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Home , Bisham, Maidenhead

LOWATER Church Lane, , Marlow, SL7 1RW AN OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A WONDERFUL RIVERSIDE HOME

Price on Application - Freehold

Superb 100ft direct frontage  Opportunity for replacement or refurbishment  Prime location on the South bank of the river  Adjacent to golf course  Large footprint of over 4,000 sqft  Layout giving flexible accommodation options  Good plot with pretty views to all aspects

A rare opportunity to acquire a substantial riverside plot with scope to refurbish or replace the existing house, in a wonderful setting. Distances & Times Marlow High Street – 0.6 miles, Marlow Station – 1.0 miles, Marlow Park for mooring (by river) 0.3 miles. Situation Lowater’s gardens were originally part of the Grade I listed Bisham Abbey in an outstandingly beautiful part of the Marlow countryside, flanked one side by the River Thames and the other by farmland and views towards Winter Hill. The property is set back from the road and whilst enjoying views down to and over the river, its position provides privacy from passing river traffic. Lowater is located at the centre of the quintessential English village of Bisham and is built on high ground between Bisham Abbey and Bisham Church. The buildings are over 1m above the highest recorded water table and with no history of flooding. The view over the Thames looks west into the setting sun over the river to the low lying flood plain which protects the south bank and towards the Harleyford escarpment. Church Lane is off the Marlow/Bisham Road, on the south side of the River Thames just half a mile from the iconic suspension bridge at the foot of the High Street. Lowater’s immediate neighbours include the 11th century Bisham Abbey and a 12th century stone church, along with the handsome riverside old vicarage. Lowater is a level walk into Marlow or a short boat trip directly from the property downstream without a lock to this historic town with its superb range of boutiques and an eclectic mix of local independent and national retailers. There are numerous bars, cafes and award-winning restaurants dotted around the town offering destinations for any occasion. The town itself is situated on the banks of the River Thames and the follows the river through the town. Just outside the town, the area opens out to glorious rolling countryside and a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Outdoor pursuits are numerous, including golf, football, cricket and rugby clubs. For commuters, Marlow has a train station to Paddington (via ) the M40 and is accessed from the A404(M) which passes the town. from Maidenhead direct to The City of is due to open next year. History The riverside lawns of Lowater’s garden were originally part of The Bisham Abbey Estate and it is believed to have been the bowling green in Tudor times. Elizabeth I lived at Bisham Abbey between 1555 and 1558 just before she became queen – her sister Queen Mary did not want her at Court where Princess Elizabeth was a popular heir to the throne. Bowling was of course immortalised when Queen Elizabeth I appointed Sir Frances Drake to confront the Spanish Armada, and he finished playing bowls before setting sail to victory. Elizabeth I revisited Bisham Abbey several times as Queen to see Lady Hoby whose family had cared for her as a Princess and planted a Mulberry tree in the grounds. The ancient Mulberry tree overhangs the boundary of Lowater and still bares fruit today. Mulberry trees were planted in Tudor times not for the fruit but for the leaves which silk worms ate to produce the silk for their fine clothes. Bisham Abbey was often used by Henry VIII for Council meetings and for hunting in the nearby forests that stretched from Windsor to Burnham Beeches and on to around Marlow. Henry VIII left The Abbey to his fourth wife Anne of Cleves as part of the divorce. Subsequent owners who were responsible for the custody of Princess Elizabeth had a son who was believed to be the inspiration for the comic character in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. The estate of Bisham Abbey has played a significant part in English history for nearly 1000 years. It was first purchased in 1086 – the year of the of land records ordered by William the Conqueror 20 years after his victory at the battle of Hastings. It was initially made famous as the home of Knights Templers returning from the crusades in the Holy lands in the 11th 12th century. Planning Notes Lowater originally dates from the early 1980s with subsequent extension work being completed in the mid-1980s. Otherwise the property has remained much the same since. The grounds of the property have however been enlarged over the years and now comprise about 0.77 acres with about 100ft of river frontage. The property is being sold with the benefit of planning permission granted for an orangery to the rear under permitted development rights. Permitted development rights remain intact. Planning permission for the existing circa 4000 sq ft also remains intact. Planning policy in the greenbelt/conservation area and area of outstanding natural beauty provides only for a like for like square feet replacement. It is currently understood that a replacement dwelling will be required to be in essentially the same location as the existing building, though rotating the house by just 17.5° puts it on the same building line as its two neighbours, whilst remaining in the same location and yet giving better views down the garden towards the river from the first floor. Computer generated images (CGIs) within this brochure show just two interpretations for the site, one being a period new build replacement property borrowing much of The Old Vicarages architectural vernacular and the other being an extensive refurbishment of the existing property into a barn like conversion. The production of these images in no way suggests that planning permission has been applied for nor guaranteed to be given, and it is appropriate that buyers make their own enquiries and satisfy themselves as to the planning opportunities for the site. Accommodation Two gated entrances lead into the site, one being to the roadside on the Bisham Road that would likely form the new main entrance to the home with a sweeping carriage driveway that would lead to rear parking and garaging. A secondary gated access leads back out onto Church Lane from the parking area. Existing House The current property provides substantial gross internal accommodation of over 4,000 sq ft, the ground floor in particular provides excellent reception space. Whilst currently arranged as three bedrooms on the first floor there is clear potential to reconfigure the accommodation to provide substantially more bedroom space. Homes of this overall size might typically accommodate upwards of five bedroom suites. Currently the integral garage accommodates four large cars and half of the garage could easily be converted to two guest bedrooms and a family bathroom. To transform the style of the house - enlarged glazed area towards the river view on the ground floor, replacement windows throughout and shiplap cladding down to ground floor windowsill height creates a period barn style subject to usual approvals. Potential Replacement New House A Georgian period vicarage style home emulating The Old Vicarage next door. A state of the art home could borrow much of its architectural detail from The Old Vicarage providing circa 4000 sq ft with potentially a tiled and capped roof to make use of the eave space and add additional accommodation. All the benefits of a modern new build and interior design providing four large reception areas and five bedroom suites together with a double garage. Outbuildings Two outbuildings are shown on the Title Plans, one being a brick-built river room overlooking The Thames, and the other being a wooden summer house. Together they have represented for more than 12 years an established riverside amenity totalling 291 sq ft (eg. 30 ft x 9.1 ft) that could be rebuilt and relocated on the riverside with expansive views over the garden and The Thames subject to the usual approvals. Directions From Marlow head south over the bridge and continue for about half a mile, where Church Lane can be found on the right hand side of the road. Lowater is immediately on the left on entering Church Lane. Additional Information Local Authority: Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead – Band G Tenure: Freehold with vacant possession Services: All mains services Postcode: SL7 1RW Energy Performance: A copy of the full Energy Performance Certificate is available upon request. Viewing: Strictly by appointment through joint agents Savills and Ballards

