House for sale in Stanley Hill, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey - 12 bedrooms

Furzehill Place is a majestic country house, built principally during the mid Victorian era. The house is listed Grade II and has classical brick elevations with stone dressings under a plain tile roof. As well as having important historical connections, Furzehill Place is also of architectural importance and notable features include a square castellated tower, a further round tower with stone coping, an octagonal bay window and several octagonal chimney stacks. Within the house there is a wonderful sense of the past which is embellished by flamboyant, late Victorian detailing. The accommodation is arranged around a magnificent central Staircase leading to the main reception rooms which have superb views over the grounds.

HISTORY Furzehill Place was built in the late nineteenth century and was purchased by Sir Henry Morton Stanley in 1898. Sir Henry was one of the most renowned explorers of Victorian times who was born, in North Wales in 1841. He later migrated to America where he became a journalist after fighting in the American Civil War (Confederates). In 1867, Stanley became special correspondent for the New York Herald. Two years later he was commissioned by the paper to go to Africa and search for the explorer David Livingstone, of who little had been heard since 1866 when he had set off to search for the source of the Nile. Stanley reached Lake Tanganyika, Livingstone's last known location and in November 1871 he found the sick explorer, greeting him with the famous words: 'Dr Livingstone, I presume?' Stanley's reports on his expedition made his name. From then on he led a number of arduous expeditions into uncharted areas of Africa at a time of great unrest. His perseverance and tenacity during one exploration earned him the African title - Bula Matari' which roughly translates as - Breaker of Rocks'. This later became the family motto boldly emblazoned on the Stanley crest.
Sir Henry carried out a number of alterations to Furzehill Place including the addition of bay windows and the creation of the Billiard Room together with large scale landscaping of the grounds. These were, charmingly, named after places visited on his travels. The Ordnance Survey Plan revels in names such as Congo Stream, uwenzori Hill and Holy Island.

Stanley moved to Furzehill in 1899, in his last year as a Member of Parliament, but died in May 1904. He was buried at Pirbright with an epitaph - Henry Morton Stanley 1841 - 1904', with his African name - Bula Matari' and the one word, - Africa'.
 

GROUND FLOOR Furzehill Place creates a welcoming impression upon entering the house and rooms of note include the impressive panelled Entrance Hall and adjoining Billiard Room with parquet oak flooring, panelling and a feature fireplace. The charming Library is an ode to Victorian design, with rich, partial panelling and decorative ceiling plasterwork. The Drawing Room provides the largest reception room\n\n