Aylesford House – Ewshot
Originally a dated 1960s dormer bungalow, Aylesford House was transformed into a playful, contemporary family home that fully embraces its stunning setting nestled by woodland and boasting panoramic views stretching over 40 miles.
The redesign was driven by a desire to connect the home more closely with its surroundings. A key challenge was ensuring the family could remain in the house during construction. A temporary scaffold roof was erected over the existing structure, allowing the family to live in the downstairs rooms while the entire roof and first floor were removed. In their place, a new flat roofed, timber framed first floor was constructed, cantilevered over the original ground floor to maximise space and light in the upstairs bedrooms.
At the rear, a new kitchen extension features floor to ceiling glazing, creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living. The renovation was carefully phased: the new first floor had to be fully habitable before work could begin on the ground floor interiors.
Expansive glazing throughout the home captures the breathtaking views, while a rooftop terrace offers an extraordinary vantage point, bringing you eye level with buzzards and red kites soaring above nearby stables. Wildlife sightings are a regular delight, with badgers, bats, and deer as occasional neighbours.
Aylesford House gained national attention as the principal location for ITV’s six-part drama Finding Alice, which aired in January 2021 and starred Keeley Hawes, Joanna Lumley, and Nigel Havers. More recently, the home featured in Extraordinary Extensions (Channel 4, February 2024), where Tinie Tempah toured the property as an inspiring example for homeowners considering ambitious renovations.
Built to high environmental standards, the home includes new cavity wall and floor insulation, underfloor heating throughout, and a super insulated timber frame offering exceptional thermal performance. Smart heating controls demonstrate the home’s efficiency, losing less than 1°C overnight.
The exterior is clad in sustainable ‘Kebony’ wood, a renewable softwood treated with molasses, a sugar cane by product. This process enhances the wood’s durability and weather resistance, giving it the longevity and aesthetic of hardwood without compromising on sustainability.
Press coverage / TV
2024 – Channel 4 Extraordinary Extensions – Property TV show – Featuring Aylesford House
2021 – Self Build and Design – Aylesford House- ‘Out of the Woods’ (front cover)
2021 – TheSun.co.uk – Aylesford House / Finding Alice – ‘What a space!’
2021 – RadioTimes.com – ‘Where did they film the ‘smart house’ in ITV drama Finding Alice’
2021 – Heart.co.uk – Is the Finding Alice house real? Inside the incredible ‘smart house’ featured in the show
2020 – ITV Finding Alice – Aylesford House – Principal location for 6 part ITV drama series with Keeley Hawes, Joanna Lumley and Nigel Havers. Red Productions.
2019 – The Times – Bricks and Mortar – Aylesford House sales listing
2019 – The Modern House – Aylesford House sales listing
