The former countryside residence of Princess Margaret and Antony Armstrong-Jones, also known as Lord Snowdon, is publicly available for purchase for the first time. Known as The Old House, this estate is listed by Blue Book Agency with a price of around $5.3 million.
This historic home, built in 1481 in West Sussex, became part of the Messel family estate in 1890. It was passed down to Oliver Messel, who later gifted it to Lord Snowdon before his marriage to Princess Margaret.
After receiving this 5,750-square-foot property, situated on a 5.52-acre land, Lord Snowdon revitalized the old structure into a private haven. It became a retreat that welcomed many notable guests such as actor Peter Sellers, ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn, and financier Sir Evelyn de Rothschild.
The creation of this home was about more than privacy. It became a space of creative retreat where royalty mingled with artists and other influential figures,
stated Theo James-Wright, Director at Blue Book Agency. The home even inspired an episode in the Netflix series, The Crown.
Lord Snowdon’s renovations included a redesigned kitchen, a balcony from the Royal Box at Ascot Racecourse, and a self-made lake. His creative additions reflect an amalgamation of royal, cultural, and personal life documented through newspaper clippings inside the home.
The estate offers a main house with six bedrooms and a pool house suitable for guests. It also features various amenities, including a garden office and a library. The interior boasts multiple sitting areas, each with unique elements like a large ship statue.
Although this is the first public listing, Lord Snowdon sold the home privately in 2003. The current owners acquired the estate off-market in 2005.
The opportunity to acquire a residence with such historical and cultural value is rare,
emphasized James-Wright.
Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon’s relationship began in 1958. Their engagement was announced in February 1960, leading to their marriage in May at Westminster Abbey. This event was the first royal wedding televised, attracting an audience of approximately 300 million viewers.
The couple had two children, David Armstrong-Jones in 1961 and Lady Sarah Chatto in 1964. However, they separated in March 1976 and finalized their divorce in July 1978, remaining good friends afterward.
Post-divorce, Lord Snowdon remarried Lucy Lindsay-Hogg in 1978. Princess Margaret, on the other hand, chose not to remarry. She passed away in February 2002, while Lord Snowdon died in January 2017.
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