8 bedroom house

Steeped in history and with origins believed to date to the mid-19th century, Piccards Rough is an impressive Arts and Craft house, designed by the renowned Richard Norman Shaw. It was the home of Lieutenant-Colonel Powell who, with his wife Beatrice, gave the house over to the War Office in 1915 for use as an auxiliary hospital. With its majestic facade, this grand residence remains a landmark and distinguished building offering just under 8,000 sq. ft of elegant accommodation arranged across three floors. Period features are showcased and include lofty, architectural windows; light-filled, high-ceilinged rooms; ornate wall panelling; embellished plasterwork and vintage fireplaces. A splendid dining hall provides an impressive entrance, flooded with light and with glimpses of the galleried landings above, offering a flavour of the imposing interiors to be found within this home. Ground floor reception rooms comprise a stately oak panelled drawing room, a refined sitting room with steps up into a bay window alcove, and a reception room featuring an arched window. Providing a modern contrast, the kitchen/breakfast room is fitted with sleek, white cabinetry and features an external door offering a link to the outside. The roomy, first floor landing has a number of step level changes providing interest and giving access to five bedrooms, two dressing rooms and two bathrooms. The principal room benefits from en suite facilities and extends into a bay window recess, enjoying views over the garden to the Surrey Hills beyond. Stairs rise to two further bedrooms and a vast flexible-use, leisure space tucked-away at attic level. A potential further bedroom is accessed via a hatch, but needs to be converted to habitable space.

In a secluded setting, with a bank of trees to the lane affording privacy, the property is approached by a long driveway leading into a large gravelled parking area and access to a double garage. A series of terraces, with stone walls and steps, at the rear of the property accommodate the level changes, create a striking garden design feature and provide a journey down through the grounds. There are areas laid to lawn, clipped hedging and shrubs, with mature trees affording a secluded outdoor haven, whilst naturalist settings and a pond hidden in a wooded copse provide a magnet to wildlife. An outdoor pool has a walled and paved surround offering a spot to laze on a lounger and a tennis court awaits the energetic.

The property is situated in a tranquil, leafy, rural setting just to the south-west of Guildford. The county town of Surrey provides comprehensive shopping, recreational and cultural facilities including The Surrey Sports Park, G Live and the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre. Both the A31 and the A3 are easily accessible, giving access to Central London, the M25, the national motorway network, Heathrow and Gatwick Airports and Guildford main line station provides a fast service to London Waterloo, along with journeys to Gatwick, Reading, Portsmouth and Southampton. There are excellent schools in the immediate area, including Charterhouse, Prior’s Field, St. Catherine’s, Cranleigh, Guildford High, RGS, Tormead, Aldro and St. Hilary’s. The surrounding countryside is renowned for its scenic beauty and provides miles of walking and riding. There are a number of good golf courses nearby, including Puttenham, Milford and the West Surrey at Enton.