Rowneybury House

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Rowneybury House
Hertfordshire
Rowneybury House from the air (geograph 4882967).jpg
Rowneybury House from the air
Location
Grid reference: TL47361323
Location: 51°47’54"N, 0°8’8"E
History
Country house
Information
Owned by: Neil Utley

Rowneybury House is a grand country house in Sawbridgeworth, in the west of Hertfordshire. It used to be nicknamed 'Beckingham Palace' in the press as it was, until 2013, the home of David and Victoria Beckham.

The house was owned by the local council and used as a home for disabled boys, set in 24 acres of grounds.[1]

The house was bought in 1999 for £2.5 million by the footballer David Beckham and his wife, the singer Victoria Beckham. The property became dubbed "Beckingham Palace" by the press.[2] They spent around £3 million on refurbishment, including a maze in the grounds. In 2001, Victoria Beckham made a virtual tour of the mansion available online.[3][4]

The property was put up for sale by the Beckhams in 2013.[5][6] The house with 17 acres of grounds was bought by the insurance tycoon Neil Utley,[7] chairman of Hastings Direct, and Narmali Utley for £11.35 million in 2014.[8]

Rowneybury Cottage

Rowneybury Cottage, near the entrance to the estate on Harlow Road, is a Grade II listed building.[9] This timber-framed house, dates from the late 16th century to early 17th century.

References

  1. Boshoff, Alison (16 August 2016). "Posh property ladder: From a £150k starter home to a £25m mansion, how the Beckhams profited from their adventures in the housing market". Daily Mail (UK). http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3742479/Posh-property-ladder-150k-starter-home-25m-mansion-Beckhams-profited-adventures-housing-market.html. Retrieved 4 August 2018. 
  2. Hill, Patrick (15 March 2014). "Inside 'Beckingham Palace': David and Victoria's mansion bought by insurance tycoon for £11.3million". Daily Mirror (UK). https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/inside-beckingham-palace-david-victorias-3247500. Retrieved 4 August 2018. 
  3. Vickers, Amy (24 July 2001). "Posh launches Beckingham Palace website". The Guardian (UK). https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/jul/24/newmedia. Retrieved 8 August 2018. 
  4. Stuart, Julia (31 July 2001). "Beckingham Palace, our lovely home". The Independent (UK). https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/beckingham-palace-our-lovely-home-9225108.html. Retrieved 8 August 2018. 
  5. 'David and Victoria Beckham bid fairwell to 'Beckingham Palace' for a cool £15 million': Ideal Home 25 October 2013
  6. Gould, Lara (30 March 2013). "Beckingham Palace goes up for sale as David and Victoria eye up London life... but won't allow developers to buy it". Daily Mail (UK). 
  7. Armstrong, Ashley (4 April 2015). "Neil Utley's stake in Hastings Direct to be valued at £200m in upcoming IPO". Daily Telegraph (UK). https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/insurance/11515118/Neil-Utleys-stake-in-Hastings-Direct-to-be-valued-at-200m-in-upcoming-IPO.html. Retrieved 4 August 2018. 
  8. Hipwell, Deidre (17 March 2014). "Mystery buyer of Beckingham Palace revealed". The Times (UK). https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mystery-buyer-of-beckingham-palace-revealed-v6p888w8h5b. Retrieved 4 August 2018. 
  9. National Heritage List 1101673: Rowneybury Cottage