Fit for a king… and Queen!
Wimbledon’s oldest house is now on the market for a rumoured £26 million. The 10 bedroom estate was once lived in by Henry VIII back in 1546 when he would stay there on his way back to London.
The Old Rectory is packed full of historic charm including wood carved walls, a medieval chapel (the oldest part of the house), a garden designed by the Hampton Court Palace gardener and a fig tree trail.
Rumour has it that the portly monarch was forced to sleep in what is now the Great Hall as he was too bloated to make it up the stairs to his sleeping quarters. When the Tudor king died in 1547 his widowed wife, Katharine Parr (one of the lucky ones to keep her head), moved back there and was often visited by Elizabeth I.
Formerly named The Parsonage House, the grade II listed mansion in Wimbledon Village dates back to 1500 and boasts 8 reception rooms, 9 bathrooms (let’s hope one was situated on the ground floor!) plus a 2 bedroom gatehouse above the garages.
The Old Rectory has certainly been popular amongst royalty (both noble and rock) in the past. Not only did King Charles I own the property in 1639, but Queen superstar Brian May also called it home in the late 90’s.
If the price tag of this majestic pile is a little steep, check out some of the other regal-themed property on Rightmove.
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