I have always wondered about those whose homes are also their businesses. Not in the obvious way (farmers, for example), but rather those who use spare land as camping sites, create log cabins, or watersports. If I were to own a property that I could, for all intents and purposes, turn into a smaller version of the Soho Farmhouse, the last thing I would want is for strangers to come and visit.
Regardless of whether you want visitors or not, what you will end up with is an enchanting space that is fun. For Worcestershire cricketing legend Reuben Spring (average of 33, four hundreds), his wife and two kids, that’s exactly what they built at Felmere House in West Sussex. This enchanting wonderland is now on the market for £2.5 million.
Situated just 30 minutes by train from Central London, Felmere is a glorious Lutyens-style Arts-and-Crafts house that was built in 1912. It has, however, seen quite the improvement since then, and is now the five-bedroom centrepiece of a 10-acre estate — an estate so pretty that it's like stepping into a fairytale.
The effort that has been expended is remarkable. One only needs to look at the interiors of Felmere to see the amount of work that has gone into making it a family home fit for the 21st century. Set over three floors, the property offers five large bedrooms, the highlight of which is the master bedroom suite, which boasts ‘his and hers’ en-suite bathrooms, a private balcony and a walk-in wardrobe that is bigger than the actual bedroom.
Reception rooms on the ground floor include a large kitchen/dining room, study, main triple-aspect sitting room designed by Icelandic artist Kristjana S. Williams and a cinema room. All, as you can see, finished to a very high standard.
But the magic pales in comparison to the 10 acres that surround the home. A mixture of woodland, paddocks, orchards and lawns, the centrepiece of it all is the access to Hedgecourt Lake. Look at this picture and tell me you do not wish to spend the rest of your week sitting there.
As well as various on-site amenities (stables, garages and so on), the property also offers two rental cabins, which provide a further source of income. Mr Spring and his family have also obtained a camping license for one of the woodlands.
Maybe that’s the secret that I am missing. If I lived somewhere as serene as this, I would want to share it with others. Who doesn’t deserve to come and spend some time in the Sussex countryside with some donkeys? You definitely do.
-
In pursuit of Nancy: Outrageous star Bessie Carter on bringing the Mitford family to lifeThe scion of acting royalty Imelda Staunton and Jim Carter reveals why she loved playing Nancy Mitford on screen and what it feels like to act opposite her mother on the stage.
-
Clare Balding and Andrew Balding's day-by-day guide to Royal Ascot 2025Country Life caught up with Clare Balding and Andrew Balding to get their expert view as Royal Ascot 2025 gets under way.
-
'One of the 10 most perfect houses in Britain' has come to the market at £9.5 millionPenny Churchill looks at the magical Maperton House.
-
17 outstanding homes for sale across Britain, from under £250k to £6.5 million, as seen in Country LifeSomething for every budget in this week's round up of homes across the country that have come to market via Country Life.
-
An utterly charming island home in Scotland with gardens so beautiful they made the cover of Country LifeAn Cala on the Isle of Seil has a fascinating history that is only enhanced by its amazing setting.
-
Soft tones and a sense of place: A Mayfair duplex that breaks the modern mouldA new designer-led residence at 60 Curzon in Mayfair reminds us that everything new doesn't necessarily have to look it.
-
'The very best North Yorkshire has to offer': The £25 million Kirkham EstateWith 1,103 acres and on the market for the first time in a century, we've got a new frontrunner for the sale of the year.
-
The reality of 20 years of house price rises in Britain, from the places that have had a charmed life to the spots where it's a struggle to move back homeAt first glance the ups and downs of the property market seem to even out over time — but dig in to the numbers and you'll see wild regional variations which paint a very difference picture. Annabel Dixon analyses new research which tells the story.
-
A historic Yorkshire hall, meticulously restored to its former 18th-century magnificenceWomersley Park is a masterpiece and one of Yorkshire's great historic houses. And it could be yours.
-
Rowing past dreams: An idyllic riverside home with a boathouse, croquet pitch and Olympic pedigreeThe Manor in Long Wittenham is a perfect Thames-side getaway. Comes with a free boat.
