Even in this utilitarian age, it’s not only grand houses of serious architectural merit that can boast ‘a spirit of place’. Who would have thought that the attempt by a developer to replace a modest timber-framed cottage of late-17th-century origin and its tiny 1930s artist’s studio with four executive houses, in the heart of the popular Berkshire village of Upper Basildon, would have resulted in both cottage and studio being spot-listed Grade II in February 2011, as of national and historic interest?
Thus was prevented the destruction of pretty Tree Cottage and the charming, wooden garden studio built for his own use by the talented Gilbert Spencer, younger brother of Sir Stanley Spencer, who lived and painted there between 1935/36 and 1970.
Spencer normally worked outdoors, but, in winter, would paint from his cottage windows or what he called his ‘little Colt studio’ in the garden. A self-portrait shows him wrapped in a heavy overcoat painting in his studio, of which he says in his autobiography:
‘When I entered it for the first time I hated it so much that I knocked it about, and messed it up to get it more in sympathy with my feelings for painting in odd corners, or bedrooms, indoors. The fact is I am no “studio” artist and never have been.’
Although Phil and Stephanie Kingsland, the current owners of Tree Cottage, never knew Spencer and only succeeded in buying the house when a competitor failed to complete on the deal, the place has a magic all of its own. They’ve recently extended and renovated the property to create a modern, open-plan kitchen/diner, a family room, a large master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and an extra guest bedroom.
What was once a two-cell timber-frame structure now has, in addition, a music room, study, three further bedrooms and a family bathroom – and, of course, the studio, now their children’s private domain. Sadly, not for long, as the Kingsland family is moving on and Tree Cottage is for sale through the Pangbourne office of Strutt & Parker at a guide price of £1m.
Credit: Knight Frank
A superbly luxurious Berkshire haven for sale, as seen in Country Life
This beautiful home in one of the stockbroker belt's most sought-after locations has every imaginable luxury.
Credit: Knight Frank
Stunning Grade II-listed character property in Berkshire, half an hour from central London by the new Elizabeth line
With the Crossrail predicted to open later this year, homes in Berkshire are more attractive to city commuters than ever.
Credit: Knight Frank
The best country houses for sale this week
Catch up on the best houses that have come up for sale via Country Life in the last few weeks.
Crossrail changes the game in Berkshire
The prospect of Crossrail is beginning to inject Berkshire country house market with interest from buyers looking for an easy
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A glorious Berkshire house with gardens by Arne Maynard, within easy reach of London and Oxford
Chieveley House is a beautifully-restored country house in an unspoiled Berkshire village within easy reach of London and Oxford.
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If the Volvo ES90 is the answer, what is the question?Volvo's latest luxury saloon car impresses in unexciting ways, with an unwavering commitment to safety and comfort.
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Five classic country houses for sale, from an equestrian home to a manor with a wisteria-draped pool, as seen in Country LifeOur pick of some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life this week includes a house with a beautiful outdoor pool,
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Five classic country houses for sale, from an equestrian home to a manor with a wisteria-draped pool, as seen in Country LifeOur pick of some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life this week includes a house with a beautiful outdoor pool,
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A £15m Kensington penthouse with a Mediterranean-style ‘garden in the sky’Arranged over the fifth and sixth floors of a Victorian mansion block, the immaculate apartment has views that stretch as far as Battersea Power Station.
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A magnificent, sprawling farmhouse that blends the 16th, 20th and 21st centuries, with double-height music room, a superb pool and a 'Spitfire barn'.Willards Farm is an incredible home on the Surrey/West Sussex border that offers a 21st take on the ideals of Sir Edwin Lutyens. Penny Churchill reports.
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'We’re still using the garden gates from Far from the Madding Crowd': How homes of all shapes and sizes can become stars of the screenRenting your house out for filming can be fun, occasionally alarming, a good revenue stream and might even increase its value.
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The quirky, cosy and characterful cottage that was once home to Spike Milligan and where Paul McCartney is a neighbourThis very wonky living room is somehow only the third most interesting thing about The Cottage in Hog Hill
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A glorious 17th century home in one of the most exclusive waterside villages in BritainOrchard House was lucky not to have been sunk beneath the surface of Rutland Water when it was created in the 1970s — but it did, and today this wonderful spot is looking better than ever.
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A honey-coloured, 300-year-old rectory where every period-house headache has already been solved for youThe Old Rectory is a charming family home that's just undergone an extensive renovation.
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The sleepy village hall that's been transformed into a breathtaking homeThe Village Hall in Shotley Bridge is a masterful conversion of a much-loved village amenity.
