“The owners have perhaps not been moving on during the recession but have
added another toy each year to the house they are in. It is an investment
from which they get an emotional return rather than a financial one, and it
draws the children back home all the time.”
Not content with the traditional swimming pool, tennis court, gymnasium and
cinema, the owners of these multimillion-pound houses have incorporated
elements of Disneyland. Take Socknersh Manor, at Etchingham in East Sussex,
for example. At first sight the house is a large Grade II-listed
16th-century timbered manor, filled with oak floors and wood-panelled rooms
sitting in 56 acres.
Picture perfect: Socknersh Manor
But within moments you realise you are stepping through a wardrobe into a
place where fantasy becomes reality. “We call it the Sock World of
Adventures,” explains the owner, Russell Beswick.
Children Oliver and Lucinda were eight and seven when he and his wife, Sharon,
moved in a decade ago.
“It has evolved from a children’s paradise into a teenage one,” he says. “I
wanted the children to stay at home for as long as possible and never want
them to leave. The words ‘I’m bored’ have never been spoken.”
The list of amusements Russell has created to keep the children entertained is
astounding.
“We have a full-blown tree camp which can sleep four, has running water and a
loo, and a boat house on the lake with a speedboat, inflatable bananas, a
water flume and water-skiing.
“We also have stables and a cross-country course with 40 jumps including a
water-splash.”
There is also a quad course in the woods and a pheasant shoot for adult
guests, plus swimming pool, floodlit tennis court, cinema, large gymnasium,
staff flat and cottage. Parties take place in the coach house. “It has a
flashing dance floor and stage so we can have a singer or comedian,” says
Russell.
The house’s light-up dance floor
“We also have a proper amusement arcade with driving games, shooting games,
dance machine, Space Invaders and so on, all for two players.”
However, the children are now growing up apace, so Russell is selling through Knight
Frank (020 7629 8171) at £5 million.
“Sharon and I are going to build a new house together. But this has been a
house that has heard more children’s laughter than you can imagine.”
Little Easton Manor, near Great Dunmow in Essex, may not have a waterslide,
but it does boast a theatre which has attracted some of the world’s biggest
stars, including Charlie Chaplin and HG Wells.
Celebrity magnet: Little Easton Manor
The fine Grade II-listed eight-bedroom house became a thespian playground when
it was bought by film producer Basil Dean of Pearl Dean fame, who founded
Ealing Studios in the 1930s. He had the former tithe barn converted into his
own theatre and welcomed Gracie Fields, Charlie Chaplin and George Formby.
Ellen Terry came to give poetry readings and acted scenes from Romeo and
Juliet, while H G Wells performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. More
recently stars including Rowan Atkinson, Tim Rice and Esther Rantzen have
graced the stage.
Again there are the usual luxuries, including two additional cottages,
stables, a tennis court and swimming pool. It also has fields, which are
used for open-air concerts, and a boathouse on the lake which was built as
part of a film set in the 1930s, and was used to film an episode of Lovejoy.
Actors’ dream: the indoor theatre
The present owners, Martin and Jane Pedley, run the manor as a venue for
plays, weddings, parties and afternoon teas. During Thaxted Festival, a
visiting opera company performs.
“It is a place which wants to be enjoyed and needs lots of people,” says Jane.
They are selling through Carter
Jonas (020 7518 3200) at £5 million.
Whether its Disneyland dreams or Hollywood stars, it seems the pleasure palace
is here to stay.