Old on the outside and modern on the inside — a country house with period features plus all the mod cons is the object of desire for many wealthy buyers. They would be hard-pressed to find fault with Pickhurst, a grade II* listed mansion that has been given the ultimate makeover.
It was built by the Scottish architect JM Brydon, who had a practice in London and the home counties in the 19th century. Situated in the middle of a 130-acre estate in Surrey, the six-bedroom property, which is approached via a sweeping carriage drive, looks like the archetypal period home.
Yet looks can be deceptive. Royalton, the developer, and the luxury interior designer Louise Bradley have recently completed an extensive refurbishment. There are walled gardens with water features, topiary, climbing roses and beds of lavender that have been overhauled by Arabella Lennox-Boyd and Fiona Lawrenson, renowned landscape designers who have won awards at the Chelsea Flower Show.
“It is one of the most significant estates to come on to the market in Surrey in recent years,” says Trevor Kearney, the director of Savills’s country department, which is marketing the estate for offers of more than £28 million. Surrounded by countryside, “it is likely to appeal to a client seeking privacy and seclusion”, he says.
On the ground floor of the main house there is a grand music hall with a minstrels’ gallery, a spacious kitchen, drawing room, billiard room and library. Head down to the basement and you will find a large wine cellar and home cinema. The en suite master bedroom upstairs has a walk-in dressing room that would rival any Bond Street store.
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There is also a coach house comprising an office, a gym, sauna and steam room, plus a shooting lodge, an entrance lodge and two cottages.
There is stabling too, and diversion in the form of a clay tennis court and an outdoor swimming pool. If that’s not enough to keep you entertained, West Sussex Golf Club, Cowdray Park Polo Club and Goodwood racecourse are about a 30-minute drive away.
The estate is just outside the picturesque village of Chiddingfold, and about seven miles from Haslemere and Godalming, both of which have fast train services to London Waterloo.