British crime novelist Felix Francis is closing the chapter on his English country house.
After 16 years, the best-selling author and son of best-selling crime writer Dick Francis is turning the page on his historic pad in Banbury, England. Positioned on the edge of the Cotswolds, the Manor House, as it’s known, dates to 1607. Francis, along with his wife, Debbie, purchased the property in 2007 and spent the better part of a decade renovating it. Now, the couple is asking £4.5 million (roughly $5.49 million) for the updated residence.
“Manor House is an extraordinarily beautiful Cotswolds house,” says Nicholas Rudge, head of Savills Banbury, in a press statement. “You can really see how Felix and his family have thoughtfully restored the home while sensitively adding to it.”
Best-selling British author Felix Francis is selling his home in Banbury, England.
Savills
Nestled on just shy of five acres, the 8,200-square-foot residence sports a ton of period details like exposed timber beams, decorative moldings, open fireplaces, and stone mullion windows. Some of the home’s many rooms include a bespoke Mark Wilkinson kitchen, a snooker room, and a reception hall with a sweeping oak staircase. Of course, there’s also a galleried library with fitted bookcases. Per the listing, Francis penned more than a dozen of his suspenseful stories at the residence.
The residence dates to the 17th century but has been updated by its current owners.
Savills
My wife, Debbie, and I have greatly enjoyed our 16 years in the Manor House,” says Francis. “I have written 16 of the Dick Francis novels here in the expansive office, including my latest, No Reserve, which is published this autumn. The house has been a great inspiration for my writing, but Debbie and I feel that, with our children now having flown the coop, it is time for another family to take over the stewardship of this historic Oxfordshire property.”
The compound also includes a detached two-bedroom guest cottage, a heated outdoor swimming pool, and a stone pool house. Considering that many of the Dick Francis thrillers are centered around British horse racing, it’s not too much of a surprise that the estate has interconnecting paddocks and an all-weather riding arena.
Click here to see all the photos of Manor House.
Savills
Source: Luxury - robbreport.com
