A stunning manor house worth £2.5 million, which was once owned by Henry VIII, is up for grabs in a prize draw – with tickets costing just £10. The Grade-II listed property, found near Royal Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire, was originally built in the 16th century and has a rich history.
The historic house was reportedly gifted by Henry VIII to Edward Seymour, the brother of his third wife, Jane Seymour. It then remained in the Seymour family for over a century after Edward’s execution, before being donated to Brasenose College at the University of Oxford.
The house was extended in the 18th century to include the Tudor-style Queen Anne wing, bringing the total floorspace to over 5,000 square feet. The luxury home comes fully furnished, and competition firm Raffle House will cover stamp duty costs and fees.
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Inside it boasts six bedrooms, four reception rooms and three bathrooms. It also features a playroom, a cloakroom and an upstairs study, as well as a larger downstairs office.
The property now includes an eat-in farmhouse kitchen, which leads to the sitting room and dining area in a semi-open-plan layout. There are also two cellars, perfect for history enthusiasts who might want to recreate Henry VIII’s famous wine cellar in London’s Whitehall Palace.
The beautiful sitting area
Despite undergoing extensive renovations in recent years, the house still boasts some original features such as the elm floors and main staircase. The detached property is set on 2.75 acres in a serene rural hamlet and comes with gorgeously landscaped gardens that enfold a walled garden.
An additional perk is that the estate includes a series of outbuildings, one of them being a sizeable 1,900-square-foot barn which already has planning permission to be transformed into a four-bedroom home.
The open-plan kitchen area -Credit:SWNS
James Mieville, Executive Director of Raffle House, commented: “We’re really excited by our latest Dream Home draw for so many reasons. It’s not only rich in history, but also full of potential.
“With the outbuildings ripe for development and the tranquil setting being in such close proximity to London, we could easily imagine the property being an ideal spot for a retreat or holiday rental business. The winner could even build a house in the barn and then sell off the main house. The potential here is endless.
“We always give our winners the chance to keep the property they win or take the cash equivalent instead. But this prize also offers development potential and a possible business opportunity, so the lucky winner will have even more options than usual.”
One of six bedrooms -Credit:SWNS
Although nestled in a peaceful locale, the house is conveniently less than 20 minutes away from Swindon train station, which provides speedy rail links into London.
Entries to the draw can be bought for £10, providing players with 15 chances to win. There’s also an option to enter for free via post. A portion of each entry goes to charity.
Instead of supporting a single charity with each Dream Home draw, Raffle House allows participants to choose one of 14 charities to receive the charitable donation from their entry.
A large office -Credit:SWNS
Entries close on February 28, and the winner will be announced on March 7. Those who enter before January 31 will also be included in a bonus draw for a Mercedes AMG Coupe worth £55,000.
For more details, click here.