Forge Hill, Hampstead Norreys, RG18

Exceptional views, spacious rooms, high ceilings and lots of privacy. This modern country home is designed to make the most of what must be the best views in the area, and succeeds in the most beautiful way in this highly liveable, comfortable home.

Property

Tree Tops looks south-westerly across the desirable village of Hampstead Norreys to the rolling countryside beyond. The three double bedrooms share the same view, with the principal bedroom having an interesting, angled arrangement to really maximise the vista.

Wide French doors and a wall of windows look out onto the large, elevated terrace. This is the perfect spot to sit and watch the village life happening below you, and wave to friends returning from country walks or sat outside the local pub.

Stairs from the terrace lead down through the garden to the public footpath below, and the village a short walk away. A single garage provides street-level parking with power and light, while vehicle access to the back garden is via a track adjacent to the White Hart pub.

Situation

Hampstead Norreys is a beautiful, unspoilt, historic and thriving village in Berkshire, within the North Wessex Downs AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). It was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Hanstede.

Set back from Forge Hill, Tree Tops is one of the highest houses in the village, with extraordinary south-westerly views. From the terrace you can clearly see St Mary’s Church, the Recreation Ground and even the garden tables of your local pub, the White Hart – perfect for waving someone back for dinner.

Within Hampstead Norreys, there’s a community shop, popular destination Courtyard Café and shop stocking local produce, and the excellent ‘local’, the White Hart – a lovely 16th century dog-friendly pub with good food. The remains of a Norman motte and bailey castle can be found in nearby woods.   

From the garden gate on Forge Hill there’s a wealth of country walks to choose from. You could walk to the acclaimed Living Rainforest, or the estate village of Yattendon with its renowned Renegade Brewery Taproom & Kitchen, Royal Oak pub and bakery. Or Aldworth, with its pretty church, access to the ancient Ridgeway and Bell Inn – twice-awarded CAMRA’s ‘National Pub of the Year’. There’s also Ashampstead Green and more, further afield.

Entrance

From the front door you enter a smart hallway that sets the tone for this light, bright, high-ceilinged spacious home. A double cupboard provides ample hanging space for coats. There’s further hanging and boot space in the tiled back door space – perfect for when you’re coming home with muddy boots.

A consistent colour scheme unites the various spaces and creates a cohesive feeling throughout the house. Light walls and flooring contrast dark window surrounds and wooden beams, with pops of colour introduced by the brick fireplaces, wood-burning stoves and of course, the cherry red Aga in the kitchen. 

The ledge and brace doors are solid wood with traditional door furniture. Underfloor heating warms downstairs, with radiators warming upstairs.  

Sitting room

The best of all worlds. During the day, the French doors and wide windows make the most of the far-reaching views, giving access to the decking and bringing the outside in. During the evenings and colder months, the wood-burning stove creates a cosy ambience in this deceptively large sitting room. 

The brick fireplace has a stone mantle. Open doorways take you into the hallway or kitchen dining room, perfect for socialising.

Kitchen dining room

A real show-stopper of a kitchen dining room, and a dream for sociable foodie types. This expansive room has a well-equipped kitchen as well as space for a lounging area, window seats, dining table, central island with breakfast/coffee/wine drinking perches, essential country-living Aga. 

This is where you’ll come together for family meals, catch-ups with friends or just to enjoy the views across the village and countryside beyond – with the French doors thrown open on summer days, or the glow and warmth of the wood-burner on cooler days.

The thoughtfully laid out kitchen has been finished to the highest standards. It includes an expanse of beautiful granite worktops with plenty of storage above and below. There’s the electric 2-ring, 4-oven Aga, or for more immediate cooking, a 4-ring ceramic hob with extraction fan and oven below. There’s also a built-in dishwasher and under-counter 1½ bowl sink.  

In the dining and lounging areas, the French windows fight for attention with the wood-burning stove set beneath the solid timber mantle. There’s ample space for a long refectory table – perfect for bringing friends and family together. While the corner window seat will be in much demand.

Utility room

Off the kitchen, the utility room is equipped for a busy home with an outdoorsy lifestyle. The ceramic sink has a commercial-style tap with rinsing spray arm. There’s plumbing and space for a washing machine and dryer, as well as an additional fridge/freezer, cupboards and counter space.

The split stable-style back door takes you out to the large back garden. An ideal arrangement for the muddy boots & kit that accompany an outdoorsy lifestyle.

Study / home office / library   

With views over the large rear garden, the tucked-away study is ideal for focussed time, while also keeping an eye out for any callers to the front door. This would also make a wonderful cosy library.        

