_A home you'd love to be locked up in: Former prison comes to market in Guildford

As a property agent, I'm used to using a tried and tested pool of superlatives to describe some of the great homes that we market in and around Guildford. Asked to describe this property however, and I'm uncharacteristically, but genuinely, lost for words. 

South Hall is without a doubt the finest and most historically important private house currently around Guildford.

With just five owners since its conversion to a family home in 1852 - and we were lucky enough to assist the current owners with the last transaction - it's a rare opportunity to own one of the most architecturally and historically significant homes in the region. 

South Hall was originally built as Guildford’s Third House of Correction in 1820, with the building later becoming the residence of the presiding prison Governors, holding three cells for the incarceration of 'troublesome prisoners'.

The cells, one of which still has the original iron door, can still be seen today having been converted for domestic purposes. It is said that the prison door in the Guildford Museum came from one of the other cells! 

With an internal footprint of 5848 sq ft and gardens of over half an acre this house is impressive. And then there are the views; South Hall occupies a prime position on Castle Hill, in a conservation area in the old part of the town, yards from Guildford's famous cobble high street.

It enjoys a great vantage point over Guildford’s Castle to the east, the town to the north and the adjoining parkland and protected open countryside to the west, including Pewley Down, Chantry Woods and Shalford Park.

South Hall's footprint already clocks in at a generous size, but it's worth noting that, should new owners want to upsize, plans are in place to swell living space to a hefty 10,000 sq ft which would remove the current sitting room and replace it with a new three storey wing along with many other additions. 

As it stands, there are five well proportioned reception rooms to include a well lit, grand scale drawing room. Upstairs there are six bedrooms - plenty of room for a large family or for accommodating friends and family. The property is wrapped by landscaped grounds with an outdoor swimming pool to enjoy during the summer months. 

Who do I envisage becoming South Hall's sixth owners? A property of this calibre is understandably kindling interest from across the globe and in particular from those with school age children.

Guildford and the wider Surrey region has an exceptional reputation for its education with an excellent choice of schools in the immediate area including The Royal Grammar School and Lanesborough for boys, Tormead and The High School for girls.

Guildford itself also promises a slice of the good life - it's just 34 minutes to London Waterloo and has plenty to offer including a vibrant high street and some of the country's prettiest countryside and chocolate box villages on its doorstep. 

If you'd like to view this exceptional property, or would like any more information I'm happy to help. I'll take every opportunity to take another tour of South Hall!