Introduction
The US Ambassador's Country Estate
Cherry Hill is the most exceptional country house to be seen for decades, with an impeccable pedigree and the only listed property on the Wentworth Estate, Surrey.
The US Ambassador's Country Estate
Cherry Hill was the former UK country estate of one of the most successful American Ambassadors to Great Britain, John Hay Whitney, the scion of one of Boston’s oldest and wealthiest families. Ambassador Whitney was not only an heir to a large fortune but a pioneer in the concept of venture capital, as well as an influential philanthropist. Forbes ranked him among the seven richest men in the world in the 1970s. With their wealth, exquisite taste, and refined aesthetic, the Whitneys created a style that was the envy of post-war British society. This home was the perfect setting for their fabulous art collection, which included both Old Masters and Impressionists, and for their extensive entertaining.
Wentworth
The property, a stone’s throw from London, is located at the heart of the Wentworth Estate, Surrey.
The estate is home to the Wentworth Club, regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious golf clubs and host of the PGA championship. Whilst most of the properties on the Wentworth Estate are either Arts and Crafts inspired ‘Tarrant’ houses, or newly built mock neo-classical homes, Cherry Hill stands apart as a surprising and unique example of British modernist architecture.
Architecture
Cherry Hill was built in the 1930s for businesswoman, Katherine Hannah Newton, by the architect Oliver Hill - an eccentric and self-made man who was mentored by Sir Edwin Lutyens. At first sight, Cherry Hill appears to be a resolutely ‘modern’ house, directly inspired by the architectural theories of the German teaching of Bauhaus, founded by Walter Gropius. Hill, however, was a non-conformist and incorporated his own style into the creation of Cherry Hill, with a focus on integrating the new building within its natural surroundings.
The Property
Cherry Hill sits in four plus acres in a secluded and private position. . The house was designed to wrap around two Scots pines trees and envelop the inhabitants with natural light throughout the day. Upon arrival, you are met by a grand sculptural staircase wrapped by a curved double height glass structure. It is not until you are inside the house that you fully appreciate the masterpiece that has been created.
The house is grand in its simplicity, harmonious in its proportions, and ideal for living. Brought up to the latest standards by bespoke developer Bath & Bath, the painstakingly restored building has recently been bracketed by two elegant pavilions to provide all the expected amenities of modern life, such as a discreet indoor swimming pool, a cinema, a wine cellar and a separate utility wing. To give further unity to the whole and in keeping with Oliver Hill’s passion for interior design, rare types of Italian marble, granite and onyx, as well as lavish panels of exotic woods, have been carefully selected to enhance the play of light on all surfaces of its interior and exterior.
“Our attraction to the property came from a simple vision to create a truly unique and ‘best in class’ country property by restoring Cherry Hill to its former glory. This depended not just on what we brought to the property but its natural environment, its existing aspect and its design pedigree. Understanding the refined tastes of the most discerning buyers meant selecting a property that combined rarity in its design, an unparalleled location and a certain aesthetic.”
“The process of restoring this property took four years - every single aspect of Cherry Hill was deliberately designed, each material used was painstakingly selected. In order to produce a home to the highest degree of perfection, there was no compromise in the detailing of any aspect of the property. We definitely went to extremes when reinstating the period features and finishes. For example, six months were spent on casting the door handles in the original design, whilst the rare and valuable stones were sources across at least three continents and the marble floor in the sun room has a snail shell spiral pattern meticulously cut by water jet.”
“Jock Whitney bought the very best and bought for the best reasons. Not for speculation - he did not need more money. Nor for self-promotion - his reputation was secure. Sportsman, soldier, diplomat, movie man and publisher, man of business, connoisseur, financier, philanthropist - Whitney did too many things, and he did them far too well, to wish to be remembered as a scholarly collector. He bought these lovely pictures, his houses and his horses, his wines and his cigars, to add to his delight.”