West Berkshire’s Hidden Houses
Wed 4 Jun 2025 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM BST
Sulham Lane, RG8 8EA
Description
Enjoy exclusive owner-guided tours of three contrasting private houses nestled in the beautiful West Berkshire countryside.
Discover 17th-century Walnut Tree Cottage and its beautiful garden set in the Sulham Gap where the river Pang and Sulham Brook wind their way towards the Thames. The cottage was originally two buildings, one extended in Victorian times and subsequently combined in 1940. It has been sympathetically extended over subsequent years and retains several interesting historical features. The jewel in its crown is the magnificent garden developed by the current owners over the past 28 years. The garden is divided by hedges into several “rooms”, including an arboretum and a pond within silver birches and numerous hydrangeas, largely planted as a winter garden. We will discover the historic beauty of this place and hear stories about the cottage and its surrounding area from the owner.
Later visit the beautiful Edwardian Lower Bowden Manor, an Arts and Crafts house in another stunning location overlooking the Thames valley, with seven acres of exquisite gardens dating from the Edwardian period that contain architectural features that have been lovingly restored by the current owners. Inside the house are attractively decorated reception rooms that include a 17th-century collection of Nevers ceramics “au décor à la bougie”.
Later explore Wickham House, formerly the rectory, a square red brick building erected in the late 18th century. The house was remodelled in 1855 by the then rector, William Nicolson, born in 1805, a wealthy Irish bachelor from County Meath, who had enormous influence in the parish. Bays were added to the house and the windows were redesigned in the Gothic style. The tower is a copy of one seen in France - at the house of Jacques Coeur at Bourges - and originally sported an ornate spire. The neighbouring church of St. Swithun was also rebuilt between 1845 and 1849 at the expense of the Rev. Nicolson.
Tickets £102, including tea and scones served at Walnut Tree Cottage and a two-course pub lunch at the Five Bells Inn, Wickham. Lunch options to be made available to attendees in May 2025.
Images of St Swithun's Church © Basher Eyre (cc-by-sa/2.0)
Location
Sulham Lane, RG8 8EA