Old Timbers is a wonderfully romantic house and grounds just outside of Guildford, and while it’s been around for a long time, it’s not even a quarter as old as it looks due to its medieval feel.
In 1910, the ambitious young architect Annesley Brownrigg won a series of architectural competitions and opened a shop in Guildford, Surrey, where, after the First World War, he built a thriving practice with his friend Leslie Hiske. The firm was primarily known for residential development in the Guildford area, a tradition continued by his son John, who went on to design Guildford’s iconic Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, and was also instrumental in the research and development of prefabricated timber-framed houses.
Another success story in Surrey was that of the Gates family, who started their business by opening a small grocery store in Guildford in 1877. Founding West Surrey Central Dairy in 1888, they invested in drying equipment from America to use the skimmed milk left over from the churning process. The first advertisement for Cow & Gate baby milk appeared in 1908 and attracted a flood of orders from all over the country.
In 1929, Colonel Ernest Gates, by then co-owner of the prosperous Cow & Gate empire, commissioned Annesley Brownrigg & Hiscock (now Scott Brownrigg) to build him a large country house in Surrey’s Golden Triangle, an area bounded by Guildford. , Farnham and Haslemere, where eminent architects such as Edwin Lutyens, Charles Voisey and Harold Faulkner built many fine Surrey vernacular houses.
The result was Old Timbers at Woodhill.
Old Timbers is two miles from Ripley and 3.5 miles from Guildford. This is a first time sale of this solid family home set in 17 acres of regular gardens, woods, fields and paddocks at the end of a long tree-lined driveway. 20 years later through the Guildford office of Strutt & Parker.
Selling agent Tom Shuttleworth lists an estimated price of £4.95 million for the beautifully maintained mini-country estate, consisting of a 5,612-square-foot main house, detached two-bedroom cottage, stables, garage, treehouse and tennis court. As the name suggests, Old Timbers, which boasts east and west wings, retains many of the era’s signature features, including old beamed ship logs, decorative brickwork and original fireplaces.
The spacious accommodation includes five living rooms, eight bedrooms, four bathrooms and three walk-in closets. The center of the house is the main vestibule with a wall of leaded windows.
Heavy oak doors lead into the living room, dining room, study and other rooms downstairs – a layout well suited for hosting on a large scale.
Connecting the two wings in the center of the house is a large farmhouse kitchen/breakfast room with French doors leading out to a large terrace perfect for al fresco dining. Stairs in each wing lead to the bedrooms upstairs.
In addition, there are two huge attics that can be converted into additional premises. Cottage Old Timbers with an area of 1108 sq. ft., located 270 yards from the home, has been extensively renovated by the current owners to provide a permanent and reliable source of income.
Old Timbers is on sale for £4.95 million – see more photos and details.
The wisteria around the doorway alone makes hearts flutter in this home for sale in Tisbury, Wiltshire. Credit: Strutt and Parker
A huge medieval mansion in Kent and a hopelessly romantic house in Buckinghamshire are included in our review.
