Francis York

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Hinwick House is on the market for the 3rd time in 300 years

This property is listed for £8,500,000 by Crispin Holborow and Hugh Maconochie of Savills

Located in Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, the Manor house sits within its very own park of nearly 37 acres. There are formal gardens, including a Georgian walled garden, an orchard, mature parkland, 2 lakes, woodland, and a stream. Hinwick was built in the Queen Anne style and the property features 20 bedrooms total between the main house, with its Victorian wing addition, and other structures covering a total 18,600 sqft.

The other structures include stables, store rooms, an 18th century clock tower, dovecote (for your pigeons), and 3 estate cottages.

History

The history of Hinwick House reaches back to the 15th century. There are three turret cottages which have been converted from a manor house that stood on the property at that time. The estate was purchased by the Orlebar family in 1653 for £355, around £85,000 or $104,000 USD in 2020 currency. 

Richard Orlebar and his wife, Diana Astry, known for her cookbook, began building the current home in 1710 with completion in 1714. Architect John Hunt of Northampton based the design on Buckingham House, which today forms the central portion of Buckingham Palace, the Queen's famous residence. 

Comparing Hinwick House to an illustration of Buckingham House from Pyne’s Royal Residences

Between 1859 and 1860, Richard Longuet Orlebar carried out renovations on the home, which included adding the Victorian north wing. Remarkably, the home stayed in the family for nearly 300 years until 1995, when it was sold.

During that period of ownership, the house was used as a school in the 1880s, a hospital for soldiers between 1914-1918, and a restaurant in 1990.

The home fell into disrepair after the family sold it, and in 2014 Sam and Nina Singh purchased the estate for a reported £4.5 million, then invested an additional £3.8 million  for a restoration that according to the RobbReport, spanned 2 years and included more than 120 artisans and craftsmen.

All photos belong to the listing agency.