A remarkable five-bedroom home in Sussex, known as Wings Place or Anne of Cleves House, has been put up for sale with a price tag of over £2 million. The Grade-I listed property holds
historical significance as it was granted to Anne of Cleves, King Henry VIII's fourth wife, after their marriage was annulled in 1540.
Located in Ditchling, near Lewes in East Sussex, Wings Place is open for public tours but remains privately owned. It was among the properties bestowed upon Anne following the dissolution of her short-lived six-month marriage to Henry on the grounds of non-consummation.
Besides its historical connections, the house has a notable recent past as well. TV presenter Jamie Theakston owned the property from 2004 until 2015 when it was sold for £1.85 million, after a £150,000 reduction in the asking price.
Spanning three floors, Wings Place features authentic Tudor-era elements, including a timber frame, brick chimneys, leaded windows, and even a priest hole. The house comprises three bathrooms, two oak staircases, and several 16th Century inglenook fireplaces.
Modern updates include a renovated kitchen with fitted painted cupboards, underfloor heating, and a spacious food preparation island. The western wing of the property includes a generous drawing room adjacent to a panelled library that opens onto a rear stone terrace. Additionally, a cellar with two rooms serves as a boiler, hot water tank, and wine storage space.
The main bedroom showcases an oak mullioned bay window, a fireplace, and an en suite bathroom. Other unique features of the house include a concealed priest hole in one of the bedrooms and a vaulted "guard room" currently utilized as a study, accessed through oak double doors.
The garden surrounding Wings Place offers a gently sloping lawn that leads to a stream, affording picturesque views of the South Downs across fields. The property's historical journey includes its acquisition by Henry VIII, subsequent ownership by Thomas Cromwell, and later granting to Anne of Cleves, although she never visited the house herself.
Estate agent Jackson-Stops is handling the sale of Wings Place, listing it with a guide price of £2.25 million. This exceptional property, once linked to one of England's most infamous monarchs, presents a unique opportunity for those seeking a historic and captivating residence.