A glorious country house with library, gym and treehouse, in a hamlet a stone's throw from Guildford
A decade ago, Orange Grove near Guildford came up for sale via Country Life; now, the owners are moving on, leaving the house in fabulous condition compared to what they bought in 2012. Penny Churchill takes a look.


Knight Frank and Savills are joint agents in the relaunch, at a guide price of £6.3m, of Orange Grove, a handsome Victorian country house set in 5½ acres of immaculate landscaped gardens on the edge of the 1,400-acre Loseley Park estate in the picturesque Surrey Hills AONB. Approached along a quiet no-through lane, the house is the largest of a group of properties that make up the idyllic hamlet of Littleton, enjoying unspoilt rural views on all sides, yet within easy reach of Guildford High Street, 2½ miles to the north.
Orange Grove dates from the mid 19th century or earlier and was lived in at one time by the vicar of Wanborough, although never recorded as a rectory. Later, it was the home, until 1948, of Air Vice Marshall Sir Oliver Swann, a distinguished RAF officer who is credited with inventing the Second World War flying boat.
The current owners bought Orange Grove in 2012 and spent two years extending and renovating it, installing new bathrooms, walnut floorboards, new double-glazed sash windows, partial underfloor heating and air conditioning, a new open-plan living kitchen and new bathrooms.
In all, it offers more than 7,300sq ft of light and airy living space on two floors, including an entrance hall, library, study, playroom, living room, kitchen/dining room and private office on the ground floor.
The principal bedroom suite, three further bedrooms and two bathrooms are on the floor above.
Further accommodation is available in the coach house, which is linked to the main building via a glazed walkway, and in the former cottage, which was demolished and rebuilt to provide a double garage and a large gymnasium, with a studio apartment above.
The gardens have been expertly redesigned by Andrew Fisher Tomlin, winners of RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold medals and best-in-show awards in 2014, 2016 and 2018, with ornamental beds surrounding the house on all sides and a pretty rose garden to the west.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Outbuildings include an outhouse with planning consent to convert into a wellness suite.
There is also a delightful summerhouse (previously a treehouse) and, away from the main house, an all-weather tennis court.
Orange Grove is for sale via Knight Frank and Savills at £6.3m — see more details and pictures.
-
Defanging the Gardens Trust will hurt our most precious landscapes
The government has proposed to remove the Garden Trust's position as a statutory consultee in planning permissions for up to 1,700 historic landscapes and gardens in order to speed up building.
By Country Life Published
-
A new gilded age: Sir David Attenborough christens a rare golden eaglet
The first golden eagle to fledge from the nest of a translocated bird has been rewarded with a name selected by Sir David Attenborough.
By Rosie Paterson Published
-
A 17th century farmhouse in Surrey with one of Britain's oldest squash courts
Fords Farm is on the market for the first time in over half a century.
By Penny Churchill Last updated
-
The 15 best-value commuter towns for people working in London, according to new research from one of Britain's top estate agents
Savills have released their list of the best-value commuter towns in Britain. But do the sums add up? Toby Keel takes a look.
By Toby Keel Published
-
What everyone is talking about this week: Where are the new Cotswolds?
The appearance of American Vice President J. D. Vance in the Cotswolds is a sure sign that they're saturated, but where else can you escape to that has the same charm?
By Will Hosie Published
-
19 outstanding country homes, from £450,000 to £20 million, as seen in Country Life
A spectacular country house in Yorkshire and an enormously impressive Channel Islands retreat are among the stand-out homes on the market this week.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Three homes down by the Thames, perfect for those who love messing about on boats
This summer’s scorching temperatures will no doubt have endorsed the perennial appeal of Thames-side houses with frontage and private access to the river. Penny Churchill and Toby Keel pick out some prime examples.
By Toby Keel Published
-
A pavilion, pool and pleasure gardens at this Devon country house 'with not another building in sight'
Ebberly House is a majestic country house in Devon built by one of John Soane's pupils — and as it comes to the market, it's a place Penny Churchill knows well.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Take over the world or throw a great big party on this private fort for sale in Pembroke
Thorne Island, dubbed the British Alcatraz, has been a £2 million labour of love. Now it could be yours.
By James Fisher Published
-
The perfect summer house? A country home, beach house and rural escape rolled into one in a prime spot in Sussex
If there's a finer house than Grangewood House in which to enjoy the summer, we'd love to see it. Penny Churchill takes a look.
By Penny Churchill Published