Millhanger Farmhouse
Interactive map of the Millhanger Farmhouse area
General information
Type	Country house
Location	Chiddingfold, Surrey, England
Coordinates	51°08′56″N 0°30′18″W / 51.149°N 0.505°W / 51.149; -0.505
Technical details
Floor area	11,300 square feet (approximately)
Design and construction
Architect	Yiangou Architects
Developer	Finchatton

Millhanger Farmhouse is a contemporary country house near Chiddingfold in Surrey, England, designed in an Arts and Crafts architectural style and completed in 2024. Built by property developer Finchatton, with architecture by Yiangou Architects and interiors by Sims-Hilditch, the house sits on approximately 35 acres in the Weald region roughly 45 miles south-west of central London.^[1][2] The property is notable for being believed to be among the first dwellings designed in an Arts and Crafts idiom to receive planning permission under Paragraph 84e of England's National Planning Policy Framework, a provision permitting isolated rural homes of exceptional design quality.^[1][2]

Millhanger was designed by Yiangou Architects as a new-build country house in an Arts and Crafts style, a design movement that flourished in Europe and North America between roughly 1880 and 1920.^[2] The house was completed in 2024 and comprises six bedrooms and six reception rooms across approximately 11,300 square feet.^[1][3] Ross Sharpe, director of Yiangou Architects, described the design approach as making use of "high-quality, natural materials, completely appropriate for the setting and context of the house throughout" and that it was "designed to be as energy efficient and environmentally friendly as possible".^[2]

The building's planning history is significant. Under Paragraph 84e of the National Planning Policy Framework, an exception can be made permitting isolated dwellings in the countryside if "the design is of exceptional quality, in that it is truly outstanding, reflecting the highest standards in architecture, and would help to raise standards of design more generally in rural areas".^[2] Millhanger is reported to be among the first houses designed in an Arts and Crafts idiom to win approval under this provision.^[1][2] Obtaining planning permission took over ten years.^[1]

The contractors faced particular technical challenges in realizing the Arts and Crafts design. According to Finchatton's director of architecture and country developments, Alex Jaggs, "The contractors really rose to the challenges of trying to realize the Arts and Crafts ambition of this project. The oak contractor scoured the nation looking for a lathe large enough to turn the circular columns of the west facade of the main house and the roofing contractor worked very closely with us over the details such as the copper segmental arch above the front door, and the lead work on the chimneys."^[2]

The house employs a "butterfly plan" layout, a design approach where wings project from a central structure. Yiangou's description emphasizes that "The beauty of the butterfly plan is all about the orientation and light, and that it lends itself to a large central hallway that links beautifully to all the other principal rooms; it creates very inviting spaces and a lovely flowing plan."^[2]

The interior design was undertaken by Sims-Hilditch, a studio specializing in classical interiors. Interior elements include a drawing room, morning room, formal and informal dining rooms, and contemporary kitchen, together with a staff apartment. The property sits on an elevated position within its own landscape, offering 360-degree views of the surrounding countryside, and includes planning permission for a tennis court and swimming pool.^[1][2]

The property replaced "a former modest farm", according to the estate agents' listing.^[3] The builders employed different colored stones and traditional details to honour the Arts and Crafts aesthetic.^[2]

Millhanger Farmhouse was developed by Finchatton, a London-based property developer and designer, in collaboration with Yiangou Architects.^[1] The property was brought to the market by Savills and Knight Frank with an asking price of £10.5 million.^[1][3]

Country Life, in its description of the house, noted that "it looks old, and I like that kind of thing", reflecting the success of the design in evoking historical precedent despite its recent construction date.^[1] Mansion Global described the property as "the epitome of Arts and Crafts style reimagined and intelligently designed for modern life".^[2]

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