A little over 15 miles west of Hyde Park Corner lies the historic village of Pinner, once part of the ancient Manor of Harrow in what was, for centuries, the county of Middlesex. The village dates from the Anglo-Saxon period and was reputed to be the richest holding in Surrey and Middlesex belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury. At the heart of the Pinner lies the 14th century church and a number of period buildings. In 1336 it was granted a charter to hold an annual fair, an event that is still celebrated each year.
Originally the land to the south of the village was common agricultural land and to the north richly forested hunting grounds; between the two were a number of small estates belonging to yeoman farmers. One of these was Sweetmans, first mentioned in 1393 when it was held by John Reading. Unlike tenant farmers or farm workers, a yeoman was a class above who owned the freehold of his land and had status as well as certain privileges and rights. By the Elizabethan period, a time of relative peace and prosperity which became known as “The Great Rebuild”, yeoman farmers, who kept what they earned from the land, could afford to rebuild their Tudor houses, many of which had become run down or neglected. Sweetmans Hall, which stands today probably on the site of an earlier dwelling, is believed to be just such a case and is a fine example of an asymmetrical lobby-entry house. A rare historic gem and a fine example of how British domestic architecture has evolved over the centuries.
As yeoman farmers became more prosperous, they became more educated, and their social status rose. To demonstrate it was quite common for them to constantly improving their property. One of the first improvements to be made at Sweetmans Hall was the creating of a proper staircase to the first floor, more fireplaces were subsequently added, followed by the construction of a further wing which greatly enhanced the creature comforts for their owner and the status of the building. Farming right up to the middle of the 19th century continued to thrive in the area and when the 1851 census was taken it recorded more than 40% of the population of Pinner were engaged in agriculture despite the opening of the London to Birmingham railway in 1842. There was a constant demand for not only fresh food from the increasing population of London but also hey which became a valuable commodity thanks to the number of horses stabled in London to provide transport.
However, by 1885 when the Metropolitan railway was opened connecting Pinner to central London the tide was starting to turn, agriculture started to become less profitable, and it was possible to earn better wages in the capital. The demand for fine houses in the countryside surrounding London grew as wealthy merchants looked to escape the noise and dirt of the capital yet remain within reach of their businesses. Typical is the owner of Sweetmans Hall at this time who is believed to have been a skilled piano maker based in the West End of London.
Through all this social transition Sweetmans Hall has stood proud. Throughout the centuries is has occupied a prime position and has been cherished by its owners, no more so than its current owners who have undertaken an award-winning restoration programme. Whilst the house no longer sits surrounded by farmland it is set in beautifully maintained grounds of just over half an acre. The house is approached over a gravelled drive leading to a broad turning sweep which provides ample parking. The accommodation includes two very spacious reception rooms, a study, kitchen/breakfast room, master bedroom suite and four further bedrooms, two with en-suite shower rooms. Subject to planning and listed building consent it may well be possible to make further use of the extensive roof space. An extensive garage block to the side of the house provides parking for up to six cars and also a workshop/studio. Outside there is a heated swimming pool and pool house as well as an attractive garden room all of which is set in a beautiful mature garden.
Sweetmans Hall is English vernacular architecture at its best and worthy of its Grade II* listing. The property is on the market for offers in the region of £2,495,000 through the Country Houses and Estates office of Jackson-Stops. Tel: 020 7664 6646 email: [email protected].
