Great Tangley Manor, believed to be Britain's oldest continuously inhabited house, has been listed for £11 million. Located in Wonersh, Surrey, the Grade I listed property has foundations dating back to 1016 and was originally thought to be Prince John's hunting lodge in the 12th century.
The manor features timbers from the Spanish Armada, gifted to a former owner for contributing to the Crown during the battle. It was partially rebuilt as a medieval hall house in 1582 after a fire. The property includes a moat, indoor swimming pool, helicopter hangar, and a Second World War air-raid shelter.
Great Tangley Manor has strong royal connections: King George V, Queen Mary, and King George VI etched their signatures on window panes using diamond rings. It was also visited by Edward VII and Alexandra, as well as Alice Keppel, Edward's long-time mistress and great-grandmother of Queen Consort Camilla.
The house was owned by the Caryl family from the 16th to 19th centuries, then bought by Wickham Flower in 1885, a founding member of the Society for the Preservation of Ancient Buildings. He commissioned architect Philip Webb and designer William Morris for extensions. Later, under MP Colonel Hegan Kennard, the manor hosted regular royal visits.
Current owners purchased the property in two stages after it had been divided, restoring it to a single manor with over 11,000 sq ft of accommodation, including ten bedrooms, six bathrooms, and multiple reception rooms. The manor also served as a filming location for the 2006 Miss Marple episode The Moving Finger.
Oliver Custance Baker of Strutt & Parker commented: 'Homes like Great Tangley Manor don't come to the market very often... it's very special to be part of the process that is finding the next custodian of such an important piece of this country's heritage.' Phillipa Dalby Welsh of Savills added: 'Great Tangley Manor is simply the most beautiful and historic country house I have seen in a very long time.'
