Calling it a star buy hardly does it justice

Lose your head over this unique home

HENRY VIII is obviously best known for his many wives, but he was also a man of many properties too.

Most of them, of course, were on the grand side… Hampton Court, the Tower of London and Windsor Castle were among his impressive addresses. But he also lived in this more modest, medieval Grade II listed property in Caldicot, South Wales, during the dissolution of the monasteries from 1536-1541.

Llanthony Secunda Manor, which was built in the early 1200s then extended during the 15th century, is now on the market as a detached five-bedroom family home.

Avid historians will be excited to discover photos of past British kings lining the stone walls, solid dark wood beds, medieval fireplaces, spiral stone staircases, solid parquet and flagstone flooring, wooden beams and lattice lead windows. The kitchen breakfast room also has a 15th century bread oven.

The first floor is accessed by three separate staircases – one to the master bedroom, another to the dining hall and library room and a third stone spiral staircase from the dining hall leads to three further spacious bedrooms. ■

Not just a fabulous property – but a TV and film star in its own right, with a dining kitchen opening on to the massive garden with its romantic summer houses

FROM the outside, this four-bedroom semidetached house in Bromley, Kent looks beautiful but hardly much more remarkable than its suburban neighbours. But the interiors are so picture perfect that they might seem familiar. Because the Georgian property, which is filled with period features, has been one of the most sought-after filming locations for more than a decade.

Celebrity chefs including Jamie Oliver and Rachel Khoo have both moved in temporarily to its gorgeous family dining kitchen to whip up dishes on TV while companies such as Laura Ashley, The White Company, M&S and Next have all used its romantically-decorated rooms and the pretty (and pretty huge) rear garden for photoshoots.

Now the house is up for sale, with a price tag of £1.15million, through Purple Bricks, who describe it as “a superb home and a significant established business opportunity”.

On the ground floor, a hallway leads to two reception rooms, both with original windows, shutters and feature fireplaces, and accesses the lower ground floor where there is a bathroom and that fabulous dining kitchen opening onto the rear garden.

A sweeping staircase heads to the first floor where there are two double bedrooms – including a master with French doors leading to a covered balcony – and a further bathroom, and a second floor houses two more double bedrooms.

Outside, to the rear of the house, the garden is one of the real wow factors, divided into zoned areas by the current owners, with three summer houses, all with heating and power, making them perfect for al fresco dining and parties.

The garden stretches more than 100 metres in length and features an orangery and playhouse as well as ivy-covered statues.

■ The four-bedroom semi on Bromley Common is for sale through Purple Bricks priced £1.15million (purplebricks.co.uk).