Fit for royalty! Grand Gothic house once owned by Edward VII’s mistress and used to host lavish parties attended by members of the aristocracy in the 19th century goes on the market for £3 million
A grand Gothic house that hosted extravagant parties attended by royalty is up for sale for £3 million.
Newlands Manor was the home of William Cornwallis-West and his flamboyant wife Patsy, who had been a mistress of Edward VII when he was Prince of Wales.
The leading socialite hosted lavish weekend parties in the Grade II listed building near Lymington, Hants in the late 19th century.
Guests included the future king, Kaiser Wilhelm II and many other members of the aristocracy.
The property was built in the early 19th century for Admiral William Cornwallis, sea captain and friend of Lord Nelson, in the Strawberry Hill Gothic style of architecture, with buttresses and a crenellated parapet.
Newlands Manor, a Grade II listed building now available for £3 million
The master bedroom, an oval room with an en suite bathroom and walk-in closet
One of eight master bedrooms in the mansion
Another view of this bedroom, with its own bathroom and large walk-in closet
The property has five bath and shower rooms, three of which are en-suite
The kitchen and dining room of the mansion, one of two dining areas within the household
The inner hall of the mansion, with access to library, music room, dining room and boot room
One of the hallways of the property, decorated with art and vases
A lifelong bachelor, Cornwallis had no heir, so when he died in 1819 he bequeathed the estate to the widow of his protege, Captain John Whitby, and it passed through descent to William Cornwallis-West, a British landowner and politician.
He married Patsy in 1872 when he was 37 and she was only 17.
The couple had three children – Daisy, George and Constance – and Patsy used her influence over the Prince of Wales, then known as Bertie, to arrange marriages for her children.
Edward VII is said to have kept mistresses throughout his marriage, the most famous being actress Lillie Langtry and Queen Camilla’s great-grandmother Alice Keppel, but at least 55 contacts have been suggested.
The dining area in the country house kitchen
One of the property’s five bathrooms
One of the bedrooms on the first floor
Games room, including own kitchen and access to a roof terrace
One of the property’s five bathrooms
View from one of the stairs of the mansion
Another room with a private bathroom
One of eight bedrooms throughout the home
Equipped with its own grand piano
Langtry was also good friends with Patsy and attended parties at Newlands, which the couple inherited from William’s mother in 1886.
But the family had lived beyond their means and in 1920 son George, who had married and divorced Winston Churchill’s mother Jennie, put the 2,000 acre property up for auction.
It was later purchased by a developer, who converted the property into apartments, but has since been restored into one grand home.
The house has over 8,400 sq ft of accommodation over three floors including a large kitchen/dining room, library, drawing room, dining room, cinema room, games room, eight bedrooms and five bathrooms.
The long driveway nestled in the woods leading up to the property
The long driveway of the estate with ornamental water fountain
Incredible views of the estate from the mansion
Restored and refurbished to a bespoke specification over 3 extensive floors
The outdoor pool of the mansion
The large open garden of the country house, surrounded by woods and trees
The country house is surrounded by farmland, forests and an ornamental lake
The master bedroom is an impressive oval room with an en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet.
The property is set in a 3.5-hectare private garden with a swimming pool, surrounded by woods and parks. It is in the village of Everton, close to the coast with Milford-on-Sea and Lymington close by and the New Forest on your doorstep.
Adam Darbyshire, of estate agent John D Wood & Co, who is selling the property, said: ‘This is a true masterpiece of history and elegance. Its profound historical significance lies in its role as the former residence of Admiral William Cornwallis, while its architectural importance shines through Strawberry Hill’s exquisite demonstration of Gothic design.
‘This home has been painstakingly restored and features an array of custom spaces that exude both opulence and comfort. Located in a privileged location, it beckons a discerning buyer looking for the ultimate in luxury, tranquility and exclusivity.
‘Nestled by the famous coastline, it promises limitless opportunities for seaside adventures and an unparalleled sense of privacy and serenity.’