Rowneybury House

Rowneybury House from the air

Rowneybury House /ˈraʊnibəri/ is a house in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, England.

The property on which Rowneybury stands was part of Pishiobury before being divided in the 1880s.[1] It was owned by Hertfordshire County Council and used as a home for children with disabilities.[2][3] The original property had two upper floors, and a cellar under the majority of the main building. After lying empty for several years, it was purchased from the Council and renovated. In 1999, the property was purchased by the footballer David Beckham and his wife Victoria Beckham for £2.5 million. The property became dubbed "Beckingham Palace" by the press as a portmanteau of their surname and Buckingham Palace.[4] They spent around £3 million on refurbishment, including a maze designed by James Gardner, in the grounds. In 2001, Victoria Beckham made a virtual tour of the mansion available online.[5][6]

The property was put up for sale by the Beckhams in 2013.[7] The house, with 17 acres (6.9 ha) of grounds, was bought by the insurance tycoon Neil Utley,[8] chairman of Hastings Direct, and Narmali Utley for £11.35 million in 2014.[4][9]

Rowneybury Cottage, near the entrance to the estate on Harlow Road, is a Grade II listed building.[10][11] This timberframed house, dating from the late 16th-century to early 17th-century, was listed in 1981.[12]

  1. ^ Chris Sharpe (16 March 2017). "The Origin of Harlow". mun.ca. Memorial University of Newfoundland. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  2. ^ Stuart, Julia (30 July 2001). "Beckingham Palace, our lovely home". The Independent. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  3. ^ "David and Victoria Beckham Put 'Beckingham Palace' up for Sale". International Business Times UK. 31 March 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b Hill, Patrick (15 March 2014). "Inside 'Beckingham Palace': David and Victoria's mansion bought by insurance tycoon for £11.3million". Daily Mirror. UK. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  5. ^ Vickers, Amy (24 July 2001). "Posh launches Beckingham Palace website". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  6. ^ Stuart, Julia (31 July 2001). "Beckingham Palace, our lovely home". The Independent. UK. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  7. ^ "David and Victoria Beckham bid fairwell [sic] to 'Beckingham Palace' for a cool £15 million". Ideal Home. UK. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  8. ^ Armstrong, Ashley (4 April 2015). "Neil Utley's stake in Hastings Direct to be valued at £200m in upcoming IPO". The Daily Telegraph. UK. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  9. ^ Hipwell, Deidre (17 March 2014). "Mystery buyer of Beckingham Palace revealed". The Times. UK. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  10. ^ Historic England. "Rowneybury Cottage (Opposite Redbricks Lane) (1101673)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  11. ^ "Rowneybury Cottage (Opposite Redbricks Lane) – A Grade II Listed Building in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. UK: British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  12. ^ Historic England. "Rowneybury Cottage (Opposite Redbricks Lane), Harlow Road (east side) (1101673)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 8 August 2018.