Another Audley End

With this one being on the eastern fringes of Windsor Park rather than in the north eastern fringes of Essex. And ender home to rhyme with starter home rather than stately home. Which we got to know about as a result of a fancy bit of cardboard being pushed through our letter box, a bit of cardboard offering us a new home in an exclusive retirement village in Englefield Green, near Windsor Park. Otherwise a little to the south of the River Thames and a little to the west of the M25. Quite handy to the airport (enlargement pending).

With the core of this village appearing to be some Victorian pile, with lots of turrets and spires. We supposed that this core contained the public areas and offices, while the homes themselves were in large new sheds around the back, in the way of many old country hotels.

Closer inspection suggests that this is not entirely fair, with the pile in question having started in the early 19th century as a large house, but subsequently did time as the Indian Engineering College and more recently as student accommodation. Maybe the pile is bigger than I had given it credit for. But you can read all about it at reference 3.

The deal I found was that you bought a 75% equity share in your ender home - leaving me wondering whether the balancing 25% gave the developers the right to rack up the substantial service charges every year. Insufficiently interested to check.

PS 1: according to the cardboard, things have moved on a bit since the Street View van last paid a visit. Note the bit on the right, where a bit of old facade has been preserved to front up what I take to be new shed. A lot of that sort of thing going on in London. Maybe this faking keeps the heritage people quiet.

PS 2: has the tree on the left, possibly an Araucaria, survived? Clearly something to look out for.

Reference 1: http://psmv2.blogspot.com/2013/06/audley-end.html. Our last visit to the other end.

Reference 2: https://www.audleyvillages.co.uk/our-villages/coopers-hill.

Reference 3: https://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/themes/places/surrey/runnymede/egham/coopers-hill/.

Reference 4: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araucaria.