Historic Grade II Thameside house gifted by Elizabeth I goes on sale

£3.5million but you’ll have to do some decorating: Historic 15th century Grade II Thameside house gifted by Elizabeth I goes on sale – but estate agent admits the decor needs a bit of ‘updating’

  • Wargrave Court, in the village of Wargrave, Berkshire, has hit the market for the first time in a generation 
  • Home, which comes with a private island, was owned by Neville family and descendants for three centuries
  • It is thought to have been seized by Queen Elizabeth I from Bishop of Winchester and gifted to Henry Neville 
  • Property features a grand reception hall, drawing room, sitting room, seven bedrooms and four bathrooms 

A historic 15th century riverside home on the Thames that was gifted by Queen Elizabeth I and comes with a private island has gone on sale for £3.5million.

Grade II-listed Wargrave Court, in the village of Wargrave, Berkshire, was owned by the same family for 300 years and has hit the market for the first time in a generation.

Its back garden rolls down to the river bank where there is a boathouse and mooring. Directly opposite is a small island that will partly belongs to the property.

Wargrave Court, which was built around the late 15th or early 16th century, was owned by the Neville family and their descendants for three centuries.

The home is listed for sale with estate agents Savills, which says the rooms need a ‘bit of a cosmetic doing up’ as they have been under the same ownership for 50 years.

The reception hall, pictured above, with double doors leading to an outdoor sitting area. Grade II-listed Wargrave Court, in the village of Wargrave, Berkshire, was owned by the same family for 300 years

The spacious master bedroom, with a sofa seen off to the side and light pouring in through the white-paned windows. The property has hit the market for £3.5million with estate agents Savills for the first time in a generation

Rose beds in the garden of the Grade II-listed home in the village of Wargrave, Berkshire. The property, which was built around the late 15th or early 16th century, was owned by the Neville family and their descendants for three centuries

The river frontage, pictured above. Its back garden rolls down to the river bank where there is a boathouse and mooring. Directly opposite is a small island that will be part-women by the new owner

The home’s exterior. Originally the building in Wargrave, Berkshire, was used as a court for manorial administrative purposes – ensuring disputes of the villagers were resolved, dues paid and fines levied

The home is thought to have been seized by Queen Elizabeth I from the Bishop of Winchester after he vexed her during a sermon, and then gifted to Henry Neville. A local history website says Wargrave Court was built in the 15th century.

Originally the building was used as a court for manorial administrative purposes – ensuring disputes of the villagers were resolved, dues paid and fines levied. 

It was altered and extended in the late 18th century, and then divided in 1955. Since then Wargrave Court has only had two owners, with the current owners buying it in 1978.

The house has retained lots of period features, with exposed beams and original fireplaces throughout and the reception hall has panels of late 18th century tapestry work. 

The kitchen of the property, which was altered and extended in the late 18th century, and then divided in 1955. Since then Wargrave Court has only had two owners, with the current owners buying it in 1978

The drawing room, with floral carpeting and a large fireplace. The home is thought to have been seized by Queen Elizabeth I from the Bishop of Winchester after he vexed her during a sermon, and then gifted to Henry Neville

The dining room, pictured above, featuring a fireplace and table fitting up to eight chairs. The house has retained lots of period features, with exposed beams and original fireplaces throughout

One of the bedrooms, with twin beds looking out onto the garden. The home has a reception hall, drawing room, sitting room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, seven bedrooms, four bathrooms and an attic room

The entrance hallway and staircase. The home is listed for sale with estate agents Savills, who say the rooms need a ‘bit of a cosmetic doing up’ as they have been under the same ownership for 50 years

The property’s floorplan, with the main house having a gross internal area of 5,540 sq ft, the garage having a gross internal area of 432 sq ft and the outbuildings having a gross internal area of 315 sq ft 

It has a grand reception hall, drawing room, sitting room, dining room, kitchen/breakfast room, seven bedrooms, four bathrooms and an attic room which could be a large play room or further bedrooms.

