Surrey Homes | SH18 | April 2016 | Garden supplement inside

HOUSE OF THE MONTH by John Graham-Hart
1.
Great outdoors
John Graham-Hart finds homes with special gardens
The border guard is approaching the car. It’s not a good moment. We’ve
all seen Midnight Express. I try not to make eye contact but now he’s
tapping on the window. “Passport.” I can smell the gun oil on his
freshly cleaned Manurhin MR-93. He glances at my picture, bends down and
stares intently into my evasive eyes. An eon passes. OK. I’m guilty. I know it.
He knows it. Let’s just get it over with.“ ’ave an ice day, M’sieur.”
And suddenly, inexplicably, wonderfully, I’m free – I and the contraband
scrabbling affectionately in my crotch. I drive on to the Shuttle and fish
surreptitiously around my boxers. Yes, all is well. I withdraw a small glass phial
and there they are, warmish but safe and sound – my 60 French baby ladybirds.
Now it may well be that under EU law French insects have the same rights as
British crawlies to reside and work in Kent and there may be no reason for the
subterfuge. By why take chances? My garden looked like a set from
Day of the Aphids.
I had received the little bêtes à bon Dieu from Vincent Delaitre, directeur
of the superb gardens of the Abbaye de Valloires, a little north of Abbeville. “I
want this to be a place where people are inspired,” he had told me as we walked
through his domain. “I want us to grow ideas.”
He had divided the grounds of the abbey into themed areas – one of which
was the English Garden and he loved it with a quiet passion. “The English tame
nature without breaking its spirit,” he told me. “The result is that they surround
their homes with truly natural beauty. They are blessed.” And so we are – and
none of us more so than the future owners of properties like these….
1. Barnfield
Where? Barnfield is in a rural position
about a mile from the centre of
Dunsfold and eight miles from Godalming
main line station (Google Maps GU8
4NP).
What? This handsome and characterful
country house dates from the 19th century
and was built in the traditional Surrey/
Sussex style – heavy oak timbers with brick
in-fills. It has been luxuriously refurbished
while retaining its original features
including inglenooks and polished beams.
It also comes with two separate twobedroom
cottages. Downstairs there is a
drawing room, sitting room, dining room,
library, kitchen/family room and study.
Upstairs there is a master bedroom with en
suite bathroom and dressing room and six
further bedrooms.
The 50 acres of magnificent gardens and
include a croquet lawn with a summer
house, apple orchard, swimming pool, two
greenhouses, a tennis court, large vegetable
garden, paddocks and woodland. There
is also a modern American-style 10-stable
barn, another stable block, a hay barn and
a modern garage block for several cars.
How much? Barnfield has a guide
price of £6,750,000 and is with Savills in
Guildford. Call 01483 796 820 or visit
www.savills.co.uk
www.wealdentimes.co.uk
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