Splendid riverside home built by jam-makers 120 years ago

A STUNNING riverside house at Mill End, Hambleden, has come on the market for the first time since 1976.

Buildings surveyor Philip Fitzpatrick, 69, grew up at the large Edwardian property, which his father bought during the summer heatwave of 1976 when he left London in search of a more peaceful way of life.

He says: “It was all one house originally and divided into two in 1957 when people preferred smaller properties after the war.

“My father built a large extension and second staircase and created the current eight bedrooms.”

The house was built in 1903 by the Wilkin family, of Tiptree jam fame, and retains many of its original features, such as leaded windows and the impressive baronial hall with its abundant panelling that was reclaimed from the House of Lords when that was refurbished.

A castellated wet boathouse with a storeroom was added in 1929.

Until the outbreak of the Second World War, the house was owned by the Japanese government and used as an ambassadorial retreat. During the war, it became a base for American officers.

The house and boathouse have featured on screen with appearances in Midsomer Murders, Endeavour and, more recently, The Marlow Murders. The unique boathouse is included in Boathouses, a book by Clare Sherriff.

The grand entrance to the property is gated and leads to a shared driveway which sweeps towards a spacious parking area which can accommodate multiple vehicles.

The property offers more than 5,500 sq ft of accommodation over three floors with eight reception rooms and eight double bedrooms.

“We are leaving many original artefacts such as the tapestries that have been with the house since it was built,” says Mr Fitzpatrick. On entering the house, there is a magnificent double height, galleried reception hall with a sweeping staircase, stained glass windows and open fireplace.

This provides access to the inner hall and the formal double aspect drawing room with a large bay window and elegant murals on the ceiling and above the fireplace.

The dining room, cloakroom, kitchen, utility room and a second staircase are also off the inner hall. The modern kitchen/breakfast room has bifold doors to the garden.

On the first floor, a generous galleried landing overlooks the baronial hall and leads to the double-aspect master bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and en suite bathroom.

There are three more double bedrooms, two bathrooms and a cloakroom on this floor.

A staircase leads to the second floor where there are another four double bedrooms, two bathrooms, a cloakroom and storeroom.

Mr Fitzpatrick says: “There are views across the Chilterns countryside towards the front and views along the Thames at the back.

“I was a keen rower so I loved growing up by the river. It’s a fantastic environment. The world has floated past our garden — Jerome K Jerome, Richard Branson and Christine Keeler to name but a few from different eras.

“We are halfway between Marlow and Henley and it’s a wonderful walk along the riverbank to reach either town.

“During Henley Royal Regatta we stand outside and watch the fireworks from the back garden.”

The south-west facing grounds of 0.8 acres wrap around the house and lead down to the river.

To one side is a swimming pool with Roman steps and a surrounding paved deck. Formal lawns lead to the river frontage and a mooring deck.

There is also a terrace wrapping a corner of the building which is accessible from the reception hall and kitchen.

The property itself was built on a bern (raised area) to avoid flooding.

Mill End is a scenic location at the foot of the Hambleden Valley with walks to the weir footbridge and Hambleden Lock.

“Ferry Lane is a very private community of houses and people are very discreet”, says Mr Fitzpatrick. “Once they move here, they rarely leave. We are moving because the timing is right for us.”

• No 2 Hambleden Place is on the market with a guide price of £3.5 million. For more information or to arrange a viewing, call Savills on (01491) 843000.