Moving House: How Britwell Priors Was Relocated From One County To The Next

Moving house is always a hassle. There’s the boxes, the moving van, those things you said you’d definitely chuck out but now find yourself ramming in the boot. Even worse than moving house? Physically moving your house piece by piece from one location to the next. Discover how Britwell Priors was relocated from Oxfordshire to Hampshire. 

The History Of Britwell Priors

Built in the late 16th century, this historic home rested peacefully in place for over 300 years – that is until its new owners decided they’d like a change of scenery. Where most would start scouring the property pages for new listings in their favoured corner of the country, Captain Charles King and his wife Lady Clare Noel, were not interested in giving-up their beloved home. He was a member of the Coldstream Guards, she the (illegitimate) great-granddaughter of King William IV and actress Dorothea Jordan and neither of them, it seems, willing to compromise on anything less than the perfect house in the perfect setting. 

As avid anglers and close friends of Longparish Manor owner General Guy Dawnay, the couple were drawn to the Test Valley in Hampshire for its celebrated chalk stream and sporting heritage. But the properties on offer in Longparish clearly didn’t tick their (many) boxes. And so, in the late 1920s, the pair had their timber-framed home dismantled, transported across the county line, and then reconstructed piece by piece in the current setting.

But this wouldn’t be the last of the home’s story. In 1961, the property passed onto the Tennant family who introduced a low-profile, mid-century extension designed to expand the home’s living and entertainment spaces and make room for their impressive art collection. 

Take A Look Inside

Set behind hedging on a quiet lane just outside Longparish, Britwell Priors is carefully positioned to take full advantage of its setting and privacy. Though unlisted, the Tudor core retains a wealth of period features, including exposed timbers, leaded windows, Ruskin-esque bay windows with window seats, and open fireplaces, while the extension remains a time capsule of Mid-Century Modern design.

Spanning 4,800 sqft, the property offers up seven bedrooms, plus a triple-aspect drawing room with painted panelling, a wine cellar, a study, and a dining room that connects to the gardens. A book-lined corridor leads through the new wing, where the garden room with its skylights and wide sliding doors gives the house a modern breath of fresh air. The bedrooms, meanwhile, are arranged across the top two floors, from which the principal suite enjoys far-reaching views across the gardens and down to the River Test. Two of the bedrooms are located in the modern wing of the house, allowing the extension to be closed off to provide ancillary accommodation. 

Further accommodation can be found beyond the main priory as well. There is the bar annexe, with its own driveway and parking, which includes an open-plan kitchen-living-dining space, plus two bedrooms, a bathroom and storage. Plus there is Cleeves Cottage and Garden Cottage, both located at the far end of the land and invisible from the main house. Each of these boasts a sitting room, a kitchen, three bedrooms and a bathroom. Beyond this, there is an extensive range of outbuildings, from garages and stores to a large barn attic.

Spanning over 10 acres of grounds, the gardens are largely located to the south, offering up formal lawns, a knot garden edged with lavender and a rose walk that leads through to a lily pond and orchard. A swimming pool and tennis court are also on hand, plus paddocks that extend into the wider landscape. 

On the market for £3 million. Find out more at bluebookagency.com