Kingston Lisle Park

Kingston Lisle Park
Location within Oxfordshire
Former names Kingston Lisle House
General information
Status Grade II* listed[1]
Type Stately home
Architectural style Georgian
Location Kingston Lisle, Oxfordshire, UK
Coordinates 51°35′07″N 1°31′49″W / 51.5854°N 1.5302°WCoordinates: 51°35′07″N 1°31′49″W / 51.5854°N 1.5302°W
Construction started 1677
Owner Jamie Lonsdale

Kingston Lisle Park is a Grade II*-listed Georgian country house and estate in Kingston Lisle, Wantage, Oxfordshire. The house dates from the 17th century and is surrounded by an estate of more than 1,000 acres of woods, farmland and gardens. As of 2015, the mansion and estate are for sale for £21,000,000.[2]

History

There was a village on the site since at least the Middle Ages; the Domesday Book recorded 31 households in 1086.[3]

There was a manor house on the site during the 13th century. In 1336, Alice de Lisle (granddaughter of Henry I FitzGerold) had a licence to impark 200 acres of woods and 100 acres of land,[4] and the estate became the seat for the Barony of Lisle for two centuries.[5]

In 1538, the estate was sold to William Hyde of Denchworth. Sir George Hyde likely built a Jacobean mansion on the site. Some Jacobean elements remain on different buildings on the estate.[4] His grandson, Humphrey Hyde, commissioned the central block of the current mansion. A stone plaque at the rear indicates it dates from 1677. The date stone is also marked with, "GH," Lady Hyde's initials.[5]

The mansion was sold to Abraham Atkins in 1749. Edwin Martin-Atkins (1778-1825) commissioned architect Richard Pace to add the wings in 1812.[6]

The estate has been owned by the Lonsdale family since 1943, when banker Leo Lonsdale purchased it for £26,000.[7]

The house passed down to Leo Lonsdale's grandson Jamie Lonsdale. His former wife Laura, daughter of Sir Carron Greig, was a close friend of Diana, Princess of Wales. Diana would regularly bring Prince Harry to visit the estate. Diana was godmother to the Londsales' eldest daughter, Leonora.[8]

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge reportedly visited Kingston Isle Park in 2011 to look for property, but a spokesman for the estate denied it was for sale.[9]

House and Estate

The mansion is 17,649 square feet, including 14 bedrooms, eight bathrooms and five reception rooms. The estate encompasses more than 290 acres and has a swimming pool, tennis court, and areas for fishing and shooting.[2]

In 2013, owner Jamie Lonsdale put the estate up for sale for £35,000,000. It was reported he needed to sell the house as part of his £8.75 million divorce settlement with his ex-wife.[8]

As of April 2015, the house is currently on the market for £21,000,000.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Kingston Lisle". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "A stunning Grade II* Listed Georgian house at the heart of a magical estate". Knight Frank. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Domesday Online: Kingston Lisle".
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Victoria County History, Berkshire: Volume 4, 1924, pp 311-319, Parishes: Sparsholt (Kingston Lisle)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 David Nash Ford. "Kingston Lisle Park". Royal Berkshire History. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Kingston Lisle Park" (PDF).
  7. ↑ Matthew Beckett (May 22, 2013). "2013 country house market finally comes to life". The Country Seat. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Why Jamie Lonsdale's 17th-century manor went on the market". The Daily Telegraph. May 25, 2013. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  9. ↑ Adam Helliker (January 8, 2012). "A Country Life for Wills and Kate". Retrieved September 14, 2014.