Floor Plans Gross Internal Area (approx) Ground Floor (Inc. Garage)= 254.6 sq m / 2740 sq ft First Floor = 98.7 sq m / 1062 sq ft River Room & Summer House = 25.5 sq m / 274 sq ft Total = 378.8 sq m / 4076 sq ft

Total including planning permission = = Reduced headroom below 1.5m / 5'0 Reception Room 409.5 sq m / 4406 sq ft 7.92 x 7.59 26'0 x 24'11 Approved planning under permitted Orangery development 7.14 x 4.00 23'5 x 13'1 Balcony 4.00 x 2.21 13'1 x 7'3

Reception Hall Reception Eaves Bedroom 1 Bedroom 2 Eaves IN Kitchen 7.42 x 3.85 Room 4.11 x 3.88 3.86 x 3.55 3.84 x 3.33 3.85 x 2.98 3.84 x 3.33 24'4 x 12'8 3.85 x 3.53 13'6 x 12'9 12'8 x 11'8 12'7 x 10'11 12'8 x 9'9 12'7 x 10'11 12'8 x 11'7

B

Up Utility Room Inner Hall Bedroom 3 3.28 x 2.91 10'9 x 9'7 Bathroom Reception Room 2.32 x 1.64 Eaves WC 9.24 x 6.91 7'7 x 5'5 30'4 x 22'8 IN Balcony Potential Bedroom / Reception Accommodation 5.59 x 5.59 18'4 x 18'4 First Floor

Summerhouse 3.00 x 2.40 9'10 x 7'10 Ground Floor (approx)

(Not Shown In Actual Location / Orientation)

Double Garage 5.99 x 5.99 ballards 19'8 x 19'8 River Room 45 High Street, Marlow, 5.84 x 3.39 Buckinghashire SL7 1BA 19'2 x 11'1 [email protected] 01628 477000 ballards-uk.com savills marlow important notice 36 West Street, Marlow, Savills, their clients and any joint agents notice that: 1: They are not authorised to make or give any representations or warranties in relation to the property either here , SL7 2NB or elsewhere, either on their own behalf or on behalf of their client or otherwise. They assume no responsibility for any statement that may be made in these particulars. [email protected] These particulars do not form part of any offer or contract and must not be relied upon as statements or representations of fact. 2: Any areas, measurements or 01628 481 373 distances are approximate. The text, photographs and plans are for guidelines only and are not necessarily comprehensive. It should not be assumed that the property has all the necessary planning, building regulation or other consents and Savills have not tested any services, equipment or facilities. Purchasers must satisfy savills.co.uk themselves by inspection or otherwise. 180611RM Brochure by floorplanz.co.uk