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    This $13 Million U.K. Country House Was Once Home to a British Movie Star

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    Drummers Yard, formerly known as Birchens Spring, is among the U.K.’s most interesting country houses. Designed in 1938 by Arts and Crafts architect John Campbell, who lived in Germany for much of his career, the Grade II-listed property in Buckinghamshire graced the pages of Country Life before the once-glamorous estate fell into disrepair. Following years of neglect, the English manor notched another claim to fame when it was snapped up in 1960 by legendary British actor Dirk Bogarde, best known for his starring roles in Doctor in the House (1954), The Servant (1963), and The Night Porter (1974). 

    Modeled after the hillside villas of Italy combined with the stateliness of a Scottish castle, Bogarde remodeled Drummers Yard from top to bottom before offloading the place two years later to Peter Rogers, the producer of the wildly popular Carry On comedy film franchise, and his wife, Betty Box, who worked on the Doctor series that Bogarde appeared in. The sought-after spread traded hands once more in 1997 to the current owners, who, after nearly three decades in residence, have hoisted the property on the market for £10 million (or about $13 million). 

    A spacious reception room spills onto a large stone terrace.

    Knight Frank; Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

    “Campbell intended for each room to have at least two garden elevations, ensuring the house is light, bright, and airy with exceptional views of the gardens,” notes the listing, which is being represented by Knight Frank. “Whilst appealing to architectural purists, the house will equally suit families looking for a comfortable, well-laid-out home.” 

    Set on a whopping 12 wooded acres near Beaconsfield, the house itself has been adapted to contemporary living by award-winning interior and architectural studio, Tollgard Design. There are seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms across the main house’s 10,000 square feet. On the ground floor, potential buyers are welcomed by a grand entrance hall topped with a dramatic brick and stone arched ceiling. A corridor brings you to a sunroom that overlooks the garden, a circular-shaped formal dining area, a drawing room with a fireplace, and a thoroughly modern Scandinavian-inspired kitchen by Sola. The bedrooms are located on the home’s upper levels. 

    The updated minimalist kitchen is by Swedish design brand Sola.

    Knight Frank; Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

    Despite the many modern updates, rest assured you’ll find plenty of period details reminiscent of the Arts and Crafts movement, including its whitened brick arches and Cornish slate roof. In addition, the digs contain a private gym, complete with a sauna and a steam room, while the grounds are decked out with a two-car garage, a tennis court, and a separate two-bedroom cottage with its own entrance. 

    Click here to see more photos of Drummers Yard.

    Knight Frank; Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

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    Abby Montanez

    Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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      Mary Berry’s Former U.K. Home Where She Filmed Her Cooking Show Just Listed for $4.3 Million

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      If you ever watched Mary Berry Cooks and wondered what it would be like to make a meal on the powder blue AGA range in the beloved chef and food writer’s cozy country kitchen, well, now you can.

      The former Buckinghamshire residence of the OG Great British Bake Off judge has hit the market with Savills, asking £3.5 million (or about $4.3 million). Better known as Watercroft, Berry purchased the property back in 1988 alongside her husband, Paul Hunnings. Together, the couple lived at Watercroft for about 30 years before they handed the place over to its current owners in 2019. Interestingly enough, it’s also where the beloved Queen of Cakes shot many episodes of her eponymous TV shows. 

      The spacious kitchen still has the powder blue AGA range featured in many of Berry’s televised cooking shows.

      Savills

      Altogether, the property offers about 9,000 square feet of space between the six-bedroom Queen Anne-style main house, detached two-bedroom guest cottage, coach house, and multiple outbuildings. Across the four-acre grounds, you’ll also find a tennis court, formal gardens, and a natural pond.  

      “Watercroft exudes character and charm with some wonderful period and historical features,” says Ben Dommett, head of Savills Beaconsfield, in a press statement. “Being the former home of a well-known food writer, chef, baker, and TV presenter, the kitchen is naturally kitted out with the very best appliances and fittings, including a rather famous AGA, along with a refrigerated larder.” 

      The Grade II-listed residence presides over four acres.

      Other than the kitchen, the main house comprises three reception rooms, including a wood-paneled dining room with an open fireplace and concealed cupboards. Additionally, there’s a drawing room with bow windows, a family room, and an office. 

      And don’t be surprised if Berry comes knocking on the door. “Since we’ve been here, Mary appears quite often if there’s something going on in the village,” seller Lucy Patten tells The Times. “She’ll come over and have a cup of tea. When we moved in, she hosted a party to introduce us to all of the neighbors. They are all very friendly.” 

      On your marks, get set, bid! 

      Click here to see all the photos of Mary Berry’s former home. 

      Savills More