The royal family once called this country estate home; now you can too.
Located near the rural village in Northamptonshire, England is Barnwell Manor, one of Britain’s most architecturally and historically significant properties. The Manor sits on 27 sprawling acres, but it’s not only the stately house that impresses. The ancient grounds also comprise the ruins of a Grade I-listed castle and extensive gardens and parkland. Dating back to the late 16th century, the Manor was the former residence of the Duke of Gloucester, the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. Now, the 30,000-square-foot abode and its subsequent 13-century castle are ripe for the taking, asking a cool £4.75 million ($5.28 million).
“Barnwell Manor effortlessly brings together stunning architecture and an illustrious history of ownership, which includes some of the most important families in British history, past and present,” says Crispin Holborow, country director of The Private Office at Savills, in a press statement. In addition to its ties to the Queen, the majestic Manor also has connections to King Henry VIII, who passed the estate onto Sir Edward Montagu in 1540. It remained in the aristocratic family’s possession for more than 300 years, until it was eventually sold to the late Duke of Gloucester in 1938—brother to Edward VIII and George VI.
At that time, Prince Henry, the late Duke of Gloucester, took to restoring the historic home with the remodeling efforts carried out by architect Edward Richardson. The current Duke remained in the estate until 1995 and in 2017, it became the official base for Windsor House Antiques.
Today, the palatial Barnwell Manor features eight bedrooms, five bathrooms and four grand reception rooms. Despite its centuries of restorations and expansions, the estate retains many of its period features including wood floors, fireplaces, plaster ceilings and impressive molded paneling. Elsewhere are two staff apartments on the first and second floors and outside, rolling lawns and an ornamental fish pond that used to be a former swimming pool.
“With beautifully appointed and comfortable reception rooms that look out onto perfectly landscaped gardens and the backdrop of a 13th-century castle, Barnwell is a classical representation of the English manor house,” adds Holborow. And from what we’ve gathered, worth every penny.
Click here to see all the photos of Barnwell Manor.
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