9 bedroom house

Surrey Hills splendour with unparalleled facilities and opportunities.


Description

MAIN HOUSE
Dating from around 1910, Rockwood is a substantial and impressive country house in the Arts and Crafts style of that period. With elevations of local Bargate stone under a gabled roof the property sits comfortably in its surroundings and offers delightful vistas over the landscaped grounds and the wooded hills beyond. The property has an interesting history, having once been owned by Asif Ali Zardari the husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, prime minister of Pakistan.

Now in its present ownership since 2014 Rockwood has undergone major upgrading and sympathetic enlargement, chief and most recent of which has been the addition of a new family and leisure wing. This has added the superb pool complex, a larger kitchen, family room, games room, gymnasium and recording studio.

However, the property retains the majority of its original classical features including the impressive main drawing and dining rooms with their ornate moulded cornice and
fireplaces. The grand reception hall with its magnificent oak staircase and stained glass window is probably the most impressive of the original features and with doors from here and the other main rooms opening onto the terrace the house is ideally suited to stylish entertaining.

First and second floor accommodation is no less impressive. The beautiful master suite includes a spacious vaulted bedroom, private sitting room, dressing room and luxuriously appointed bathroom together with doors to the roof terrace from which to further enjoy the views and fresh air. Two more principal suites are similarly equipped and the six further bedrooms all benefit from full en suite facilities.

The extensive refurbishment has included complete upgrading of all insulation to the highest standards, full plumbing and rewiring and the installation of CAT 5 network cabling along with Sonos distributed audio.

GARDENS AND GROUNDS
The landscaped gardens and further grounds are a particular feature of this property, having been much improved and meticulously maintained by the current owners.

The property is approached via tall wrought iron electric gates with a video entry system. From here the drive extends through neatly tended lawns with specimen trees and shrubs to the main forecourt and turning area then continues beyond the house to garages and further extensive parking space.

The formal grounds lie to the south of the main house and comprise a full width stone-paved terrace and veranda which is perfect for entertaining or relaxed family leisure. From here level formal lawns extend to a parapet wall from which views down to the lake and woodland may be enjoyed.

To the eastern side of the terrace the outside pool area and sunbathing terrace extend to the tennis court.

THE STUDIO
Beneath the formal lawns to the south of the terrace and totally invisible from the house, the owners have created an extensive multi-use space with one fully glazed south facing wall. Currently called The Studio or Project Room it could suit a wide variety of leisure or business purposes limited only by the imagination. Measuring some 35 x 15 metres it would for example make a superb space for a classic car collection. Other potential uses might include a spacious hobbies room, photography/art studio or event venue.

EQUESTRIAN AMENITIES
Rockwood is ideally suited to those with equestrian interests as it is already in use as such. Extensive fenced and watered paddocks and open grazing provide for both exercise and maintenance.

The current stable block has planning and is due to be replaced by a further stable block housing 10 large stables in a more rural position next to the paddocks. There is planning permission for a 30 x 60 metre all-weather manege to complete the arrangements (yet to be installed).

Nearby bridleways make it possible to ride out off-road directly from the estate.

THE POOL HOUSE
There is a significant planning consent on the site of the existing stables for a secondary property/pool house. The total building amounts to approximately 8000 sq ft, and will occupy an incredible position within the grounds either for a guest house or separate spa building.

ROCKWOOD GATE HOUSE
There is planning consent to significantly change and enlarge the existing lodge to 3,950 sq ft gate house, with a total of 6 bedroom or accommodation units, and extensive ground floor accommodation.

There is additional grassland, farmland and woodland available separately located to the north of the stables. Planning consent has been granted for an aeroplane hangar and for some agricultural buildings with an independent access from the Witley to Brook road. Within the farm building planning consent is a farm managers house with 6000 sq ft of accommodation.

Location

Set some two hundred yards from its gates at the end of a sweeping private drive, Rockwood enjoys an unrivalled elevated situation with outstanding rural and woodland views. While surrounded by its own extensive grounds the property also lies in the heart of The Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Great Landscape Value with all the protection that implies.

There is an excellent choice of shops and services in both Godalming and Haslemere whilst Guildford offers a comprehensive range of high street shopping, leisure and cultural amenities. These include a variety of restaurants, two theatres, multiplex cinema, clubs and bars, the G-Live event venue and the Spectrum Sports Centre.

Rockwood benefits from excellent communications. The main A3 trunk road at Milford provides a direct route to London and Portsmouth connecting with the M25 interchange at Wisley for access to the airports and the national motorway network. Rail communications are also good with main line stations at Milford, Godalming and Guildford offering fast and frequent services into London (Waterloo).

There is a very broad choice of well-regarded schools in the area including Priors Field, Aldro, Charterhouse, St Catherine’s at Bramley, King Edwards at Witley, Cranleigh School and several others.

Recreational opportunities include several golf clubs, comprehensive sport and leisure centres at Guildford and Godalming and country pursuits at a number of local venues. In addition, the surrounding area includes a wide variety of beautiful countryside for walking and riding.

Square Footage: 20,875 sq ft




Acreage: 89 Acres

Directions

From London follow A3 south to the Milford exit then follow A283 towards Haslemere. At the second traffic lights, turn left and continue to the roundabout then take the third exit towards Haslemere. After 2.2 miles as the road bends right at the top of a rise, the gated entrance to Rockwood will be seen on the left-hand side.

For users of the what3words app the reference is: ///eager.bubbles.dolls

Marketed by: Savills, Country Department