An iconic country property that was home to a villainous nemesis on TV mystery Poirot and featured in crime drama Midsomer Murders, has gone on the market for £3million after failing to sell last year.
Recognised by its decadent interiors, this eight-bedroom mansion in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, has also been host to drama’s New Tricks and Mr Selfridge, as well as a series of fashion and editorial features.
High and Over House has a drawing room, a library with fitted bookcases and classical steel radiators, a formal dining room, two bathrooms, three reception rooms.
The 1929 Grade II listed home made up of modernist architecture rests on 1.7 acres of gardens, has a detached garage and 1,000sq feet of part-covered roof terrace.
Last year, it went on sale for £2.5million – but the owners have since completed over £800,000 worth of renovation, leading to the bumped-up price tag of £3million almost exactly a year later.
A survey completed in 2021 found that asbestos was also present, which came at a ‘great cost’ to remove, adding to the increased figure.
While the property itself is considered a diamond in the form of Modernist architecture, there are also various statues are on display around the grounds.
This iconic country property called High and Over, in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, home to a villainous nemesis on TV mystery Poirot and crime drama Midsomer Murders, has gone on the market for £3million after failing to sell last year
The original estate was commissioned by Bernard Ashmore, a keeper of Greek and Roman Antiquities at the British Museum.
It was designed by young New Zealand architect Amyas Connell, who later formed the pioneering architectural practice Connell, Ward & Lucas.
Connell and Ashmole met whilst Ashmole was Director of the British School in Rome, where Connell studied architecture. It was there they started their conversations on modern architecture and Classical Roman architecture, as well as a potential commission.
It provoked much controversy, alongside receiving international accolades, the home was exhibited in ‘Modernist Architecture: International Exhibition’ at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1932.
High and Over was split in 1962 and occupied as two separate dwellings until 2008 when it was reunited into one property once again, offering extensive accommodation over three levels.
‘In recent years the current owners have undertaken a comprehensive programme of refurbishment to restore much of the property to its former glory,’ the listing with agents Fine and Country reads.
‘With a fine attention to research and detail many of the original features have been reinstated including restoring the original ground floor configuration with its glazed doors and ceiling light boxes in the principal reception rooms.
‘On arrival the house proclaims itself as you enter the polished metal front doors into the hexagonal reception hall with its circular gallery above, which encapsulates the splendor and style of the building and its geometric design.
‘Folding casement doors allow the opening of the three principal reception rooms and hall into one area that accesses the terraces, allowing a control and flow of space for both family living and entertaining.
‘A sweeping staircase in the “turret” leads to the upper floors. An inner hallway leads to the kitchen and back staircase used by servants in its heyday.
‘The custom designed kitchen/breakfast room with stainless steel trim and work surfaces incorporates a La Cornue range cooker with extractor above, integrated fridge, freezer and dishwasher. There are feature porthole windows to the far wall.
‘The first floor hexagonal landing, with its circular gallery provides access to an adaptable combination of bedrooms and laundry room.
‘For example bedroom five could become a dressing room or en-suite to the main bedroom and bedroom two could be enlarged by removing the partition wall. There are two further bedrooms accessed from the back staircase.
‘The top floor originally comprised bedrooms, bathroom and nursery – now a study and additional lounge opening onto about 1000 sq ft of part covered roof terrace for both relaxation and entertaining offering commanding far reaching views over the rooftops of Old Amersham and Misbourne Valley beyond.
‘The beautiful landscaped gardens formed the original ‘Roman’ garden of the estate with areas of terrace and steps down to the circular swimming pool with extensive areas of lawn and a lightly wooded backdrop.
High and Over is referred to locally as the ‘Aeroplane House’ because of the winged roof terraces.
