Henry VIII’s former hunting lodge goes on the market as £3.25m family home

A former hunting lodge of Henry VIII has gone on the market as a £3.25m family home – and has enough bedrooms for each of his six wives.

Grade II listed Matham Manor in East Molesey, Surrey, was taken over by King Henry in the 1530s so he could build a huge hunting park around Hampton Court, his favourite palace.

Now a six-bedroom family home, the manor has enough space for all Henry’s wives to stay and a large sitting/dining room perfect for holding court.

 

The property (pictured) in East Molesey, Surrey, was used as a hunting lodge by the Tudor king in the 16th century. Although renovations and extensions mean most of the current building is 18th century, some parts are believed to date back to the 14th century 

Despite its historical features, the property has undergone a number of renovations over the years giving it a very modern feel. Current owners Katie and Clive Selman have spent the past six years giving turning the family home into a comfortable and modern dwelling. Pictured here is a sitting room and dining area 

Despite its historical features, the property has undergone a number of renovations over the years giving it a very modern feel. Current owners Katie and Clive Selman have spent the past six years giving turning the family home into a comfortable and modern dwelling. Pictured here is a sitting room and dining area 

Those carrying out refurbishments over the years have been careful not to damage any of the original features. Some of the older brickwork is visible inside a dining area at the property 

Those carrying out refurbishments over the years have been careful not to damage any of the original features. Some of the older brickwork is visible inside a dining area at the property 

The spacious shaker style kitchen and breakfast room features original beams (top), an Aga, light granite worktops and an open fire, creating the perfect countryside kitchen

The spacious shaker style kitchen and breakfast room features original beams (top), an Aga, light granite worktops and an open fire, creating the perfect countryside kitchen

The property is Grade II listed and has a curved Jacobean door (pictured), a Queen Anne staircase and even a priest hole. The priest hole was discovered when owners Katie and Clive Selman were having the old extension knocked down and replaced

The property is Grade II listed and has a curved Jacobean door (pictured), a Queen Anne staircase and even a priest hole. The priest hole was discovered when owners Katie and Clive Selman were having the old extension knocked down and replaced

The gardens include several seating areas for entertaining in the summer, a spacious lawn and a mini maze (pictured). It is surrounded by a brick wall and has electric gates to the property creating lots of privacy

The gardens include several seating areas for entertaining in the summer, a spacious lawn and a mini maze (pictured). It is surrounded by a brick wall and has electric gates to the property creating lots of privacy

The property is thought to date back to the 14th century in some parts, although most of the current building is 18th century, but it was used as a hunting lodge by the Tudor king in the 16th century.

Henry VIII had more than 60 homes but Hampton Court was his favourite, his pleasure palace which he turned into a centre of entertaining with feasting, jousting and hunting.

Windsor Park had been a popular hunting ground for him in his younger years but by 1535 he was middle-aged, very overweight and often wracked with pain from his swollen and ulcerated legs, which meant he could not bear the journey to Windsor.

So he decided to create a hunting park around Hampton Court and secured Acts from Parliament so he could acquire all the lands needed including the Molesey manor.

The Hampton Court Chase, a fenced-off forest for deer and game, stretched across a large area of Surrey as far as Byfleet.

The park was removed after Henry’s death in 1547 and the deer were moved to Windsor.

Matham Manor was sold off by Charles I in 1632 to a rich London merchant.

The property has some original features, including beams and an open fireplace, but has been beautifully refurbished by the current owners Katie and Clive Selman to make a modern family home over the last six years. 

