Rising from the tranquil English countryside, Denham Place is a striking stately home to rival those of kings and queens. Following an eight-year renovation by renowned interior designer Alex Kravetz, this majestic manor house and its 42 acres of parkland are now available to buy for £45M.
A Country Pile With Royal Heritage
The Grade I-listed Denham Place was constructed in 1688. The home has a storied history and was built for Sir Roger Hill, a Member of Parliament and the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire – where the estate is located. Subsequent custodians include Joseph Bonaparte and JP Morgan.
Receiving royals and nobles, this heritage estate has also played host to many noteworthy visitors. The house was then purchased by Lord Vansittart and Lady Saritaand, a diplomat and a wealthy heiress respectively. Friends with the film producer Alexander Korda, the couple helped set up the nearby Denham Studios and entertained guests such as Laurence Olivier and Merle Oberon. They also hosted Wallis Simpson – the famed socialite for whom King Edward VIII abdicated.
However, the house’s cinematic history doesn’t end there. Film producer Harry Saltzman also lived at Denham Place, welcoming guests such as Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and Michael Caine. Scripts are said to have been reviewed in the grand rooms of the manor.
A Regal Renovation
Approaching the house from its long access road, a gravel driveway sweeps around an impressive fountain before steps lead up to the grand entrance. Uniting the myriad spaces within, voluminous proportions and timeless design details span all four levels.
The house exemplifies the classic “William and Mary” style. English Heritage and The Georgian Society ensured that the recent renovation celebrated its period features and original character. Nonetheless, the project breathed new life into this redbrick bastillion. Its interiors feature indulgent materials such as Italian marble, handwoven silk, and 22-karat gold leaf.
Each room reveals a different aspect of Denham Place’s rich cultural history. The scheme takes its cues from the Palace of Versailles, with voluminous spaces and sumptuous details. Crowned by a domed ceiling with an ornate crystal chandelier, the formal dining room has palatial lineage. The fireplace features a Calacatta marble surround and distinctive green malachite sourced from St Petersburg’s Winter Palace, the official residence of Russian Emperors.
This sense of rarified beauty continues throughout the ground floor spaces. The chapel lounge, for instance, features wood panelling transported from Hampton Court Palace in the 1700s. This fact was discovered during the recent renovation and highlights the provenance of the building and its materials. A spiritual space, the chapel lounge continues to be used for prayer to this day.
Spaces Of Distinction
Denham Place’s wood-wrapped library is a masterclass in distinguished design. An intricate frieze depicts a 15th-century battle and frames the high ceiling where Cupid looks down from an ornate fresco. This dark yet regal space conjures images of secretive meetings and privileged information. Fittingly, it was recreated as M’s office in the earlier Bond films. Some scenes are even said to have been filmed in the house itself.
A morning room, drawing room, and billiards room maintain the refined tone. Below, the lower ground floor spaces feature frescoed, cross-vaulted ceilings. Spaces include a breakfast kitchen, catering kitchen and a cinema.
The expansive principal bedroom speaks of rococo influences. Presiding over the first floor, it is one of the grandest bedrooms in Britain. This space is large enough to entertain in – an old royal tradition suited to such vast bed chambers. On the walls, gold wainscotting pops against white marble. Above, a crystal chandelier draws the eye towards a cherubic depiction. A further 12 bedrooms are spread across the first and second floors, providing ample space for hosting guests overnight.
Expansive, Sweeping Grounds
In the 18th century, Denham Place’s grounds were masterminded by Lancelot Brown – history’s most notable landscape architect. Better known as Capability Brown, he designed the gardens of around 170 stately homes in England, from Blenheim Place to Highclere Castle where the TV series Downton Abbey was filmed.
At Denham Place, the grounds feature a formal sunken garden, a walled garden, and a substantial lake. The plot additionally encompasses nearly a dozen garages, a detached four-bedroom annexe, with planning permission to create a spa and gym, and a coach house reimagined as three self-contained cottages.
Despite its illustrious past and the tapestry of noteworthy owners, residents, and visitors, the estate’s history stretches back even further. Existing long before the home in its current form, the estate was part-owned by the Abbey of Westminster. The original Tudor building, which stood before the current manor house, was built in 1541 by Sir Edmund Peckham. Sir Peckham was chief treasurer to King Henry VIII, whose daughter Queen Elizabeth I visited Denham Place in 1586.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Trophy Asset
With its esteemed history, rare materials, and noble heritage, Denham Place is a house unlike any other. The 42-acre plot, which borders on a championship golf course, is a sprawling private patch of verdant English countryside. The estate is situated on the eastern edge of Buckinghamshire, 30 minutes from Kensington and just 10 minutes from Northolt Private Jet Centre. With only a handful of owners over four centuries, this piece of royal history is now available for £45M. Explore the listing or contact Richard Cutt of United Kingdom Sotheby’s International Realty for more information.
