A significant property known as Edgcote Estate just came to market in England’s Northamptonshire region asking an astounding £45 million. The 1,704-acre expanse is centered by one of the area’s finest country manors, which holds up its timeless beauty and grandeur today as it did hundreds of years ago.
Need proof? Of all homes in England, the 25,900-square-foot Georgian constructed between 1748 and 1754 was chosen to be filmed as a pivotal setting for the BBC’s 1995 adaptation of “Pride & Prejudice”. It played Mr. Bingley’s country house, Netherfield, which is the catalyst that sets the two main love stories into motion.
While dedicated fans of period dramas, and enthusiasts for Colin Firth’s portrayal of Mr. Darcy, will love eyeing this authentic aristocratic residence so will history lovers. Edgcote Estate actually dates back nearly 1,000 years. It was first recorded following the Norman Conquest when it was granted to Geoffrey of Mowbray. The property later passed to Isabel de Bruce, grandmother of King of Scots Robert the Bruce, before returning to the English Crown. Just in time for the Battle of Edgcote in 1469, a key moment in the War of the Roses.
The property’s notoriety only continued from there. The estate pops up in significance again in the 1500s, when it was briefly home to King Henry VIII’s powerful chief advisor, Thomas Cromwell, and later given to Anne of Cleves as part of her divorce settlement from the King. However, by 1546 it belonged to the Chauncy family, who held onto it 270 years and took on the complete rebuilding of Edgcote House. Since then, the brick mansion has remained in tact and impeccably cared for, securing it the highest historic status in the UK as a Grade I building.
As well as offering six generous reception rooms and eight bedrooms, the home is full of ornate details that transport you to Mr. Bingley’s world of dignified balls and elegant afternoon teas. The park-like grounds harken more to Elizabeth Bennett’s interests, however, as she dearly loves to walk.
The home’s romantic surroundings include an 8.6-acre lake, greenhouses, formal gardens, mixed woodlands, and even a tennis court. Further off in the distance, income-producing farmland, a traditional stable yard, and more equestrian facilities await for work or play, depending on the new owner’s ambitions. Offering possibilities for staff or profitable rentals, the property also holds 31 additional houses, cottages, and flats in total.
Crispin Holborow and Grace Gardiner of Savills share the prestigious listing.
