Fancy treating yourself to an iconic piece of movie history? Well, if you’ve got a spare £9 million knocking about, now may be your chance. For the first time in 35 years, Cobstone Mill has been put on the property market.
Now, I know what you might be thinking and yes, £9million does seem a little bit steep for a windmill, but this isn’t any old windmill. This is the windmill that starred as the Pott’s family home in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the movie-star of the windmill world, if you will. Oh, and did I mention that it also comes with a luxurious four-bedroom house, an outdoor heated swimming pool, a big old stretch of outbuildings, and 36.7 acres of land? I guess that makes the price slightly more reasonable.
Built in 1816, the former smock mill was used to grind cereal until it caught the beady eye of film producer, Albert (Cubby) Broccoli in the 1960s. It was cosmetically restored for its role in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and later went through more restoration work when it was bought by actress Hayley Mills in 1971.
Although best-known for its appearance in the legendary 1967 film, this little windmill has got a pretty darn impressive CV. It appears in shows such as Midsomer Murders and Goodnight Mister Tom, and also looks out over the picture-perfect village of Turville; the filming location of the Vicar of Dibley. Yep, this windmill officially has more acting credentials than me, and I went to drama school: a truly humbling discovery.
The stunning Grade II-listed building stands proudly up in the Chiltern Hills, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The peace, tranquility, and glorious green space make it a true haven for nature lovers who still wish to be within close proximity of London.
The original mill workings are a key feature, with a winding staircase leading from the ground floor reception room to bedrooms on the first and second floors of the mill. Over the past eighteen months, the current owner has had the sails of the windmill fully restored and has also been granted permission to extend the house to almost double its current size – because that seems completely necessary.
Cobstone Mill enjoys breathtaking views down the glorious Hambledon Valley and sits between the pretty market towns of Henley-on-Thames and Marlow. The location is also well served by excellent road and rail links, as well as easy access to Central London.
You know what? I’m becoming quite a fan of this windmill.
The full property listing can be found here.