Sir Christopher Wren's former home in Surrey seeks £4.25 million
The Old Court House that was once home to Sir Christopher Wren – England’s most famous architect – has been listed for sale for the first time with a price guide of £4.25 million.
Wren is known for designing St Paul’s Cathedral and the Royal Naval College, as well as the south side of Hampton Court Palace.
Queen Anne granted a 50-year lease for The Old Court House to Wren in 1708 in lieu of arrears of salary for building St Paul’s Cathedral.
Wren was appointed by King Charles II as the Royal Surveyor in 1669 and held his position for 49 years until 1718.
Dating back to 1536, the property received an extensive makeover by Wren who complained of 'great decay'.
Located in Hampton Court, Wren used the dining room as a study and included the same marble fire place he installed in King William III’s dining room in Hampton Court Palace.
The drawing room is situated to the rear of the house with five tall sash windows and the original shutters, boasting views of the garden and to the river.
A pantry leads off this room and features intricate detailing of a Grecian key pattern on the dado rail and door castings.
The master bedroom features views towards the Hampton Court Green and to Hampton Court Palace.
The property comprises of six bedrooms and three bathrooms – one which contains two oddly placed baths side by side, surrounded by green marble.
The large outside garden extends down to the river and features an assortment of fruit trees including fig, walnut, apple, crab apple, cherries, raspberries and herbs, and a garden room, which was once Wren’s tool house.
In Wren’s day, important visitors would arrive by river and walk across the back garden and up the stone steps to the back door.
The property boasts the only English Heritage blue plaque to Wren, which is on display at the front of the property.
Wren passed away in 1723.
In 1749, Wren’s grandson, Stephen Wren, sold the remainder of the lease.
Following occupants included Admiral Sir Alexander Montgomery, the Dowager Lady Clinton and General Sir Henry Wheatley.
Norman Lamplugh lived at the house from 1908 to 1938.
The 2nd Earl of Ypres and son of First World War field marshal Sir John French followed suit.
A new lease began in 1958 and the remaining lease of 89 years was bought by Toby Jessel.
Toby Jessel was the MP for Twickenham from 1907 to 1997 and is the current resident of The Old Court House.
In 1984, the Crown Estates sold the freeholds to lease holders of home around Hampton Court.
It is the first time The Old Court House has been a freehold and is being sold as such.
“This is an exquisite and historic home,” says listing agent Patrick Glynn-Jones of Savills Richmond UK.
“Houses of this ilk are few and far between – I can see someone getting emotionally engaged by it, with all its fabulous historical features.
"If there was a plaque that one would be impressed by it would for be for arguably the finest British architect that ever lived.
“No one looking to buy will specifically seek out the blue plaque, but it’s a little extra bauble that helps the salability,” says Glynn-Jones.
