Property description

The principal rooms of a stunning Grade II* Listed Georgian mansion, consisting of the ground and lower ground floors. Over 5,700 sq. ft. of elegant accommodation with impressive interconnecting reception rooms retaining original architectural features. Accommodation comprises: Reception hall, drawing room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, cloakroom, utility, wine store, library. Four bedrooms (2 en-suite), family bathroom. Situated in an elevated position with far reaching views of the countryside and set in 7 acres of glorious shared gardens with tennis court. Private terraces, 2 garages. EPC rating E.
HISTORY
Purley Magna has a long history as one of four large manors in Purley dating back to the 11th Century. From around 1514 it came into the hands of the St John family being passed down through the generations eventually to George Richard who sold it in 1789, allegedly as settlement of a gambling debt, to Robert Mackreth, owner of Whites Club in Piccadilly. The property was then bought by Anthony James Storer MP, eldest son of the wealthy owner of Jamaican sugar plantation, Belle Isle estate. An educated man and antiquarian collector, Anthony Storer decided to replace the old manor house to locate it further from the river. In 1795 he commissioned the renowned architect James Wyatt, to design a villa in the Palladian style, and one of England's most prominent landscape designers, Humphrey Repton, to design the gardens. The property was subsequently referred to as Purley Park and was described in1837 as \"one of the most complete and beautiful places near London.\"

Wyatt later went on to be appointed as Clerk of Works at Westminster Abbey, and at the request of King George III, appointed president of the Royal Academy. Repton is well known for designing the gardens of Tatton Park and Woburn Abbey.
LOCATION
Purley Magna is approached through a walled and gated entrance, via a sweeping gravel driveway through a belt of mature trees. It is located in the riverside village of Purley-on-Thames, between Pangbourne and Reading. Tilehurst railway station, a level walk from the house, is one stop from Reading mainline station with has fast connections to London (Paddington from 29 minutes) with Crossrail allowing direct access to the City, Canary Wharf, the West End and Heathrow from 2019. Junction 12 of the M4 is 5 miles away, connecting to the M25 and M3 motorway network. Locally, there is a large Waitrose store and other speciality shops and restaurants at nearby Pangbourne and Tilehurst. The local area has some fine schools including Bradfield College, Pangbourne College, St Andrew’s School and Reading Bluecoat and Reading School. More information can be found on the website http://www.purleyonthames-pc.gov.uk/.
ACCOMMODATION
1 Purley Magna includes the original Tuscan columned porte cochere to the mansion leading to a pair of grand, tall entrance doors. The property was converted into 3 separate apartments in 2006 with careful attention to detail in its refurbishment. Notable for its complete set of 18th century decorative details, features throughout the ground floor include the original Georgian fireplaces, wall panels and high delicate plaster ceilings with cornices and ceiling roses, decorative woodwork and oak flooring. The generous reception hall with screen of Ionic columns, niches to east and west and impressive mahogany doors with original cherub handles, lead into each of the reception rooms. The drawing room, breakfast room and master bedroom have floor to ceiling sliding sash windows to give wonderful views and are complete with the original shutters and shutter boxes. In addition to the four sash windows the drawing room has Georgian style French doors opening onto the private terrace, which together flood the room with daylight. The central dining room has a beautiful curved bow window of three French doors again opening onto the private terrace and to the garden beyond, through the curved Tuscan colonnade. The kitchen/breakfast room is well fitted with a range of painted floor and wall units, a large island unit and granite work tops, and has two more large sash windows for morning sun.

The master bedroom suite is on the ground floor complete with sitting space, bathroom and steps up to a mezzanine level. The flexible lower ground floor accommodation offers a variety of uses. There is a second large bedroom with en-suite bathroom and Georgian sash windows overlooking the private west facing terrace. The third and fourth bedrooms have French doors leading out to the private east facing terrace. There is a family bathroom, utility rooms and a curved wine store with original alcoves and a room currently used as a library but could be used as a gym.
OUTSIDE
The 7 acres of grounds are a wonderful feature of the property. 1 Purley Magna has a private terrace, serving the principal reception rooms that leads directly into the gardens and has two other private terraces, a morning one to the east side and afternoon terrace to the west. The gardens are beautifully landscaped and well maintained, with large sweeping lawns and densely planted flower beds. They are surrounded by a bank of mature native woodland trees as well as carefully sited individual specimen trees. There is a hard surface tennis court and summer house to the east side of the property and extensive parking to the front along with two garages.
Seven Day Service
As part of our unique service to all our clients, we are open to arrange viewings and valuations throughout the week. Call your nearest office - Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-4pm, Sun (telephone service only) 10am-3pm.
Disclaimer
These particulars are a general guide only. They do not form part of any contract. Services, systems and appliances have not been tested.
LEASE INFORMATION
999 year lease from 2006.

Property Features :

• Country and Riverside
• 4 bedrooms (2 en-suite)
• High ceilings and period features throughout
• Private sun terraces
• 7 acres of glorious shared gardens with tennis court

Property Info:

• FLOOR PLAN