Holyport, Maidenhead, Berkshire

The hamlet of Holyport lies within the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead. The name is thought locally to literally mean, "Holy Port", a stopping off point for pilgrims on their way from Canterbury, although old documents show that the name originally stemmed from Horrig-Port or "Muddy Market".

The beautiful village green was once one of several stopping places for drovers from nearby Bray to graze their sheep. Today the place is wellknown for having two fine pubs. One of these, ´The Belgian Arms´, was formerly called ´The Eagle´ but was renamed after German prisoners of war used to salute it as they passed by during the Second World War.

The site of Philberds Lodge lies within what was once the manor of Philiberts, which was merged with the manor Cresswells in about 1283. Both were old moated buildings. When the original Philiberts property was pulled down in 1500 it was replaced with a superb black and white timber-framed manor house which became the home of King Charles II's mistress, Nell Gwynne, for a while. Today Cliveden Homes have created eight beautifully appointed apartments for discerning buyers looking for a quiet, semi-rural location but close to main communication links and excellent amenities.

Philberds Lodge lies within an area essentially rural in character, with more than 1,000 acres of National Trust land just to the North and almost 5,000 acres of Crown land in the South, around Windsor. The location is amidst some of the loveliest country in the Middle Thames area, with fine stretches of river, picture-postcard villages and to the west the edge of the Chiltern Spur.

The main local towns host many specialist retailers, independent stores backed up by top High Street names and international brands. The immediate vicinity boasts the very best eating-houses and restaurants. In Windsor & Eton alone there are no less than 16 different types of cuisine all within a half hour walk of the Castle. The nearby village of Bray is home to the Fat Duck, voted the world´s best restaurant (Restaurant Guide April 2005).