Alan Titchmarsh and Wife Slash £450,000 from Farmhouse Asking Price
Television presenter and gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh and his wife Alison have been compelled to reduce the asking price of their historic Hampshire farmhouse by a substantial £450,000. The couple's 17th-century Georgian property had been on the market since last September without attracting a buyer at its original price point.
Property Details and Original Listing
The five-bedroom Grade II-listed farmhouse in Holybourne was initially listed for just under £4 million. The Titchmarshes have resided in this historic home since 2002, having lovingly restored the property over two decades. The four-acre grounds include meadows that have served as a playground for their grandchildren.
Despite significant publicity surrounding the sale, including coverage in national publications, the property failed to secure a buyer at the original asking price. This prompted the substantial price reduction reported by Richard Eden of the Daily Mail.
Emotional Decision to Downsize
Alan Titchmarsh, 76, has spoken openly about the emotional difficulty of parting with the farmhouse he and his wife transformed into what he describes as "a quintessentially English sanctuary." In an article for BBC Gardeners' World, the broadcaster explained their decision to downsize.
"To be honest, we had no plans to move," Titchmarsh admitted. "When you restore an old house and make a garden around it, you pour so much of your heart and soul into it that moving on is bound to be a wrench."
The couple's primary motivation for selling stems from their desire to be closer to Titchmarsh's two daughters and grandchildren in Surrey. Practical considerations about maintaining a historic property also influenced their decision.
Practical Considerations and Future Plans
Titchmarsh elaborated on the practical challenges of maintaining their current property: "Looking after four acres and a Grade II-listed house has been — and still is — a treat beyond measure, but the day will come when it starts to be overwhelming and I'd rather move on to fresh pastures before that becomes the case."
The broadcaster emphasized that this move represents a new challenge rather than a winding down. Their daughters assisted in finding their new home, which Titchmarsh describes as "long, low, modern — a complete contrast to a Georgian farmhouse."
Reflections on Two Decades in Holybourne
Despite the excitement about their new beginning, Titchmarsh expressed deep affection for the memories created at their Hampshire farmhouse. "I will look back on the years spent here as some of the best of my life; seeing grandchildren come into the world and grow up running through our meadow," he reflected. "It has enriched our lives beyond measure and I will never forget it."
The property market adjustment comes as the Titchmarshes prepare for their next chapter, balancing practical considerations with the emotional weight of leaving a home that has been central to their family life for over twenty years.
