The exquisite Grade II-listed former home of the late broadcaster and diarist Nigel Dempster as gone on sale in Surrey for £4.25 million.
Dempster was best known for his celebrity gossip columns, writing for the Daily Express and Private Eye magazine, as well as his famous column for the Daily Mail that ran from 1971 to 2003.
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His beautiful former home, Ensleigh Lodge, is situated on the picturesque Ham Common, and enjoys idyllic views over the duck pond.
This historic building dates back to 1780 and is a delightful example of a Georgian home. It’s been refurbished to a high standard, and boasts original features, like working window shutters.
To the left of the building there is the formal drawing room with the original window shutters, a beautiful original Georgian Convent Siena marble fireplace with working open fire and an expansive bay window, which floods the room with natural light and offers beautiful views of the garden.
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There are steps leading down into the music room which also enjoys views over the garden and there's another period fireplace with wood burning stove. The music room leads onto a stunning modern extension that provides a fantastic living space including an open plan kitchen by Roundhouse, boasting state-of-the-art appliances and a spectacular marble island.
The modern extension also houses a dining room with uninterrupted views of the gardens, lounge area, large utility room by Roundhouse and a bathroom that is ideally located by the side entrance of the house, perfect for grooming the dog on those muddy weekend strolls.
There's also an additional living space that makes an ideal children's playroom or cinema room, depending on your preference.
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On the upper floors there are five bedrooms and three bathrooms; the master bedroom has a working period marble fireplace and enjoys magnificent views across Ham Common. Bathrooms are sumptuous, with freestanding tubs and marble-clad walls.
You can enjoy mature landscaped gardens that add to the home's overall charm. There's a York stone terrace leading on to a lovely lawn with a glass house, tree house, water fountains and a feature Portland limestone bench dating from 1850- the perfect spot to enjoy your morning coffee.
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The house is perched on Ham Common and is a true semi-rural retreat, being just a few hundred yards of Richmond Park, with its 2,300 deer-inhabited acres. It also sits on a particularly scenic stretch of the River Thames, while being within two miles from the bustling charm of Richmond.
Ensleigh Lodge is on sale via Savills for £4,250,000.
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