Local History

Apethorpe Hall, in East Northants, is to go up for sale. But it's no ordinary des res. This Grade I listed country house is one of Britain's most important historical houses.

Tudor and Stuart monarchs stayed here. It has some of the finest plasterwork ceilings and carved fireplaces.

But over a 20 year period, Apethorpe Hall was left to deteriorate. It became the most severely 'at risk' country house in England. English Heritage's chief executive, Simon Thurley, said it had to be "saved at all costs".

A Compulsory Purchase Order was served by the government. English Heritage is now two-thirds of the way through a £4m restoration programme.

The external shell of the south and east ranges are being repaired; detailed conservation work is being carried out on the state apartments; the roofs are being relayed with Collyweston slate and ugly post-war buildings in the grounds have been demolished.

Restoring the plasterwork at Apethorpe

For Sale

Now the work is nearing completion, a new owner is being sought. English Heritage have decided that the Hall should return to its historic use as a single-owner private country house.

The project director at Apethorpe, Nick Hill, says a buyer will need to be "an exceptional individual", not least because he or she will have to pay for a further £4 million worth of restoration work.

"It seems there are a growing number of extremely wealthy people in this country, and we hope that one of those will fall in love with this place," says Hill.

Roofing with Collyweston stone

Long history

So what do you get for your bucks? Apart from a huge house in one of the most beautiful parts of the country, you'll be buying into history.

It has architectural features from almost every period since the late 15th century.

The house was built for Sir Guy Wolston who served as constable of the nearby royal castle at Fotheringhay.

In 1551, the property was acquired by Sir Walter Mildway who was soon to become Chancellor of the Exchequer for Elizabeth I. He added the first state department suite to receive her in 1566.

Apethorpe was a firm favourite for the early Stuart monarchs. Between 1566 and 1636 there were at least 13 royal visits, more than to any other house in the country.

The Long Gallery

Love story

Then there's the controversial royal love affair that probably started at Apethorpe.

It is said that it was at Apethorpe, in August 1614, that King James I met George Villiers. The following year, James had appointed Villiers as Gentleman of the Bedchamber. In 1616 he was made Master of the Horse, made a Knight of the Garter and became Viscount Villiers. In 1617 he became Earl of Buckingham and in 1619 he was made a Marquess.

Buckingham was clearly James's favourite. James referrered to him as "my sweetheart."

Restoration of Apethorpe's state apartments has recently uncovered a doorway leading from the King's bedchamber to the Duke of Buckingham's bedchamber.

Apethorpe Hall will soon be For Sale

Decay

The Mildmay family, later the Fanes, Earls of Westmorland, owned Apethorpe Hall for more than 350 years.

The Fane family sold the estate in 1904 after getting into financial troubles. It was bought by Leonard Brassey, 1st Baron of Apethorpe. He went about restoring the Hall but sold it in 1949.

Apethorpe became an approved school which closed in 1982.

The Hall was then owned by Wanis Burweila, a Libyan businessman and former ambassador who lived in Greece. It was during his tenure that the Hall started to badly deteriorate. He was served a compulsory repairs notice in 2001.

In 2002, Burweila sold the estate for £1.35m to a property firm headed by Harold Winton, who was president of Queen's Park Rangers Football Club.

In 2004, the Culture Secretary approved the compulsory purchase of Apethorpe Hall.

English Heritage is due to finish its £4m restoration programme in Spring 2008.