Part of a building once owned by Sir Richard Branson is on the market for £280,000.
The wealthy entrepreneur owned the entire property named Grenehurst Park in Surrey before it was developed into separate flats.
The one-bedroom home for sale includes access to a communal swimming pool, hot tub, gym and tennis court.
The property in the village of Capel has a colourful history – it was requisitioned by the Canadian army during WWII and has been owned by a Greek shipping magnate too.
The one-bedroom flat in Capel, near Dorking in Surrey, is part of a large estate called Grenehurst Park
The apartment for sale has a large open plan living area that includes a kitchen with black units
It boasts 14 acres of land and it is approached by a gravelled driveway.
The property was built in Elizabethan style in 1852 with stone mullion windows providing views across the surrounding fields and towards the North Downs.
Graham Faulkner, of EweMove – the estate agent handling the sale – said: ‘This stunning penthouse is located in Grenehurst Park, an exclusive private country estate with a fascinating history and once owned by individuals ranging from a Greek shipping magnate to Richard Branson.’
The flat is on the top floor of the building, and is accessed via the building’s entrance and stairs.
There is a new kitchen with views over the rooftops to the rear, and a clever storage solution installed under the eaves.
Outside, there is an allocated covered parking space, with further room to park on the drive, and a large terrace.
Extra storage solutions in the flat: There are kitchen units cleverly installed under the eaves
There are several communal facilities at the estate, which the flat buyers would have access to, including this swimming pool
With its far-reaching views, the flat is for sale for £280,000 via estate agents EweMove Sales & Lettings
The flat in Surrey has been newly redecorated and now has a modern and light feel
The sale of the flat includes a share of freehold with a lease extension to 999 years and a service charge of £288 a month
Tom Parker, of property website Zoopla, said: ‘This stunning Elizabethan property has a fascinating history dating from the 1800s and was even requisitioned by the Canadian army during WWII.
‘Today it combines this wealth of history with plenty of luxurious features for residents including an indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, gym and tennis court.’
The sale of the flat includes a share of freehold with a lease extension to 999 years. The service charge is £288 a month.
In addition to the nineteenth century home converted to apartments, Grenehurst Park also has on its land a number of mews cottages and a selection of detached houses situated aside the A24 south west of Capel village.
The flat has views across the surrounding views and towards the North Downs in Surrey
There is a communal gym in the vaulted cellars that can be used by the residents of Grenehurst Park
Extra benefits: Other facilities that can be used by residents include this tennis court
Outside, there is an allocated covered parking space, with further room to leave vehicles
The top floor flat has a lengthy entrance hallway with an intercom system for visitors
The modern bathroom has a roll top bath, grey units and black fixtures and fittings
The flat has a large bedroom with a sloping roof line and a window looking out onto the estate
Capel village has a selection of shops, a pub, local school, doctors’ surgery, church, and petrol station, while a mile away at Ockley village there is a farm shop, pubs, and a mainline train station for a service direct to London Victoria.
The towns of Dorking and Horsham have good shopping and recreational facilities, with each having train services to London. They are both around seven miles away in opposite directions.
The A24 provides good access for drivers towards London, the South Coast, while Gatwick Airport is nearby and Heathrow airport can be reached via the M25.
The average price of a property in Dorking is £652,731, which is almost double the national average at £341,117, according to Zoopla.
The general area of the Surrey Hills is famed for being in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is appealing to walkers, cyclists, and riders.
HISTORY OF GRENEHURST PARK
The early history of Grenehurst can be traced, through manorial records, from 1282 until 1815, according to the Capel Village website.
It suggests that the early history of Grenehurst can be traced, through manorial records, from 1282 until 1815.
In 1390, a deed specified that the property comprised of one messuage (a house) 73 acres of arable land, three acres of meadow and 40 acres of pasture. It had been sold for 100 marks. (One mark equates to 13s.4d, or 67p in today’s value.)
Grenehurst Park: The house and gardens were owned briefly by Sir Richard Branson
In 1622, the property was owned by John Young of Warnham, but by 1649 it had passed to William Prideaux.
In the eighteenth century, the property had several occupants before 1759 when Nicholas Branch became the owner. He was Constable of Capel.
Land Tax records show that by 1780 William Frankland was the owner.
By around 1800, ownership had passed to John Gorham, a wealthy London merchant who owned several properties in the City of London and elsewhere.
It is believed that he left the house to his niece Rebecca Bliss. And in her will, she left the lands in Ockley and Capel to her cousin Ebenezer Maitland, a director of the Bank of England.
For a period, it isn’t clear who owned the estate until Thomas Lambert, who reportedly owned the estate in 1863.
In 1873, the Cazalet family, who had been living in Brighton, bought the Grenehurst estate from Thomas Lambert.
James Hawke Dennis bought it from Emmeline Agnes Cazalet – widow of William – on May 2, 1901, for £56,000. The estate was then 954 acres.
Sir Philip Hunloke bought the 434 acre estate for £33,250 from Mary Jane Dennis – widow of James Hawke Dennis – and her children Stanley, James and Charles.
In 1914, he was made groom-in-waiting to George V and in 1920 became his sailing master. He was generally recognised as one of the 20th century’s greatest sailors.
In the lead up to the twenty-first century, Grenehurst had several other owners, including Cecil Philip Adcoc and Emmanuel Elias Hadjilias. The Elim Bible College also owned the estate for a number of years.
After their departure, the house and gardens were owned briefly by Sir Richard Branson.
The present estate was created in the early 1990s by Cala plc. The mansion house was divided into 17 flats, while the stables and outbuildings were converted into 11 cottages.
Twelve new houses were built in the grounds and leisure facilities include an underground swimming pool and gym in the vaulted cellars.
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