Northdown Road, Woldingham, CR3

Capturing southerly and westerly aspects to the rear, a substantial, Victorian, detached house of presence, situated in a prime position within one of the most sought-after villages in Surrey. Set at the head of a long, private access drive, the house sits well in its plot surrounded by over three acres of lovely gardens and perfectly positioned to capture extended views over Marden Park and far beyond with glimpses of the Wembley Arch on clear days. The property was designed and constructed in the early 1890s for Frederick Bayles - whose descendants retained the property until 1970 – hailing from a well-to-do merchant family relocating from London. With links to extended family in Germany, Mr Bayles named the house after a town in Saxony in honour of his wife’s heritage. Today, the house retains its Victorian grandeur, displaying many distinctive late nineteenth century architectural characteristics. Exteriors are a handsome blend of painted render and tile hanging, under a pitched tiled roof with tall chimneys stacks, a hexagonal turret feature and an original covered veranda, whilst window treatments feature sash windows, some with coloured glass inserts. Internally there are high ceilings and much period detailing still in evidence. Fireplaces are marvellously handsome and of various styles including marble or carved surrounds and cast iron, with typically Victorian tiled inserts, skirting boards are deep, internal doors are panelled. The accommodation is extensive and arranged across four floors extending to over 5,330 square feet and includes a lower ground floor which could be formed into a dependant relative or staff apartment. The primary reception rooms are characterful, each with access to the veranda and to one side is a conservatory. The present owners have created a large, sociable living room/kitchen/breakfast space in a contemporary style, by extending and rearranging one side of the house. This also allows for an additional covered terrace which is a wonderful place for outdoor dining and for taking in the views. Approached via an imposing staircase, in total there are six bedrooms in the main house, each with a character all of its own. A guest suite has an en-suite bathroom, with the other four, first floor bedrooms serviced by two bathrooms, one bath– intriguingly – contained within a mahogany surround with original taps and waste and one of the bedrooms having access to a private balcony. On the second floor is ample loft and eaves storage together with a further bedroom and shower room.

Outside

Approached by a long, private access drive, the property also has a vehicle access on to Church Road from the rear. Detached garaging has covered parking for three vehicles and has an internal staircase to the first floor where there are two rooms. The gardens surround the house and have been landscaped to highlight the wonderful countryside with the views being the focus. Majestic, mature trees of many varieties are interspersed with colour shrubs. Large swathes of lawn include a large, flat lawn, which was once a tennis lawn, light woodland suffused with bluebells and wild garlic in spring and well-stocked herbaceous border. Tucked away is an outbuilding and machine store, which are separately alarmed. In total the plot extends to 3.21 acres (1.3 hectares).

Situation

The property is located in an attractive setting in a premier position in what is considered to be one of the most sought-after Surrey villages, yet is within the M25 and under twenty miles to Central London. With an active community, Woldingham continues to be a highly prized location and enjoys various local sports clubs including tennis and cricket and a well-stocked village shop with Post Office. There are two golf clubs nearby – North Downs and Woldingham – along with many rambling walks crisscrossing the North Downs. The choice of schooling in the area is superb and includes Woodlea Junior School in the village and Woldingham School for Girls, as well as being well placed for Oxted County School, Hazlewood Preparatory School, Caterham School, Sevenoaks School and the Croydon schools – Whitgift, Croydon High School for Girls and Trinity. Oxted town centre is approximately 3.2 miles away and has an excellent range of supermarkets and boutiques, along with cafes, restaurants, an Everyman cinema and a leisure centre. Woldingham Station is about 1 mile from the house and has swift services in to London Victoria (34 mins) and London Bridge (32 mins).

Additional Information

Tenure: Freehold
Services: Mains gas, water and electricity;
Private drainage.
Local Authority: Tandridge District Council. Council Tax Band H