The property has 7.7 acres of land, including the village green which is leased to the church on a peppercorn rent, and a formal garden with a summer house, roses and mature shrub borders.

Stephen Christie-Miller, from Savills, which is handling the sale, said: ‘It’s one of the best houses in Wargrave, which is a very sought after village.

‘It’s lucky enough to have river frontage and owns the land the other side of the river too – it owns its view basically.

Wet moorings by the property, which has 7.7 acres of land and an island that cannot be built on but can be used when dry. Savills said it is a tributary of the Thames, which is visible from the other side

The tennis court, pictured above. The property is said to be ‘one of the best houses in Wargrave’ but needs a bit of updating, as it has been in the same ownership for 50 years

The river bank outside the property. Stephen Christie-Miller, from Savills, said: ‘The house is ideal for keen boaters, it has a wet boathouse and you can get straight out onto the river from your property’

The garden view to the river. Mr Christie-Miller added: ‘It’s lucky enough to have river frontage and owns the land the other side of the river too – it owns its view basically’

An exterior view of the property and its rose beds. It has 7.7 acres of land, including the village green which is leased to the church on a peppercorn rent, and a formal garden with a summer house, roses and mature shrub borders

‘You can’t build on it but the island is a nice piece of land that you can use when it’s dry. It’s a tributary of the Thames and you can see the Thames the other side of it.

‘The house is ideal for keen boaters, it has a wet boathouse and you can get straight out onto the river from your property.’

He added: ‘It also owns most of the churchyard, which the church leases on a peppercorn rent.

‘The house has been in the same ownership for 50 years so it is in need of a bit of a cosmetic doing up, but the rooms are all great.

‘It has a tennis court, seven acres, right in the heart of such a desirable spot – these houses come on the market very seldomly.’

Sir Henry Neville: An ex-ambassador to France who was considered to be a candidate for the authorship of William Shakespeare’s plays

Sir Henry Neville (pictured above) of Billingbear House, born in 1564, was gifted Wargrave Court by Queen Elizabeth I

Sir Henry Neville of Billingbear House, born in 1564, was gifted Wargrave Court by Queen Elizabeth I, who seized the property from the Bishop of Winchester after he vexed her during a sermon.

The politician, who was ambassador to France, was previously considered by some academics to be a potential candidate for the authorship of William Shakespeare’s plays.

British academics Brenda James and Professor William Rubinstein laid out their findings in their book ‘The Truth Will Out: Unmasking the Real Shakespeare’, but other experts remained sceptical at the claims. 

According to expert Stanley Wells, Prince Philip also believes it’s more likely that some plays were written by diplomat Sir Neville, who was imprisoned in the Tower of London over a 1601 rebellion.  

Other theories have suggested that Francis Bacon or Christopher Marlowe may also have been the true authors. 

Researcher Dr John Casson, who claimed to have found seven previously unrecognised works by Shakespeare, wrote in 2009: ‘Some people have said, “we don’t know if this is by William Shakespeare”.

‘So I’ve been able to study them and say “yes, here’s the evidence for Shakespeare but here’s also the evidence for Neville,” so I’ve been able to link the two.’ 

As part of Wargrave Court’s description, Savills state that the home remained in the Neville family and their descendants for three centuries.

The estate agent says: ‘Wargrave Court is a magnificent, historic Grade II listed property. It was built in the late 15th or early 16th century and owned by the Neville family. 

‘It was almost certainly used as a court for manorial administrative purposes, ensuring disputes of the villagers were resolved, dues paid and fines levied. 

‘It remained in the Neville family and their descendants, Lord Braybrooke’s family for three centuries, with the house being altered and extended in the late 18th century. 

‘It was divided in 1955 and Mr Robert Brown bought Wargrave Court later selling it to the present owners in 1978.’

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