Russian to a fast recovery "It is quite feisty," admits Cockerham. But this sort of house is a rare beast, and demand is arguably better now than it was back then. Until now the only sector of the property market to have recovered from the recession has been prime central London, propped up by wealthy overseas buyers who are now responsible for more than half of all sales. Now their interest is increasingly trickling out to Surrey. According to research by Knight Frank, so far this year overseas buyers have bought one in three houses worth £2 million or more in the county (in 2008 they bought just over one in five). In 2012 Knight Frank has sold Surrey homes to buyers from 25 different countries, with Russians leading the charge. Earlier this year Upper Ribsden, a vast neoclassical newbuild in Windlesham by developer Octagon, was snapped up by a Russian businessman who paid close to £30 million for the property. And The Old Garden, in Twickenham, was sold late last year for £43 million to another Russian buyer. According to Tim Hubbard, of buying agent Property Vision, it is now on the market again for £50 million. Their interest is having a dramatic impact on prices. According to Sophie Chick, an analyst in Savills's residential research department, average prices in Surrey have risen 1.7 per cent in the last year - more than three times the average for England and Wales. On the Wentworth Estate prices are up 13 per cent compared to peak levels, while at St George's Hill they are soaring by more than 25 per cent. Mark Jamieson, of Strutt & Parker, believes Surrey's fortunes are being boosted by the eurozone crisis, with Greek, Spanish and French investors moving in. Buying agent Nick Mead, an associate at The Buying Solution, says the county is also a natural "second step" for overseas buyers with a central London pad. ACS Egham, the well-regarded international school, is a huge draw. Of course British buyers are still keen on Surrey. Mark Crampton, of buying consultancy Middleton, says that while foreign buyers look to the north of the county, their British counterparts tend to hone in on more rural homes south of the M25. "A pretty Georgian house in 20 acres with river frontage was being sold for £3 million near Tilford," he says. It attracted 64 viewings, about 60 of which were British buyers. This is probably because overseas buyers tend to favour modern property which is easy to lock up and leave. James Cleland, a partner in Knight Frank's country department, recently sold a £5.75 million newbuild house in Wentworth to a young Russian couple. "They were looking for an absolutely meticulous finish," he says. The other option, says Tim Hubbard, is to buy a house, demolish it and build a grander replacement. "We are currently working on four such projects," he says. Which brings us back to Park Close. Its location will certainly appeal to the overseas market but its unloved state most certainly will not. "We have seen some lovely houses in Surrey get knocked down - it is the way of the world," he says. It is a shame, in a way. It is a very handsome house and I would dearly like to see it brought back to life.