Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon’s Historic Retreat on the Market

A historic property, once a retreat for Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon, is now available for purchase for the first time in its long history. Known as The Old House, this residence is located in West Sussex and listed with Blue Book Agency for about $5.3 million.

Originally constructed in 1481, The Old House was acquired by the Messel family in 1890 before Oliver Messel gifted it to his nephew, Lord Snowdon, prior to his marriage to Princess Margaret. The house encompasses 5,750 square feet and is set on a 5.52-acre estate.

After acquiring the property, Lord Snowdon revitalized the dilapidated home into a secluded retreat. It became a favored getaway for numerous famous personalities, such as Peter Sellers and Dame Margot Fonteyn. This transformation made the estate not just a private home but a blend of royal and creative energies.

Theo James-Wright, Director at Blue Book Agency, remarked, “What Lord Snowdon created here was not simply a private home but an extraordinary creative retreat.”

The home’s cultural significance even inspired an episode of the Netflix series, “The Crown.” Inside, rustic charm is evident, with features like a unique living room fireplace and a balcony from Ascot Racecourse’s Royal Box.

The property contains a main house with six bedrooms, a pool house, and additional amenities such as a garden office and library. This marks the first public sale of the home, despite it being sold privately in 2003 and again in 2005.

James-Wright noted, “Opportunities to acquire houses with this level of provenance, architectural significance and cultural importance simply do not come along very often.”

Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon’s romance began in 1958, leading to an engagement in 1960, followed by a Westminster Abbey wedding witnessed by 300 million television viewers. They welcomed two children, David Armstrong-Jones and Lady Sarah Chatto, during their 16-year marriage. Despite separating in 1976, they remained friends.

Post-divorce, Lord Snowdon remarried Lucy Lindsay-Hogg, while Princess Margaret did not marry again. Princess Margaret passed away in 2002, followed by Lord Snowdon in 2017.