The Only Surviving Structure From A Royal Estate Lost To Time – Now Available To Rent

If there’s anything more romantic than a palace, it’s a palace that only exists in legend. With Esher Place’s last surviving structure, a former gatehouse by the name of Wayneflete Tower, now available to rent, here’s your chance to join the long list of former royal residents. 

Look Inside Wayneflete Tower

The History

Though this Esher estate dates back to the 1040s, the site’s first manor house wasn’t built until 1330 when Bishop John Stratford took over the land. Over a century on in 1462, the property was then extended by its namesake, William Waynflete. The headmaster of Winchester College, provost of Eton, Lord Chancellor of England, Bishop of Winchester and founder of Magdalen College, Oxford, plus three subsidiary schools, Waynflete’s CV is a tough one to beat. And that’s not evening mentioning that his design for Esher Place acted as a precursor for the Tudor architecture that would later be immortalised in Hampton Court Palace (the construction of which began over 50 years later in 1514). 

It’s little surprise that Esher Place influenced the design of Hampton Court Palace when you consider that the estate’s former owner was also the architect of the latter. Looking for a home close to his new building project, Henry VIII’s chief advisor Cardinal Thomas Wolsey persuaded the then Bishop of Winchester, Richard Foxe, to give him Esher Place in exchange for a healthy pension. Moving in around 1519, Wolsey began his grand expansion plans, enlarging and improving Waynflete’s building with the construction of a 200ft long gallery that ended it in two towers. Unfortunately, the gallery was never completed, and upon Wolsey’s infamous fall from power Henry VIII had it dismantled and moved to Whitehall where it became a major part of his new building.

Having failed to secure the papal annulment Henry VIII desired to free himself from Catherine of Aragon, the King stripped Wolsey of his high offices as Lord Chancellor and Archbishop of York, and had him arrested for treason in 1530. With Wolseley now out, Henry VIII decided that he wanted Esher Place for himself as a satellite home to Hampton Court. Coercing the then-owner Bishop Gardiner to sell it to him, he carried out minor improvements but was largely content to enjoy the park, house and gardens as his ex-friend had left them. 

When his daughter Queen Mary I took the throne in 1553 she gave the manor back to the Bishop of Winchester, only for her half-sister Queen Elizabeth I to repurchase it in 1582. Liz then granted it to Lord Howard of Effingham who sold it on to Richard Drake, the cousin of Sir Francis Drake (after the defeat of the Spanish Armada, three captured Spanish admirals were held in the tower by Drake for over five years.) Unfortunately for those on the hunt for a complete Tudor palace of their own, the bulk of this once grand property was demolished by architect William Kent in the 1730s to make way for a new gothic revival manor house for its then-owner Prime Minister Henry Pelham.

The Property Today

Today, the Grade I listed gatehouse is the last surviving structure from this historic home. The property fell into the hands of the current owner (the whimsically-named Penny Rainbow) when she spotted the brick-built property in a local newspaper. Having spent years living abroad with her banking career, she was entranced by the pre-Tudor structure that had lain empty for four years. 

Discussing the purchase, she told Knight Frank that she was pleasantly surprised to find ‘amazingly light-filled rooms’ within such a historic building. Alongside the large 18th century windows that replaced the small medieval apertures, there are two stained glass windows and high vaulted ceilings which accentuate the sense of light. Beyond the red-brick, castellated facade, other key features include the original brick spiral staircase and flag pole. ‘I find it mind-boggling that monarchs like Henry VIII, Edward VI and Elizabeth I have also owned the tower,’ she said of the four-storey property. ‘I feel very honoured to live here and never want to leave.’

Though the estate agent doubted she was a serious buyer when she rocked up to the viewing while heavily pregnant with her first child, Penny said that Wayneflete Tower turned out to be a wonderful family home: ‘We had amazing parties here; the children all called it “the castle” and we used to use the lift as a dumb waiter for drinks and food.’ The original lift was rescued from a bomb site in the 1940s by the American actress, and famous former-owner, Frances Day who saved the Tower from demolition. 

Other improvements to the Tower made by Penny include repointing the brickwork, restoring stone and plasterwork, installing a glass porch and demolishing a 1950s double garage to make way for a contemporary glass annexe, which added a sixth bedroom, sitting room and a second kitchen to the property.

Located in the heart of Esher, both close to London and on the banks of the River Mole, this four-storey property is now available to let. Completely renovated, the hall leads through a reception room, kitchen-breakfast room and an entertaining area, plus the glass extension. Up above, the first floor boasts a drawing room and study, the second floor the principal bedroom suite and bathroom, and the third, three additional bedrooms and bathrooms. To the rear of the property the secluded one-acre gardens lead to the river where the terrace offers up the perfect spot to watch the swans, kingfishers, ducks, coots and deer which can be found on the grounds. 

Now secluded in a gated development, there’s no need for residents to fear unsuspecting tourists like Penny once did – on the first night she lived there she awoke to find two Japanese tourists photographing themselves in the garden. It’s a historical interest, however, that Penny can sympathise with. Following on from previous mentions in the Life of Wolsey by George Cavendish and The Natural History and Antiquities of the Country of Surrey, Volume 3 by John Aubrey, Penny has written the first book dedicated to the history of her home: A Complete History of the Tower of Esher – A William Waynflete Landmark. As part of her research she even had archaeologists come in to find out more about the palace which one stood on these grounds. And she’s not the only one fascinated by its history. Penny revealed that bestselling Wolf Hall author Hilary Mantel visited the Tower (referenced 17 times throughout her books) not long before her death. 

Available to rent for £14,995 per month or £3,460 per week. Find out more at knightfrank.co.uk