TOWER OF POWER

There are plenty of playthings we all dream of having in a garden. Maybe it’s a pool, mega-shed, fire pit or even a putting green. But this property has the ultimate addition at the bottom of its garden; a tower dating back to the 15th century with links to a murderous king, one of the UK’s most famous civil wars and a film by The Who.

Warblington Castle is all that’s left of a fortified Tudor house built near Havant in Hampshire by the 16th Earl of Warwick who played a leading role in the War of the Roses, and whose son Edward Plantagenet was executed by Henry VIII for treason.

Edward’s sister went on to be a lady-in-waiting to Henry’s first wife Catherine of Aragon, only to later also be accused of treason and executed aged 67.

Her home was confiscated just after she had finished building a moat, remains of which can be found near the tower today. The main manor house was flattened during the Civil War and only the tower remains today. It featured in scenes within the 1975 rock opera movie Tommy by The Who.

All this history is for sale today at £2.6 million. The tower, which is Grade II listed and a National Monument, comes with a 17th century house with four acres of gardens and grounds. This has seven bedrooms, a swimming pool and three reception rooms.

More information from Jackson-Stops (01243 273809) or onthemarket.com