The successful transformation of Charters at Sunninghill, Berkshire, the Grade II-listed Art Deco mansion described as ‘the last of the great country houses to be built in England’, from secret corporate headquarters to pampered enclave of 39 sumptuous apartments, has ‘exceeded all expectations’ for owner/developer John Morris who bought the property in 2001.
Only nine apartments remain for sale with Savills (01344 876668) at prices ranging from £1.85m upwards: seven in the new Court and Garden House buildings that are mirror images of the main house, one in the mansion house itself, and, at £5.05m, the remaining pièce de résistance, the spectacular West Wing extension, a three-bedroom apartment with a cinema, private spa access, a vaulted wine-cellar and a double-height entrance hall.
Interestingly, the owners at Charters are nearly all English or European- an eclectic mix of industrialists, show-biz personalities, shipping people and an artist-with not a banker to be seen. Charters’ 18 fulltime staff are permanently at the residents’ beck-and-call, collecting children from Eton or their parents from Farnborough private jet airport, and organising excursions. Charters’ high-tech systems even include heated windowsills where owners can grow their own orchids.
* Country houses for sale in Berkshire