Cloakroom

The cloakroom is ideally located opposite the stable-style back door and next to the generous coat rack and boot store. With a close-coupled loo and cabinet-mounted hand basin.

UPSTAIRS

Freestanding stairs take you up to the landing, family bathroom and the three generous front-facing bedrooms. The large loft provides additional storage, and scope to convert for yet further living space if needed.   

Principal bedroom

The large double bedroom has been cleverly arranged to make the most of the rolling countryside views, while creating a calm, spacious, uncluttered environment.

A low-level dividing wall angles the bed to take in the views, while additional Velux windows further filling the space with light.

There’s ample space for a dressing table, chest of drawers, chaise longue or a boudoir chair. Out-of-view behind the bed, the walk-in closet and double mirrored wardrobe ensure clothes, shoes, hats and bags all have a home.  

En suite

The ensuite offers a recessed shower enclosure with a highly useful external remote start for the shower.

The ladder radiator ensures you step out to a warmed towel, while the curvy bath, with mid-mounted taps, has a generous surround that’s made for a glass of chilled bubbles to accompany a deep, relaxing bath filled with warm bubbles.

Bedroom two

With the same far-reaching views, this spacious double comfortably accommodates a wardrobe and chest of drawers or dressing table, with additional eaves storage.

It also benefits from having an ensuite with a shower, ladder radiator, close-coupled loo and hand basin.   

Bedroom three

The smallest of the bedrooms is still a well-proportioned double. If not needed as a bedroom, it would also make a delightful reading or sewing room, crafting space or dedicated guest room.

Family bathroom

Looking out to the rear garden, the family bathroom provides a deep bath with shower over, benefitting from an external remote-control starter. There’s also a pedestal hand basin, close-coupled loo and bidet.   

The stone-effect wall tiles and shower panels beautifully complement the wood-effect flooring, and the wide shelf offers ample surface area for candles, bottles and lotions.

Garden

The star of the front garden is the south-westerly facing decked terrace, which has recently been rebuilt. This gives more than enough space for pizza ovens, barbecues, alfresco dining, lounging, socialising and even a hot tub, all with unbeatable village and countryside views.

Below the terrace, the beautifully landscaped garden is edged with trees and hedges, interspersed with lawn areas and planted with mature shrubs that offer year-round colour.

A path winds down from the up from the house and terrace, past a discreetly tucked away toolshed, to the street and footpath into the village.

To the rear of the house, steps take you from the paved area up to the wide lawn and rolling fields beyond. The views from here are just glorious. This garden is lined with mature hedges, trees and fencing.      

Parking

A detached single garage, with power and light, is located at street level. There’s also a track that leads up the side of the house to the rear garden.

Planning permission  

Planning permission has been previously granted, and now lapsed, for an annex to be built and two more parking spaces with an EV charger, to be created.

Good to know

Tree Tops sits within the North Wessex Downs AONB. The house is also within a conservation area, though the additional land and access track to the back of the house are outside of this.  

The access track once had a covenant preventing its use by anything other than agricultural vehicles. While this as now been lifted, it’s worth noting that the track is steep and in wet weather will require a ‘proper’ 4x4 to use it.

Transport links

By car

Hampstead Norreys sits just a few miles outside of Newbury in Berkshire. Nearby there’s access to the M4 taking you east towards London or west towards Wales, and the A34 which connects you to Oxford and the north, and Southampton and the south coast.  

By train

The railway station in Newbury runs west to Exeter St Davids and Penzance, and east to Reading, with the Elizabeth line, London and most of the country, including Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Didcot railway station isn’t far away, offering another route of travel.

Schooling

The local schools, according to West Berkshire Council website, are:

Primary: Hampstead Norreys Church of England Primary School and St Finian’s Catholic Primary School.

Secondary: The Downs School (zone 1).

In addition, a wide range of private schooling is available in the wider area, which includes:

Cheam, Elstree, Downe House, St. Gabriel’s, Brockhurst & Marlston House, Horris Hill, Thorngrove, Marlborough College and Bradfield College.

 Services

Heating and hot water are oil fired.

Water and electricity are mains supplied.

Drainage/sewerage is mains.

Connectivity

Broadband, according to Openreach, is Fibre to Cabinet available at up to 76 Mbps. Gigaclear’s website claims that they are “On our way”.

Mobile, according to Vodafone, is a “Good indoors and outdoors” 4G signal, while they currently offer a “Limited coverage” 5G signal.       

Council

The local authority is West Berkshire Council. The Council Tax band is D.

Tenure

Freehold.

EPC rating: C. Tenure: Freehold,