These Two English Country Homes Are Connected by an Underground Tunnel

The late British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens was (and still is) especially revered for his Arts and Crafts-style manor houses. And now, what The Lutyens Trust has dubbed among the Englishman’s “most attractive and interesting old buildings” is up for grabs. Dubbed Winkworth Farm, the Grade II-listed estate in Surrey’s pastoral countryside has come to market with Savills for a cool £6.75 million (or about $8.6 million).

Set on more than 15 sprawling acres in Hascombe, the estate’s main residence dates to the middle of the 16th century and is thought to be one of the last great timber houses of its time. In addition, it features gardens by celebrated landscape architect Gertrude Jekyll, which were planted in the 1900s and later updated by architect F.W. Troup.

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“Nestled in a verdant valley with grounds gently meandering down to a lake, Winkworth Farm occupies the most magical of rural settings,” Phillippa Dalby-Welsh, head of Savills’s country department, said in a press statement. “On the edge of one of Surrey’s most picturesque ancient villages, the quintessential timber-framed house is brimming with charm and character.”

The main residence, which originated as a yeoman’s house, dates to 1565. It was more than 300 years later, in 1895, that Lutyens remodeled and converted an 18th-century barn and joined it to the existing residence. Today, the spacious and comfortably appointed home comprises six total bedrooms.

Another half-timbered barn on the property was converted by the current owners into a secondary residence with two bedrooms, a full kitchen, and a mezzanine-level study. The two structures are cleverly connected by an underground tunnel that is accessed from the wine cellar in the main house.

Throughout its history, the pad has been home to a fair share of notable residents, including Dr. Wilfred Fox, a well-known British dermatologist. Fox bought the place in 1918 and planted an arboretum near the house, which he later gave to the National Trust in 1952. That same year, the property was handed over to wildlife artist and conservationist David Shepherd, who held onto the estate for 39 years.

Over the last decade, the sellers have been carefully tending to the historic abode and making many modern updates along the way. For example, the home now features a bespoke kitchen from Fired Earth and underfloor heating in some of the bathrooms, as well as in the boot room and the laundry room.

Of course, the grounds are just as impressive and include an ornamental knot garden and a walled vegetable garden. Other highlights across the estate include a gymnasium, extensive garaging, a stable yard, a large lake with a boathouse, and over 1,000 species of shrubs and trees.

Click here to see all the photos of Winkworth Farm.

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