Original 1920s features sit alongside new interventions, all of a considered traditional style
Original 1920s features sit alongside new interventions, all of a considered traditional style
Built in the 1920s, this four-bedroom house sits on the outskirts of Aldershot, Hampshire, a short drive from Farnham. Bespoke joinery and timber floorboards have been added alongside a blue motif woven throughout the home, seen in paint colours and intricately patterned wallpapers. Tucked at the rear, the verdant garden brims with mature fruit trees, including apple, pear, plum and cherry. For easy travel to the capital, Aldershot rail station is a five-minute drive away and runs services to London Waterloo in just under an hour.
Setting the Scene
Cranmore Lane is just a few minutes’ walk away from Rowhill Nature Reserve. Its 55 acres of woodland was once part of a private estate that produced timber and bricks, signs of which can still be seen today.
This fine house dates from the 1920s and is characterised by period features including bay windows, alcove fireplaces and ornate ceiling roses.
The Grand Tour
Wisteria embraces the house’s smart white façade, and a covered porch frames a timber front door. In the entrance hall, midnight-blue wall panelling complements dark-stained floorboards. Brass and milk glass 1930s school light fittings hang overhead.
The sitting room is filled with light from a large bay window, and a log burner sits in a tall fireplace. There are ornate ceiling roses, and walls are papered in 'Hornbeam' by Farrow and Ball. One wall is fitted with bespoke shelving with pretty timber detailing.
A set of 1920s wooden doors opens onto a spacious open-plan kitchen and dining room. Hanging pendant lights illuminate the dining area, while Crittall-style double doors unfold onto the garden.
In the kitchen, a large central island with marble-tiled worktop has been crafted by the current owner using cabinets once owned by the Natural History Museum. Joinery has been washed in a navy blue tone, with brass fittings and reclaimed iroko worktops. Positioned above a Smeg double oven, two pretty leaded interior windows look onto the utility room beyond. A generous pantry is to the rear of the kitchen.
The ground floor is also home to a timber-lined snug with an adjacent shower room. It has its own private entrance to the side of the house, making it well-suited as a guest room or an annexe. From here, striking timber steps ascend to a loft space, currently used as a hobby room.
From the entrance hall, a timber staircase with copper coins inset into the risers leads to the first floor. The principal bedroom is drenched in 'Berrington Blue' by Farrow and Ball, and a window with a window seat captures leafy views of the garden. An attached dressing room has built-in wardrobes, and the en suite bathroom has a walk-in shower.
The second bedroom is illuminated by a bay window. It has fitted wardrobes and an en suite shower room with marble tiling. There are two further double bedrooms, one washed in 'Oval Room Blue' by Farrow and Ball, and the other papered in 'Sumatra' by House of Hackney. A shared bathroom has a freestanding bathtub and a walk-in shower.
The Great Outdoors
To the rear, a terrace with raised decking provides opportunities for sitting out. A lawned area brims with mature apple, pear, plum, cherry and mulberry trees, and there is a rill.
At the front of the house, a gravelled area provides parking space for several cars.
Out and About
Cranmore Lane is a quiet residential street on the edge of Aldershot. The green expanses and ancient woodlands of Rowhill Nature Reserve are just a few minutes’ walk from the house, while an exhilarating walk to the top of Caesar’s Camp awards panoramic views toward London.
Further opportunities for embracing the past include the 12th-century Waverley Abbey in nearby Farnham, and the picturesque Winkworth Arboretum, home to over 1,000 different species of trees and shrubs.
There are numerous drinking and dining options in the area, including the highly regarded Seoul Sarang, which serves authentic Korean fare. The Alfred Free House is another local favourite, with its offering of cask ale, craft beer and pizza.
Nearby Farnham is a market town and is routinely named as one of the best places to live in the UK, thanks to its historic town centre, vibrant cultural life, excellent transport links and the beauty of the surrounding countryside. It has a thriving town centre with a range of independent restaurants, shops and boutiques. It also has a renowned arts centre, Farnham Maltings, and a well-regarded arts university. Guildford is also within easy reach.
There are a number of excellent schooling options in the area, including Talavera Junior School, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary and The Wavell Secondary School.
Aldershot rail station is a five-minute drive (or a short bus ride) away from the house, with regular services to London Waterloo in just under an hour. For international travel, Heathrow Airport is approximately a 40-minute drive away.
Council Tax Band: F
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