Rawlings Lane, BEACONSFIELD, HP9

A historic country estate, comprising lovely private grounds circa 37 acres under 4 miles from the market town of Beaconsfield. The current owners have already undertaken renovations in keeping with the style of the original building, most recently in a new northern wing. The house is beautifully designed and many of the principal rooms span the width of the house, making the most of the attractive views of the gardens and beyond.

The reception hall is centrally located and opens onto the magnificent dual aspect, baronial dining room with an open fire and oak-panelled walls. One cannot help imagining the spectacular dinners that have taken place here over the preceding centuries. The hall also leads you down into the drawing room which has an open fire and an impressive leaded bay window overlooking the garden. The library, sitting room and two studies are located beyond the drawing room.

The breakfast room, kitchen with an oil-fired Aga, utility room and 48 ft cinema room are reached in the right-hand wing, with a staircase down to the climatically-controlled wine cellar.

There are a total of ten bedrooms on the first floor, many of which have en suite bathrooms. The master bedroom is located in the west wing. It has excellent proportions and lovely views of the gardens from its triple aspects, a dressing room and a spacious bathroom.

A large guest suite in the north wing features a private staircase and two self-contained bedrooms are incorporated into separate staff Accommodation: sitting room, study/dressing room and ground floor kitchen.

Outside

The mature gardens are a joy to behold. There are flagstone terraces bordering all sides of the property, creating idyllic spots for al fresco dining.

The large detached leisure complex comprises a heated pool and a sauna and the tennis court is close by.

The gardens are well-stocked with vintage roses plus a wide selection of shrubs and trees. Beyond the walls of the formal garden, is an established orchard, kitchen garden with a 100-year-old restored greenhouse, a second greenhouse and further outbuildings.

Children can enjoy a tree house in the woodland which includes a zip wire, located close to the tennis court.

The woods, paddocks and open pastureland encourage plenty of wildlife, including fallow deer.

Situation

Seer Green was first officially mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as “the Manor of Seer” when it was part of a large forest. There is a rumor that the village was once visited by a seer, possibly Merlin, from the court of King Arthur. In Saxon times, the land on which Rawlings Farm now stands was owned by a Saxon Countess. Shortly after the Norman Conquests, King William granted the land to Bertram de Verdun who had come to England with the Conqueror and fought alongside him at the Battle of Hastings.

More recently, Rawlings Farm was sold by auction in 1917 when it was described as “a picturesque partly timbered old gabled residence in which the interior timbering forms a special feature”. During the Second World War, the house is said to have accommodated personnel of the Royal Air Force.

The current owners have enjoyed living at the property for almost forty years.