Beech Cottage is a truly superb example of a meticulously restored period home, with outstanding accommodation that is arranged to optimise the southerly-aspect and seamlessly connects the house to the gardens. The property has exposed Bargate stone and brick walls, Douglas fir wooden beams and traditionally constructed timber framing, a unique English Chilmark Limestone floor to the ground floor and wooden flooring on the first floor, and the windows are specialist thin sectioned metal frames with lead effect panes, all of which have been carefully chosen materials in the renovation to be in-keeping with the 19th century house.

The house has two entrances, the principal of which opens into an entrance hallway and steps lead down to the reception space, which is semi-open plan and flows from one room to the next, which in turn contributes to the bright and spacious feel of the home with an abundance of natural light flowing throughout. To the far end of the house is a sitting room, which is an excellent space with a door out to the garden, and can lend itself to be a snug, study, library or playroom, depending on the needs of the incoming purchaser. A log burner is a real feature of this room and creates a cosy feel, and is also seen in the formal reception room, which connects to this space. The formal reception room has a superb outlook over the garden, and a door leads to the rear terrace to perfectly extend the entertaining space outside. To the centre of the house is a study, from which the staircase leads to the first floor.
To the right side of the home is the dining room, that opens to the kitchen and breakfast room that is a generous space and is the hub of the home. The kitchen is fitted with modern units and integrated appliances and there is a superb pantry. A breakfast bar separates the kitchen to the dining space, which is suited to everyday, casual dining. A separate utility space sits alongside the kitchen and has access to the rear garden, and the second entrance to the front of the house has a boot room.

The bedroom accommodation is arranged over the first floor; the principal bedroom was created as part of the extension works and is a luxurious suite with a large window, free-standing feature shower within the bedroom space, and a large bathroom with a slipper, rolltop bath and stained-glass window that casts a stunning light into the bathroom. The two additional bedrooms are both well-sized to fit double beds, and there is a family bathroom that services these rooms. A terrace is found from the second bedroom and enjoys a south-westerly aspect.

Gardens and Grounds
The house has a private frontage from the road and has an attached single garage with double doors out to the rear garden, and there is a parking space in front. The rear garden is a hidden gem that is private and secluded with a southerly aspect, and enjoys far-reaching views out over towards St Catherine's Chapel, St Mary the Virgin in Shalford, the Chantry Woods, St Martha's Hill and the Surrey Hills beyond. The garden is tiered, with the top tier being an attractive flagstone and brick terrace that spans the width of the back of the house and creates a superb space for entertaining and dining in the summer months taking in the views. Steps lead down to the lower tiers which are mainly laid to lawn with well-maintained borders with seasonal blooms and mature shrubbery. To the end of the garden is a garden office which has a small kitchenette area, creating the perfect, tranquil space to work from home or to have as a hobby room. There is a wine cellar to the right side of the garden that can easily be accessed from the kitchen and utility room and has storage for a generous number of bottles.

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History and Context
Between 1861 and 1871, William Edmund Elkins, a major local landowner and four times Mayor of Guildford, and Richard James Shepard, a retired Lloyds of London underwriter, created the first phase of the Guildown Estate on the outskirts of Guildford. Over a ten-year period, around eight large residential properties were constructed of which the Beeches along with Beech Cottage were the latter phases.

Constructed in 1871, Beech Cottage provided accommodation for the gardeners to the Beeches. It was constructed with stone and decorative brick walls; clay tiles on a timber A-framed roof; timber floors internally. Adjacent to this was a substantial glasshouse which was believed to be used to grow ferns and orchids. There was also a boiler house and other outhouses. The buildings fronted onto a kitchen garden to the South, and Guildown Road as it was then called to the North.

It remained in this form until around the 1930s when the first of several alterations and extensions were made leading up to the present day. These changes created a long and cellular property with poor circulation. By the early 2010s the property was in a poor condition.

In 2013, the house was extensively refurbished and renovated to achieve a sustainable, low-maintenance, energy efficient property, carefully created with reference to the Arts and Crafts tradition of the surrounding area. The house was thoughtfully extended to create a third, first-floor bedroom, enlarged living areas to the ground floor, an improved layout and functionality while optimising the south-facing orientation and aspect of the existing living and bedroom accommodation. This contributed to an excellent integration between the house and the garden.

The works, while extensive, ensured to conserve and respect the original fabric of the building and the implementation of modern design and construction through sustainable measures, such as improved thermal insulation, upgrading all glazing, and optimising solar gain from the aspect of the home, along with a substantial reuse of existing materials and minimising the waste of removed materials through recycling on site, has allowed this stunning period home to be brought into the modern age. The works were designed, procured and managed by our client, who was previously a project and programme manager at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, so the knowledge and experience of Conservation and working with historic buildings on a world heritage site was crucially implemented in the project.

In 2017, the house was entered into the Guildford Design Awards, an accolade that recognises a range of projects that have improved the architecture, heritage, conservation and sustainability of the borough. The house was a joint winner, and the judges' comments are as follows; “An outstanding renovation and extension which shows a mastery of its historical setting, its handling of the design language and its physical geography. It nestles comfortably in its hilltop setting with its exquisitely considered landscaping. It is the combination of these factors, alongside the building quality and attention to the details which resonated strongly with the panel, and it is rightly considered as the joint winner this year.”. Following the awards, the house was featured in a news article focusing on the windows chosen for the renovation to improve the insulation of the house, while maintaining the Arts and Crafts style. []

Distances
Guildford's High Street 0.7 miles, London Road Station, Guildford 1.5 miles (from 47 minutes to London Waterloo), Guildford station 0.9 miles (from 37 minutes to London Waterloo), A3 (Guildford northbound) 2 miles, A3 (Guildford southbound) 1.8 miles, M25 (Junction 10) 9.6 miles
Heathrow Airport 24.9 miles, Gatwick Airport 26.4 miles, Central London 32.4 miles
(All distances and times are approximate)