Town living that’s walk in the park

WHEN Roberta Coghe and her husband moved from Cambridge to Henley
10 years ago, they quickly fell in love with the town’s walk-everywhere lifestyle.

“We loved the area straight away,” she says. “It’s got everything including great access to London, the station, the river and the schools. We can walk to all of it in minutes.”

Their home at 6 Norman House in Norman Avenue, is a smart red-brick apartment building off Reading Road. It was built about 20 years ago and designed for easy, modern living.

Architecturally, Norman Avenue itself is one of Henley’s most attractive residential streets.

The houses are an eclectic mix of late-Victorian styles, reflective of the high-quality suburban villa architecture typical of the town’s 19th century prosperity.

The site on which Norman House now stands was once home to Henley’s British School, established in the late 1800s to serve the growing population brought by the railway and local industry.

Set on the first floor with the convenience of a lift, the flat feels bright and airy thanks to its triple-aspect windows and open-plan layout. The living, dining and kitchen space runs along one side, catching sunlight from three directions and giving the apartment a quietly elegant sense of space. There is also ultrafast fibre-optic broadband connected to the property.

The kitchen is fitted with Miele appliances — double ovens, gas hob and integrated fridge-freezer — with sleek wooden units and plenty of work surfaces. The rest of the open-plan area is carpeted and underfloor heated.

There are three bedrooms. The main bedroom, overlooking Norman Avenue, includes a built-in double wardrobe and a stylish en suite shower room tiled from floor to ceiling.

The second double bedroom faces Reading Road and also has fitted storage, while the third room works perfectly as a study or guest room. A family bathroom offers a bath with shower over and heated towel rail.

“It’s very light and energy efficient, and because it’s between apartments, it stays safe and warm,” Roberta says. “There’s also a good, friendly community in Norman House — everyone looks out for each other. I travel around the UK a great deal and my husband works in London, so it’s very safe and convenient.”

There’s also a utility cupboard with space for a washer-dryer and a gas boiler in its own airing cupboard.

Outside there’s an allocated parking space and a well-kept shared garden, while maintenance of the building and grounds is all taken care of by the management company.

For commuters, Henley station is a five-minute stroll, with direct connections to London Paddington via the Elizabeth Line at Twyford. The M4 and M40 are both within easy reach, and Heathrow is about half an hour by car.

The parade of shops in Reading Road includes a dry cleaner, florist and coffee shop and Henley’s bustling Market Place, riverfront restaurants, the Kenton Theatre and Regal Cinema are just a short walk away.

After a decade here, the Coghes are only moving because their children are growing and they now need a garden but they’re determined to stay in Henley.

“We wouldn’t want to live anywhere else,” says Roberta. “This flat has been perfect for us.”

l 6 Norman House has a guide price of £800,000, leasehold, with 105 years remaining. The annual service charge is £3,500 and annual ground rent set at £250. For more information and to arrange a viewing, call Phil Booth Esq on (01491) 876544.