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Spotlight on Wraysbury – our estate agents view

Friday, December 6, 2019

Spotlight on Wraysbury – our estate agents view: Wraysbury has had more than its fair share of famous residents over the years – so just what is it about Wraysbury that attracts the stars? Actors and musicians have undoubtedly been drawn by the proximity to both Pinewood and Shepperton Studios and there are many film locations in the surrounding areas. But, for most, it’s the riverside lifestyle and village vibe yet with easy access to London, and all that the capital offers, that keeps Wraysbury properties in demand.

The railway came to Wraysbury in 1848 and this semi-rural village now has 2 stations – Sunnymeads and Wraysbury - both on the line from Windsor to London Waterloo. With easy access to the M25, M4 and M3 and overseas via Heathrow, Wraysbury is ideal for city commuters and international travellers, yet retains its village charm and riverside appeal.

Between the wars, Wraysbury's four miles of picturesque riverside began to attract Londoners who built riverside bungalows, usually of timber construction (but sometimes consisting of old trams, buses or railway carriages) for weekend leisure and relaxation. Few of the original bungalows still exist however, having since been demolished and replaced with more permanent, grander houses.

History and romance are woven into Wraysbury’s heritage. Evidence of an Anglo-Saxon settlement includes pottery and a Saxon coin from 700 AD. The ruins of a Benedictine nunnery from the reign of Henry II and the Ankerwycke Yew tree (believed to date back to the Iron Age) can be found on National Trust land perfect for riverside walks. The area is also said to be where Henry VIII courted Anne Boleyn, and the real site of the sealing of the Magna Carta which forms the basis of the UK’s constitution and civil rights.

For foodies, Tripadvisor’s top restaurants in Wraysbury both boast a 2019 Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence. Reflecting the history of Wraysbury is The George, a 14th century Grade II listed coaching inn which has been fully refurbished. The Boxers Barn where Henry Cooper trained is now a private room which is available to hire while the relaxing, secluded Olive Garden and stunning Tepee Garden make this one of the most popular gastropubs in the area. “Quaint and quirky”, The Perseverance, also Grade II listed, is a friendly pub in the heart of the village, offering delicious fresh food and fine local cask ales in an atmosphere that's warm and inviting. Adding some heat to the menu with South Asian Cuisine, reviews of newcomer Nawab Lounge look very positive.

During the 1930s, gravel pits and lorries became a common but unwelcome sight. Ironically now those gravel pits have become the beautiful lakes for which Wraysbury is known, where open water swimming can be done in preparation for triathlons and where sailing, fishing, diving and bird- watching can be enjoyed throughout the year. Liquid Leisure, in nearby Datchet, is Europe’s Largest Aqua Park with a giant inflatable obstacle course, wakeboarding, waterzorbing and paddleboarding. Wraysbury Dive Centre, London’s inland dive site, is a 15-acre lake used by many schools and clubs in the South of England for training. It has all the facilities you need, is open 7 days a week and provides a heated building for the use of divers. All you have to do is turn up, pay your entrance fee and dive all day!

If watersports are not your thing, Wraysbury FC is increasingly attracting the support of the local community, sponsored by The Frost Partnership from 2014 – 2019. There is also a thriving local bowls club located in the shadow of one of Wraysbury’s quirkiest properties- Splash Mill, named after the ford which used to run through the village. Built by Glyn Larcombe in 1996 as a house, it was styled after Lacey Green mill, an old smock windmill, partly due to his love of large agricultural buildings, but also in protest against the loss of local heritage within Wraysbury. The smock mill consists of a sloping, weather-boarded tower, usually with six or eight sides. It is topped with a cap that rotates to bring the sails into the wind. Although of modern construction, the internal staircases at Splash Mill are over 200 years old!

From quirky windmills in the heart of the village to riverside family homes, Wraysbury boasts a wide variety of property in this village steeped in history and romance. For more information about the area or to see properties for sale or to let in this historic village please contact our Wraysbury office.