But perhaps most impressive of all is the breathtaking view from the formal lawns where one stands level with the treetops in the valley 40 feet below.

Greyfriars is set in 47 acres of private parkland with an ornamental garden designed by Sir Herbert Baker. The house is easily accessible from the M25/A3 and Guildford mainline railway station (2 miles), as well as Heathrow and Garwick Airports (each 40 minutes by car).

The house has always been in private ownership, and has never been opened to the public.

Previous owners have included the Lyle family (of Tate & Lyle), the industrialist Robert Turner, and the leading civil servant Sir Mark Grant-Sturgis. The house has hosted many notable guests including the actor David Niven and the Shah of Iran.