In a prime riverside position within Denham’s sought-after conservation area, and arguably one of the most important houses in the Buckinghamshire village, is Wellers Mead, providing 8,131 sq.ft. of accommodation including the 6,827 sq.ft seven bedroom, five-bathroom, historic former mill house, bought nearly 50 years ago by the present owners after an intense bidding war with the late English actor Sir John Mills (1908-2005): for sale through joint sole selling agents Beauchamp Estates and Hamptons.
With five reception rooms, a detached two-bedroom annexe, indoor swimming pool and spa, and tranquil waterside grounds, Wellers Mead is now for sale for only the second time in a century.
On Old Mill Road in Denham, fronting the River Misbourne, just 18 miles from Central London, the beautifully maintained Wellers Mead forms part of a small group of heritage buildings whose history can be traced back to the 17th century. The site, used for centuries for corn milling, was rebuilt in the 18th century as part of the Denham Court Estate, creating the steam and water powered mill and mill race.
In the 1920s, Rector Mr. Battisford converted the water mill and buildings into a residence, with the design of Wellers Mead attributed to renowned local architect Francis Bacon. With the River Misbourne meandering, via the historic mill race, from the front of the property to the rear alongside the stunning landscaped lawns, and Dutch-inspired gabling and elegant mint green-shuttered sash and porthole windows set into a crisp white façade, Wellers Mead became one of the most photographed buildings in Denham.
Its handsome aesthetics and timeless river views impressed many, including the late Academy Award-winning actor Sir John Mills, star of more than 120 films, and his wife, writer and actress Mary Hayley Bell, who according to the current owner joined the bidding war for the house when it came to auction half a century ago. When the famous couple were outbid by Wellers Mead’s present owners in 1975, Sir John Mills was regularly invited to use Wellers Mead’s wonderful indoor swimming pool and spa area, designed and installed by its present owners.
Sir John Mills had come to know and love the area while making movies at nearby Denham Film Studios, including Great Expectations (1946) and The History of Mr. Polly (1949), when he had rented a home in the village.
When the famous couple were outbid by Wellers Mead’s present owners in 1975 they were living at Hills House in the centre of Denham, entertaining ‘A’ list guests such as David Niven, Laurence Olivier, Jack Lemmon and Richard Attenborough.
Alongside Sir John Mills Denham village had become an ‘A’ list hot spot, with other neighbours including Roger Moore, Dusty Springfield, Cilla Black and Harry Saltzman, the co-producer of the Bond films.
The landmark residence, approached via private gates and a circular driveway, has been cherished and beautifully maintained over the decades. Beyond its classical doorcase, the main house at Wellers Mead offers 6,827 sq.ft of living space and a series of both formal and informal living spaces, perfectly suited for both entertaining and relaxed family life.
Leading off the spacious, high-ceilinged reception hall are a formal drawing room, dining room and family room, the latter two rooms both opening on to the kitchen/breakfast room. This inviting space features timeless Shaker-style cabinetry, exposed brick walls, a cobalt-blue Aga range cooker as well as a separate utility room.
The drawing room opens onto an airy sunroom and bar, then on to the 60ft.plus-long indoor leisure complex. Here, a mosaic tiled pool has a built-in hydrotherapy tub, with a seating area to host a poolside party or private beauty treatments, plus a sauna and shower room. Also at ground floor level is a characterful study with pine wall panelling and bespoke bookshelves and three WCs.
On the first floor of the main house the flexible layout currently offers three bedrooms and a further room used to access a fourth bedroom, bathroom, large games room (28ft. 6in. by 25ft. 8in) and further storage, located above the leisure complex. These rooms could easily be reconfigured to create a magnificent suite.
The current principal bedroom suite, with stunning views over the garden, lawns and river to the rear, offers a dressing area, leading on to a full bathroom, with separate shower, while the guest suite, looking on to the front garden, drive and approach, also has a full ensuite bathroom. A third bedroom and family bathroom are also located on this floor, with two further bedrooms, a storage/linen cupboard and bathroom located on the second floor.
A detached two-storey building provides three garages and a storeroom on the ground floor, with 678 sq.ft. of further living space above, incorporating a kitchen, two bedrooms, a sitting room and bathroom, ideal for teenage children, guests, or staff. The captivating English country house gardens include formal lawns, kitchen gardens, a rotating Victorian summer house and several terraces with York stone for al fresco drinks and dining, as well as ample extra parking.
Denham is the epitome of picturesque rural tranquillity and charming English village life, only a few steps away from access to the Colne Valley Regional Park, with walking trails, woodlands, and waterways. Historic architecture, characterful pubs such as The Green Man, The Swan Inn and The Falcon, along with the excellent Da Remo Italian restaurant and several golf clubs in the area, combine to make it one of the most sought-after villages on the edge of London.
While the film studios and film processing laboratories were all closed by 2014, Denham remains immortalised on both the big and small screens, in films such as Brief Encounter, the Miss Marple series starring Margaret Rutherford, Matilda the Musical and Midsomer Murders.
Wellers Mead is approximately a mile from Denham train station, with a direct train service to central London, just 22 minutes away. There is easy access to the national motorway network via the M40, linking to the M25.
Gary Hersham, Founding Director of Beauchamp Estates, says: “For sale for only the second time in the last 100 years, this wonderful home boarders on the River Misbourne. Wellers Mead offers a rare opportunity to buy a landmark house in a stunning setting in the Denham Conservation Area. Behind its crisp white Dutch gabled façade and pretty green shutters, it provides more than 8,000 sq.ft. of space, with seven bedrooms, five receptions and a fabulous leisure and swimming pool complex. With the village’s history at the heart of the movie industry Wellers Mead offers that rare blend of quintessential English village life and Hollywood glamour.”
Gary Hammond, Associate Director of Country House Sales at Hamptons, says: “Wellers Mead is a rare gem, a piece of Old England with such captivating river views it became the subject of an intense bidding war when it was last sold, at auction 50 years ago, between the late actor Sir John Mills and its present owners, who ultimately won out. According to the vendor they fortunately became good friends, with Mills a regular visitor. It’s hard to believe that from this tranquil and beautifully maintained home you can be in London within half an hour.”
Wellers Mead is listed for sale for £3,550,000 (freehold). For further information or to arrange a viewing, please contact joint sole selling agents Beauchamp Estates on Tel: +44 (0)20 7499 7722, www.beauchamp.com and Hamptons on +44 (0)1753 257 860, www.hamptons.co.uk
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