Etiquette -- 2 days ago
‘A 15th-century Tudor manor house for the price of a 2-bed flat in Mayfair? Bargain!’ was a rival property agent’s reaction to Yelford Manor’s £2.7m price tag.
Generations of exceptional gentlemen have owned this manor. The seat of William the Conqueror’s right-hand man, it was abandoned to the clutches of the Black Death before springing up in its current shape in 1499. Stellar British heritage is this Manor’s calling card.
Picture-perfect period living is the lifestyle here. Yelford Manor’s a treasure chest of original pieces in fabulous shape, helped by being owned by only five families in as many centuries. Stone fireplaces, casement windows, exposed beams and original doors: it’s a textbook example of how to keep a Tudor house fit for cosy modern living.
Impressive entertaining opportunities await, too. The current drawing room was once the 15th-century Great Hall, and still contains the gaping 8ft-wide fireplace. Walk through the c.1590 door to the panelled dining room and you’ll find everything in place for a fine feast; an attached butler’s pantry and buttery make catering easy. (One missing period piece is, of course, the butler.)
Upstairs is as magical; the features continue in the six bedrooms, all perfect settings for four-poster beds. One guest chamber has stunning painted beams and a c.1590 stone fireplace.
Outside, the exposed timber frame is one of a kind. 7.5 acres of stunningly kept gardens surround the Manor, leading to a branch of medieval moat. Orchards, paddocks, a wooden bridge, a sundial garden, a topiary garden: it’s as though someone designed an Elizabethan theme park – only it’s authentic. 5000 ft of stone-walled farm buildings are ripe for transformation into stables, studios, gyms or guest suites – take your pick.
With a mention in the Domesday Book, it’s an illustrious house to get your hands on. The speaker of the House of Commons during the Civil War, Sir William Lenthall, got hold of it in 1651 and it stayed in his family until after World War 2. This house has been present at some of Britain’s most seminal moments: it’s definitely got secrets to spill. Yelford Manor’s currently looking for a sixth gentleman owner – who’s game?
VisitSavills to find out more.
By Charlotte Beale
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