Princess Margaret & Lord Snowdon’s Sussex Retreat With A Bathroom Wallpapered In Royal Scandal

If you ever get a chance to visit Old House in Staplefield, West Sussex, be sure to nip to the loo. Inside: toilet, sink, and an archive of royal scandal plastered across the walls. From newspaper cuttings chronicling society intrigue and major events from the early 20th century, to family photographs and personal mementos, this collage of headlines was assembled by the home’s former owner: Antony Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon – and Princess Margaret’s husband of 18 years. 

Inside Lord Snowdon’s Home

Even those who aren’t buffed up on their royal history will likely recognise the name of Lord Snowdon from The Crown. An eccentric photographer with an aversion to royal duty (and monogamy), the Netflix show depicts his short-lived marriage to Margaret as a tumultuous affair – burning with equal parts passion and resentment.

But amidst the infidelity and the rage, there were patches of happiness, particularly in the early days of their marriage. During this period, the royal couple would escape away for romantic sojourns at this West Sussex retreat – bringing all their glittering friends with them. 

Playing host to royalty, artists, actors, aristocrats, by the mid-1960s Old House had become one of the most coveted country house invitations in Britain. The stepping stones to the lake were opened with a pair of sheers by Her Majesty the late Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth in a ceremony presided over by the Bishop of Horsham. Meanwhile, guests travelled down from nearby London in Aston Martins and Bentleys for weekends of cocktails and conversation. Visitors over the years included actors Peter Sellers and Sir John Mills, dancer Dame Margot Fonteyn, activist Bianca Jagger, financier Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, writer Kenneth Tynan, designer Issey Miyake and novelist Edna O’Brien amongst many others – some of whose signatures can be found in the famous upstairs bathroom. 

Credit: John Senior

Now made famous by the The Crown, Old House was originally gifted to Lord Snowdon in 1958 by his uncle – the celebrated stage designer Oliver Messel – shortly before his marriage to Margaret in 1960. As a boy, Snowdon had spent many happy hours playing on its lawns, picnicking with his sister, in what he later referred to as a game of ‘Marie Antoinette-like make-believe’.

Though 18th century in appearance, Old House is just as old as the name suggests – dating all the way back to 1481. Whilst the property was re-shaped and expanded by the successive generations, especially the Georgians, by the time it landed in Lord Snowdon’s hands, Old House had withered away to a crumbling country estate with little left but its charm.

Credit: Ben Wright

Lacking electricity and an indoor loo, Snowdon took it upon himself to transform Old House into a private retreat away from the glare of public life. He introduced the elegant bow windows to the Georgian wing – inspired by those on Charles Street in Brighton – and reconfigured the kitchen, opening it up and creating a raised gallery stage level above. Today, the ancient oak front door, Tudor beams, historic fireplaces and Georgian panelling all survive, chronicling the home’s rich, five-century history. Spanning a total of 5,750 sqft, the estate includes the six-bedroom principal house, a pool house with guest accommodation, plus further outbuildings including a garden office and a library which once served as Lord Snowdon’s photographic dark room.

Taking up the torch from Lord Snowdon, the current owners have further enhanced the home with contemporary interventions. The dramatic entrance hall has been opened up to reveal original Tudor windows, exposed timbers and a gallery above, whilst concealed skylights now flood the space with natural light. 

Credit: Ben Wright

But it is Lord Snowdon’s creative influence that really gives the home its character. Take a stroll through the grounds and you’ll stumble across a whimsical folly built with a balcony salvaged from Ascot Racecourse’s Royal Box during the 1960s refurbishment works. Of all his projects, however, Snowdon’s most ambitious was the creation of the lake. Convinced he could complete the excavation in a single weekend, he hired a JCB and set to work, only to find himself blocked by the heavy Sussex clay. Soon, a dozen men were working throug the winter to bring his vision to life.

It seems, however, that his attempts paid off. The lake became a favourite spot on the estate – decked out with stepping stones, bridges and a romantic island pavilion. An aesthetic haven, multiple photoshoots were held at the private beauty spot, including one with Bianca Jagger (to which she was three days late). Surrounding the lake, the grounds stretch to an impressive 5.52 acres, spanning formal planting, long allées, ornamental borders, water features and a kitchen terrace. In spring, bluebells carpet the grounds.

Credit: Ben Wright

Beyond the grounds of Old House, the property sits on the historic Nyman’s estate – one of Britain’s most celebrated gardens, transformed by German-born financier and horticultural enthusiast Ludwig Messel into a renowned Arts and Crafts landscape after he acquired it in 1890. Following his death in 1915, the estate was further developed by his son Leonard and daughter-in-law Maud before being bequeathed to the National Trust in 1953. Old House, however, continued to remain in the Messel hands.

Having passed from Oliver to Leonard to Lord Snowdon then sold twice again in private, off-market deals, this is the first time this historic home has come to the public market. As Theo James, director at Blue Book Agency, explains: ‘The fact that this is the first time the property has ever been publicly offered for sale makes this a genuinely rare moment. Opportunities to acquire houses with this level of provenance, architectural significance and cultural importance simply do not come along very often.’

On the market for £3.95m. Find out more at bluebookagency.com