The Old Sawmills, a unique seven-bedroom riverside property, situated between Golant and Fowey on Cornwall's South coast, comes to the open market for the first time since 1972 with Strutt & Parker for offers in excess of £2.25m. The secluded property includes a recording studio, control room and three isolation booths, a self-contained two-bedroom lodge and four further outbuildings, two private pontoons, private creek, a mooring on the Fowey estuary, all sitting within approximately 32 acres of private woodland.

The Studio first opened in 1974 as one of the very first residential facilities in the UK and has since developed a reputation as one of the world's most unique recording environments. The list of artists who have recorded material at The Old Sawmills is extensive, including Stone Roses, The Verve, Oasis, Muse and Robert Plant to name but a few. Examples of albums recorded at The Old Sawmills include Oasis's 'Definitely Maybe' and Muse's 'Showbiz' and 'Origin of Symmetry'; Sawmills Studio has also played a role in the early development of many successful musical careers.

The Old Sawmills has a deeper history however, with the area mentioned in the Domesday Book with evidence of the medieval quay visible at the head of the Creek. This Creek, known as Bodmin Pill, was used by medieval merchants of Bodmin to access the sea. This Creek is understood in more recent history to have inspired a setting in Kenneth Grahame's 'The Wind in the Willows'. Grahame, a regular visitor to Fowey, spent much time on the river and it is believed that a trip he made in 1907 inspired Ratty and Mole's first picnic outing in Chapter One.

Later in the 20th Century, The Old Sawmills played a role during both the first and second World Wars. During the former, the woodland that surrounds the property was selectively coppiced for timber which found its way into the trenches of the Western front. In World War Two, The Old Sawmills was requisitioned by the American Army in 1943 for preparations in the run up to the D-Day landings. During this time, they built a small hydro-electric scheme to provide heat and light. The remains of the cast iron pipe work can be seen in situ along the stream today. Also the base of their Cookhouse is now an attractive gazebo. 

Richard Speedy, selling agent at Strutt & Parker's Exeter office says, “The Old Sawmills is one of a kind and completely unique. The house itself is only accessible by boat or on foot and offers an unrivalled level of privacy and seclusion, something that many have come to desire as a result of the last few months of lockdown. The beautiful setting offers a new owner an opportunity to become self-sufficient thanks to the extensive woodland and creekside location, with the ability to effectively cut themselves off from the outside world should they so wish.”

The main house has seven bedrooms, some ensuite, a conservatory, a terrace and an open plan kitchen/sitting room. The famous studio sits within the lower ground floor, with a control room and the main studio with Juliet balcony as well as separate booths. All these rooms offer views of the Creek and surrounding woodland.

Speedy continues: “It's difficult to imagine a more inspiring or romantic location for a musician to 'batten down the hatches' and create music, as the list of past artists at Sawmills Studio proves. It is probably the most unique recording studio in the world and is likely to attract the attention of musicians and producers from far and wide.”

The Old Sawmills is set in a beautiful and secluded location on the western bank of the River Fowey in its own tidal creek, within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The property sits approximately half a mile's boat ride from the Cornish coastal village of Golant, considered by many as one of the more highly desirable places to live on the Fowey Estuary. The town of Fowey itself is approximately a mile and a half down river and accessible by boat at any time 

Speedy continues: “This part of the Cornwall coast is enduringly popular, both with second-home buyers and more recently a greater portion of people looking to relocate full time to the South West. The Old Sawmills not only provides an opportunity to acquire a world renowned music recording business, but also a holiday accommodation business which it has been successfully run as in recent years. The property would also serve well as a unique family retreat.”

Aside from the main building, the timber-clad, self-contained, Lodge offers a further two bedrooms whilst two more outbuildings house a further five and three rooms respectively. These outbuildings have water, power and drainage and the opportunity exists for their reinstatement as residential buildings.

Speedy continues: “The Old Sawmills has been in its present ownership since the early 1980s and has been a recording studio for 46 years. In the latter years, as the music industry has changed, the holiday accommodation side of the business became more prevalent. However, the time has now come for the vendor to move on, and this timing provides the best opportunity to capture the market, particularly in light of how recent months have changed the value we place on seclusion, privacy and quietness. For someone looking for a complete lifestyle change or a more inspiring place to create music, The Old Sawmills offers this in volumes.”

·         Sales details: https://www.struttandparker.com/properties/golant

·         Picture credit: Strutt & Parker

·         Agent details: Strutt & Parker Exeter +44 (0)1392 215631

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For more information, please contact:

Amelia Daniel

Press Office, Strutt & Parker

5 Aldermanbury Square, London EC2V 7BP

Direct: 07827 859 281

amelia.daniel@struttandparker.com

About Strutt & Parker

Strutt & Parker is one of the largest and most successful property consultancies in the UK with a network of 60 offices across the country, 10 of those in prime central London. Established in 1885, the business provides professional support on all matters relating to residential and rural land and property including investment, development and planning, estate agency and professional consultancy. With a dedicated, forward thinking team offering expert knowledge and sound, professional advice, we can ensure that businesses, farmers, landowners, house-buyers and international investors can make their assets perform to their best ability.

In 2017 Strutt & Parker was acquired by BNP Paribas Real Estate, one of the leading international real estate providers, which offers its clients a comprehensive range of services that span the entire real estate lifecycle: property development, transaction, consulting, valuation, property management and investment management. With 5,400 employees, BNP Paribas Real Estate supports owners, leaseholders, investors and communities in their projects thanks to its local expertise across 36 countries (15 through its facilities and 21 through its Alliance network) in Europe, the Middle-East and Asia. BNP Paribas Real Estate, as part of the BNP Paribas Group, generated € 1.01bn revenues in 2019.