A Magnificent Manor

Grade I listed Queen Anne manor house in Bedfordshire for sale for a sum 41% lower than it was offered for in 2016

Built between 1710 and 1714 and much enlarged between 1859 and 1860, Hinwick House, near Wellingborough in Bedfordshire was described as a “celebration of Britishness” by The Telegraph in 2017. Its original inspiration was said to be Buckingham House – today known as Buckingham Palace.

Grade I listed and extending to 52,660 square foot including ancillary accommodation and outbuildings, this Queen Anne house has 5 reception rooms, 12 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms. It comes with an 18^th century clock tower, a dovecote, 4 staff flats, 3 cottages and for drinkers there are 3 bars even.

Constructed primarily of coarsed Ketton and Weldon limestone rubble with ashlar dressings, architectural details include Doric and Corinthian pilasters, balustraded parapets and a bas relief of Diana, wife of Richard Orlebar. The Victorian wing was designed by F. C. Penrose in 1860 and the “fine” interior includes a “magnificent” staircase by Daniel Wyman and plasterwork by John Woolston.

Renovated by businessman Sam Singh and his wife after they purchased the compact estate in 2014, the property has been used in the time since as both a family home and rented for parties, conferences and weddings. Guests have variously reportedly included Boris Johnson and there are rumours that the ghosts of four murdered soldiers buried under the building haunt the house.

Hinwick House – which is about an hour and a half’s drive from central London – stands in 37 acres of land that consists of formal gardens, a Georgian walled garden, an orchard, a deer park and a paddock. There are two lakes, a stream and areas of woodland also.

Agents Savills seek £8.5 million.

The Names and Numbers – Hinwick House, Podington, Wellingborough, Bedfordshire, NN29 7JE, United Kingdom

November 2019 – Offered for sale for £8.5 million ($10.9 million, €10 million or درهم40.2 million) by Savills.

2017 – Available to rent for up to 36 guests on a self-catering basis for upto £19,400 per week ($24,900, €22,700 or درهم91,700 per week) and described by The Telegraph as “the ultimate party house.”

2016 – Offered for sale for £14.5 million ($18.7 million, €16.9 million or درهم 68.6million) but failed to find a buyer.

2014 – Purchased by Sam and Nina Singh for £4.5 million ($5.8 million, €5.3 million or درهم21.3 million) via agents Michael Graham. The couple subsequently claim to have spent a further £3.8 million ($4.9 million, €4.4 million or درهم17.9million) “and two years on a complete renovation that involved more than 120 artisans and craftsmen” according to the Robb Report.

1995 – Sold by the Orlebar family after 342 years of successive ownership.

1990 – Used as a restaurant and wedding venue and named the Flemish House Restaurant.

1914 – 1918 – Used as a Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) hospital for wounded soldiers returning from the battlefront.

1880s – Used as a school.

1859 – 1866 – Enlarged with the addition of a service wing to the north of the original house by F. C. Penrose “in the Georgian style.”

1653 – Estate sold by Sir Thomas Alston to Richard Orlebar for £355 or the equivalent of £79,000 ($102,000, €92,000 or درهم373,000) today. Mr. Orlebar then spent £3,848 or the equivalent of £738,000 ($950,000, €861,000 or درهم3.5 million) today constructing the Queen Anne house between 1710 and 1714.

Facebook: @TheSteepleTimes

Instagram: @TheSteepleTimes

Twitter: @SteepleTimes