Anyone for… Croquet?
The Victorians are often depicted enjoying gentle afternoon sports on the lawns of their country houses - lawn tennis, croquet, badminiton. These all seemed too genteel for the late 20th century but a revival is apparent. Swimming pools and hard tennis courts are fine if you have the space but for many not an option. Whilst it is known Londoner Major Walter Wingfield invented the game of tennis as it is in 1873, the French claim the 12th century monastic game “jeu de paume” (Game of palm) is the true origins of the game. Badminton was created by the British army in India and adopted, also in 1873, by the Duke of Beaufort at his Badminton estate -hence the name. And then the French evolved petanque with the first tournament held by the Pitiot brothers in 1910 evolving into the now popular game of boules. All taken very seriously and can be quite competitive.
Not satisfied with gentle afternoon tea and tennis we now embrace the idea of outdoor cooking -pizza ovens, fire pits, patio heaters, state of the art gas fired bar-b-ques, sitting around revolving summer houses with Wi Fi connection. -one can never be too far from being connected via social media!
Hill Grove, Seaton on the Jurassic Coast, offered by Humberts (01404 42456), originates in the 1920s and stands in 0.7 acre wonderful mature gardens with numerous specimen trees and shrubs surrounding the croquet lawn. A spacious four bedroom family house enjoying a secluded and delightful coastal setting.
Chipton Barton in Dittisham, on the River Dart near Dartmouth is a typical listed, character farmhouse with seven bedrooms, an annexe and two cottages providing good holiday rental income benefitting from an indoor pool. Standing in 1.6 acres of gardens, orchard and grounds including a former grass tennis court with ample room to build a boule court alongside! Savills (01548 800462) are the selling agents.
Travelling to the north of the county, Strutt and Parker (01392 215631) are selling Indiwell Farm at Swimbridge. Whilst very accessible to the North Devon link road it enjoys a peaceful south facing valley setting, sitting in 85 acres. The subject of complete restoration including extensive landscaping in recent years. Cascading ponds dominate the garden with hard tennis court, hot tub, fire pit and raised terraces, not forgetting the indoor pool accessed direct from the house - the perfect place to escape with family entertainment for all generations.
As the roads get busier it’s good to have activities around the home for all ages. Whilst swimming pools and firepits may not add significantly to the value of a property they definitely add to their enjoyment and social life -on a hot summer’s day you will always have friends when you have a pool!!
So, no matter how large or small your garden there is usually room for the outdoor social life enjoying a good British summer - “it’s all about coming home”.