BUDGENOR LODGE
A 'Gated Community'
for empty nesters & young professionals
An interview with a new arrival

Stella Witham

As a 'preliminary canter' to a pictorial tour of Budgenor Lodge my wife and I dropped in on Saturday afternoon August 11th to see if we could find any of the new residents relaxing in the sunshine, and to have a talk with anyone willing to tell us a little about why they had relocated to Midhurst.

Walking around to the back of the main complex we immediately spotted Stella Witham sun-bathing in her small garden.

Stella, an 'empty nester' and a widow - her husband died suddenly from motor neurone disease - has relocated from Stoneford, a small village, near Sherborne in Dorset. She loves gardening and I've snapped her sitting on her door-step surrounded by her potted plants. It was an idyllic early evening picture of peace and tranquillity.

Why did you choose to relocate to Midhurst Stella I enquired. " I started off looking for properties in the southern counties on the internet and came across Savills website about Budgenor. It was just what I was looking for: an old building converted to modern apartments. I love the blend of the old and the new. So I investigated further and discovered through Midhurst Pages that Midhurst had been given the accolade of the most desirable place to live in Southern England by Country Life Magazine in 2005".

"Travelling to Midhurst one June day (2006) I parked in The Grange Car Park, walked around the town, and fell in love with the place. The apartment at Budgenor - handled by Savills - had two bedrooms and a large living room. It was ideal. And the little garden facing the countryside to the north west of the property was large enough for my garden pots. I soon found, however, when I arrived a week ago, the lack of outside facilities were a problem for me as I've garden things to house and the planners have refused to let me have an outside shed. The grass also needs mowing and I've nowhere to put a mower."

What other considerations were there Stella I asked. " I needed to be centrally placed for family and friends. With my son's family in Jo-burgh being within easy-distance of Heathrow was high on my list of priorities; and I've a daughter in Essex. Midhurst is mid-way between my daughter and old friends in Dorset.(See Wanderlust Magazine for Empty Nesters & Young Single Professionals Travel) My hobbies are gardening, amateur dramatics and the theatre - all these interests are satisfied locally. One of my first moves will be to join a local horticultural society. I'm already a member at Wisley (RHS)."

This is a picture of the central courtyard, a communal area. For a complete slide-show of the ameneties please go to our Picasa Album. Click on Slide Show. There are 27 pictures of stylish, modern interiors and garden rooms set within this imposing, traditional 18th century building.

Budgenor Lodge is nearly complete with the car park to the south of the complex still to be finished. There are two oak-framed buildings for rubbish bins and bicycles, on-site car parking for all, a lift to the main lodge apartments, electronic entrance gates, part-time concierge and garden rooms/conservatories for most houses.

There is a path to Midhurst adjoining the road and for most of the distance this is seperated from the highway by a hedge. It takes about 10 - 12 minutes to reach North Street. There is also a bus stop opposite Budgenor and an hourly service in both directions.

The main-line railway station at Haslemere is circa 15 minutes drive from Budgenor with ample car parking. A quick regular service enables travellers to reach Waterloo in about 50 minutes.

The roads to and from Midhurst are 'swoopy', fast and provide some of the most scenic views anywhere in the Southern Counties. Quick journies may be made to Petersfield (20 minutes), Petworth (15 minutes), Chichester (35 minutes), Winchester (50 minutes) and Southampton (1 hr). There is a good taxi service to both Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.

For more about the local community and Midhurst please refer to Midhurst Pages. Midhurstians are friendly and welcoming.There are several clubs: The Midhurst Society, Midhurst Lions, Midhurst U3A for general socialising, horticultural and allotment groups for avid gardeners, Midhurst Milers for the athletic and an active community of lane cyclists, mountain bikers and walkers; an amateur dramatic society and an arts society. The community are active party-goers and a 'swinging time' may be had, especially in the summer months. There are lots of pubs and friendly restaurants like Prezzo and Loch Fyne where it is easy to meet people and make friends.

To 'dig' yourself in quickly make a trip to the Midhurst Library which is a mine of information and helpful advice, peruse Midhurst Pages and go to where everyone meets in the end: the cobbled Midhurst Square and the Old Town Hall Coffee Shop.

[Midhurst Estate Agents] [Empty Nesters Downsizing]
[Wanderlust for Empty Nesters]
Savills 01730 817584 email
[Budgenor Lodge Property Details]
[Budgenor Lodge 27 Picture Slide Show]
[Gated Communities - Are they a Good Idea?]

 

' The Budgenor Lodge Page " is sponsored by Violet Designs, Midhurst, West Sussex Tel: 01730 810059. We just try harder to give exceptional service and prices.

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