Location

Gibraltar Lane is a highly coveted ‘no through road’ that runs parallel to the river Thames and adjoins open countryside. Although enjoying a semi-rural setting, it is within easy reach of the motorway network and rail access to London.

Cookham Dean is one of the area’s most coveted locations with countless public footpaths and bridleways dissecting the area through National Trust and Woodland Trust. The wider area opens out to yet more glorious rolling countryside and a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

For commuters, Cookham Rise has a train station with a service to Paddington (via Maidenhead), with a Crossrail connection at Maidenhead due in 2021. The M40 and M4 motorways are easily accessed from the A404(M).

Cookham Rise, about 1.5 miles away, also provides a good range of local shops and facilities.

The nearby town of Marlow offers an eclectic mix of local independent and national retailers with numerous bars, cafes and restaurants around the town suited for any occasion.

The wider area opens out to yet more glorious rolling countryside and a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There is excellent walking within the Thames Valley and Chiltern countryside, boating and sailing on the River Thames and golf at various local courses, including Winter Hill and Temple.

The M4 and M40 motorways both connect with the M25 network and Heathrow, via the M4, is about 20 miles away.

A comprehensive range of private and state schooling options in the area, both primary and secondary, include Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School which is three miles away, Eton, Harrow, Wycombe Abbey, Caldicot Preparatory School and some excellent schools in the Maidenhead and Henley area.

The region is well served for sporting facilities including golf at Maidenhead, Marlow, Temple, Harleyford and Henley golf clubs; horse racing at Windsor, Ascot and Newbury; polo at Smith’s Lawn and The Royal Berkshire Polo Club at Winkfield; boating and sailing on the River Thames and at nearby Henley, home to the renowned Henley Regatta.

Description

Quarry House is an impressive handsome home, set on the hillside on a plot of about 1.2 acres. The topography of the site is perfect, providing a wide mostly level area to the house and formal gardens, yet being elevated to the rear with the garden dropping down to the riverbank below.

The natural elevation of the plot provides the most extraordinary views over the river and the countryside beyond. From inside, the large panoramic windows to the reception hall, formal drawing room and first floor landing, provide outstanding views that extend over the tree canopy, the river and to Marlow beyond.

Quarry House is arranged over three storeys, each having lovely high ceilings giving a feeling of volume to each room. A grand formal reception hall extends from the front to the rear of the home, the full height panoramic window to the rear providing an immediate focal point upon entering the home. This window overlooks the river and countryside to the rear.   A formal drawing room has a yet more impressive view, from a large curved full height glazed bay.   This drawing room also overlooks the formal gardens with French doors to the lawn.   A front reception room provides further space for entertaining, by way of either a large formal dining room or if preferred, an informal family space onto the lawned garden.

The kitchen to the rear of the home is a substantial extended space, providing a kitchen area, dining area and space for seating by the glazed rear elevation, providing the best of the views. There is a wrap-around terrace off this space. The kitchen is beautifully appointed by way of hand-built Mark Wilkinson cabinetry underneath granite work surfaces, with a range of fitted appliances and an Aga.

Off the kitchen is a utility room, leading to a guest cloakroom and stairs to the basement cellar. The basement is a useful space with a wine cellar.

To the first and second floors are five double bedrooms and three bath/shower rooms. To the first floor, four bedrooms are accessed off the central hallway, itself a large space ideal for use as a snug area. The views from this space are as impressive as elsewhere, through a large window down to the river. Two bedrooms benefit from outside space, with the principle bedroom on this floor having a rear-facing balcony that overlooks the river. The main bedroom suite is to the second floor, where the floor is dedicated to this suite comprising a large bedroom and open plan bathroom. The height of the house creates the furthest reaching views from here.

The grounds are a total of just over 1.2 acres, perfectly landscaped to take advantage of the topography of the site. A large area of mostly flat lawn surrounds the house, with footpaths meandering down the slope to the river where there is partial terracing and seating areas at different levels. The 227ft formal mooring has two power sockets for charging electric boats.

To the front of the house there are two sets of gates leading to parking and the detached double garage with storage above.

The grounds are privately set up with good screening, yet being open enough to retain the views. This lovely calm stretch of the river is behind the wooded islet in the river, creating a private setting where most of the larger river traffic heads to the other side. The relative privacy that this provides is prized by those who reside along this stretch of the Thames.

Overall Quarry House is a lovely family home, providing good spacious accommodation in a gloriously elevated setting. The mooring, views and the wooded nature of the National Trust land opposite provide a rural feeling that belies its truly convenient location with all the advantages of country and riverside living.

Directions

From Marlow town, head away from the High Street over the river and turn left into Quarry Wood Road, continuing along this road up the steep hill to the top of Winter Hill. As the road levels off, follow it keeping to the left at the triangular green and follow Winter Hill for about half a mile, past the impressive viewpoint overlooking the river. Shortly after, take a sharp left into Gibraltar Lane. Quarry House can be found half way along the lane on the right hand side.