Feeling brave? This 'rare find' in Surrey is on the market for the first time in 50 years — and it's crying out for some love and attention
16th century Fairview is an exciting project waiting to happen in the village of Betchworth.

From the outside, Fairview appears in fairly good condition. Its handsome red-bricked exterior is surrounded by a long driveway with space for parking, lawns on either side and a number of now derelict outbuildings, including a detached double garage.
In total, the grounds extend to just shy of an acre, with views reaching out over the open farmland towards the North Downs and Box Hill. With the garages, outbuildings and a separate workshop in the rear garden which offers plenty of scope for a home office or studio space, there’s plenty of potential on offer externally.
Inside, the accommodation has retained a number of period touches, including feature windows, exposed timbers, original doors and an especially unique fireplace in the family room with seating on either side.
It’s the sort of canvas that lends itself well to owners looking to make their mark on a property without losing its sense of history and character.
The ground floor is currently configured with the entrance porch leading into the family room, which in turn leads into a large sitting room (with another feature fireplace), off which is a study.
The dated dining room and kitchen are situated towards the rear of the house, both with access out to the rear gardens. Subject to all the necessary planning hoops and hurdles, this space would make a fantastic open-plan kitchen/dining area that could incorporate the rear garden nicely during the warmer months with a terraced seating area.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Completing the downstairs space is a boot room located between the dining and family room (with handy side door access), a store room, a larder and a bathroom.
All five bedrooms can be found on the first floor (with stairs leading up from the dining room), along with two bathrooms. Again, with the necessary planning consent, there is ample space here to reconfigure the layout in order to suit a range of family needs.
Fairview sits in the small rural community of Gadbrook, just a few miles from Betchworth village, in the Mole Valley district in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
There are several good primary schools in the immediate area, with North Downs Primary School and Sandcross Primary School, plus a post office/shop and a couple of pubs. For a wider range of amenities, Reigate and Dorking are about 3.5 miles to the east and west, both with an excellent range of schools plus commuter services into London.
Fairview is currently on the market via Jackson-Stops with a guide price of £1.6 million — see more pictures or enquire with the agents for further details.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
-
What's a 'wellness village' and will it tempt you back into the office?
The team behind London's first mixed-use ‘wellness village’ says it has the magic formula for tempting workers back into offices.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
'To exist in this world relies on the hands of others': Roger Powell and modern British bookbinding
An exhibition on the legendary bookbinder Roger Powell reveals not only his great skill, but serves to reconnect us with the joy, power and importance of real craftsmanship.
By Hussein Kesvani Published
-
What's a 'wellness village' and will it tempt you back into the office?
The team behind London's first mixed-use ‘wellness village’ says it has the magic formula for tempting workers back into offices.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
A mini estate in Kent that's so lovely it once featured in Simon Schama's 'History of Britain'
The Paper Mill estate is a picture-postcard in the Garden of England.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Hidden excellence in a £7.5 million north London home
Behind the traditional façades of Provost Road, you will find something very special.
By James Fisher Published
-
Sip tea and laugh at your neighbours in this seaside Norfolk home with a watchtower
On Cliff Hill in Gorleston, one home is taller than all the others. It could be yours.
By James Fisher Published
-
A Grecian masterpiece that might be one of the nation's finest homes comes up for sale in Kent
Grade I-listed Holwood House sits in 40 acres of private parkland just 15 miles from central London. It is spectacular.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Some of the finest landscapes in the North of England with a 12-bedroom home attached
Upper House in Derbyshire shows why the Kinder landscape was worth fighting for.
By James Fisher Published
-
Could Gruber's Antiques from Paddington 2 be your new Notting Hill home?
It was the home of Mr Gruber and his antiques in the film, but in the real world, Alice's Antiques could be yours.
By James Fisher Published
-
What should 1.5 million new homes look like?
The King's recent visit to Nansledan with the Prime Minister gives us a clue as to Labour's plans, but what are the benefits of traditional architecture? And can they solve a housing crisis?
By Lucy Denton Published