 miles, via the A3.
Public schools
Ardingly College (01444 892577). Co-educational,
age range 2-18, day and boarding. http://www.ardingly.com/
Battle Abbey School (01424 772385).
Co-educational, age range 3-18, day and boarding. www.battleabbeyschool.com/
Brighton College (01273 605788). Co-educational,
age range 13-18, day and boarding. Associated preparatory
school. www.brightoncollege.org.uk/home/
Burgess Hill School (01444 241050).
Girls only, age range 3-18 years, day and boarding. www.burgesshill-school.com/
Brighton and Hove High (01273 734112).
Girls only, age range 11-18, day. Associated preparatory
school. www.gdst.net/bhhs/
Bellerbys College, Mayfield (01435 872041).
Boys only (co-educational sixth form), age range 11-18,
day.
Christs Hospital, Horsham (01403 252547).
Co-educational, age range 11-18, boarding. www.christs-hospital.org.uk/
Roedean School, Brighton (01273 603181). Girls only, age
range 11-18, day and boarding. www.roedean.co.uk/
St Leonards, Mayfield (01435 873652).
Girls only, age range 11-18 years, day and boarding. www.stlm.e-sussex.sch.uk/
Leisure
Golfcourses: Rye (01797 225241); Goodwood
(01243 785012).
Hunts: the Crawley and Horsham; the
Southdown and Eridge; the East Sussex and Romney Marsh.
Yachting clubs: Eastbourne, Itchenor
and Rye Harbour Sailing Clubs.
Fishing: rivers Arun, Rother and Ouse;
Darwell Reservoir and Weir Wood Reservoir.
THE BEST SUSSEX COUNTRY HOUSES FOR SALE IN 2004
(A breakdown of what was for sale & purchase prices)
Wilderwick Estate, East Grinstead, West
Sussex (country estate, 173 acres): £3.5m
Exfold Farm, Rudgwick, West Sussex (period
farmhouse, 120 acres): £4.5m
Garlands, Slinfold, West Sussex (Grade
II*, 88 acres): £3.5m
Trotton Place, Midhurst, West Sussex
(Grade II*, 31.75 acres): £3.5m
Shelley's Folly, Cooksbridge, Lewes,
East Sussex (Grade 1, Queen Anne House): £3m
The Mill House, Wadhurst, East Sussex
(16th century house, 23 acres): £2m
Source: Country Life
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