A rear extension leads to a phenomenal living space (pictured) with impressive ceiling heights. Skylights flood the area with light and French doors allow direct access to the picturesque garden

A rear extension leads to a phenomenal living space (pictured) with impressive ceiling heights. Skylights flood the area with light and French doors allow direct access to the picturesque garden

The ground floor also includes an impressive family room (pictured) and living room, a separate utility and a cloakroom. It is just one of a number of rooms on the ground floor, including a living room and sitting/dining room 

The ground floor also includes an impressive family room (pictured) and living room, a separate utility and a cloakroom. It is just one of a number of rooms on the ground floor, including a living room and sitting/dining room 

The first floor has four extremely spacious bedrooms (one of which is pictured), three of which are ensuite. There is also a separate cloakroom and bathroom on this floor

The first floor has four extremely spacious bedrooms (one of which is pictured), three of which are ensuite. There is also a separate cloakroom and bathroom on this floor

The property has some original features, including beams and an open fireplace, but has been beautifully refurbished by the current owners Katie and Clive Selman to make a modern family home over the last six years

The front door to the property (pictured) opens into a welcoming family home. The property has 4,469 sq ft of accommodation with a kitchen/breakfast room, living room, sitting/dining room, family room, utility room, six bedrooms and three bathrooms

The property has some original features, including beams and an open fireplace (pictured), but has been beautifully refurbished by the current owners Katie and Clive Selman to make a modern family home over the last six years

Modern light fixtures are just some of the touches Katie and Clive Selman have made to the property. They hope to make around £3.25m from the sale 

Modern light fixtures are just some of the touches Katie and Clive Selman have made to the property. They hope to make around £3.25m from the sale 

When they were having the old extension knocked down and replaced they discovered tunnels that led out from the priest hole inside the house.

The property has 4,469 sq ft of accommodation with a kitchen/breakfast room, living room, sitting/dining room, family room, utility room, six bedrooms and three bathrooms. 

The gardens include several seating areas for entertaining in the summer, a spacious lawn and a mini maze. It is surrounded by a brick wall and has electric gates to the property creating lots of privacy.

Mrs Selman, a 40-year-old nutritionist, said: ‘My husband is really interested in history. We were based in London and told about this house by an estate agent.

‘We came to look at it because of the history behind the property and we just fell in love with it.

‘It’s Grade II listed, has a curved Jacobean door, a Queen Anne staircase and even a priest hole.

‘There is an oven that is identical to one in Hampton Court Palace and a blood drain from when it was a hunting lodge – a clay trough on an angle towards the back door where they would hang up the game.’ 

Electric gates open onto an imposing and striking property (pictured). Attention to detail has been paid throughout the refurbishment, resulting in a light, open plan home with period characteristics

Electric gates open onto an imposing and striking property (pictured). Attention to detail has been paid throughout the refurbishment, resulting in a light, open plan home with period characteristics

Dubbed Matham Manor, the property is surrounded by original Tudor walls that once marked the edge of the Hampton Court Chase. Henry VIII had more than 60 homes but Hampton Court was his favourite, his pleasure palace which he turned into a centre of entertaining with feasting, jousting and hunting

Dubbed Matham Manor, the property is surrounded by original Tudor walls that once marked the edge of the Hampton Court Chase. Henry VIII had more than 60 homes but Hampton Court was his favourite, his pleasure palace which he turned into a centre of entertaining with feasting, jousting and hunting

There are six bedrooms inside the property, enough for all of Henry VIII's wives. Other rooms include a living room, family room, sitting/dining room and kitchen/breakfast room. Pictured is a floor plan for the property

There are six bedrooms inside the property, enough for all of Henry VIII’s wives. Other rooms include a living room, family room, sitting/dining room and kitchen/breakfast room. Pictured is a floor plan for the property

The property is Grade II listed and was taken over by King Henry VIII in the 1530s so he could build a huge hunting park around Hampton Court, his favourite palace

The property is Grade II listed and was taken over by King Henry VIII in the 1530s so he could build a huge hunting park around Hampton Court, his favourite palace

Mrs Selman also noted some of the original features at the property, including an original Tudor wall. 

She said: ‘Our boundary wall we believe is one of the original Tudor walls that marked the edge of the Hampton Court Chase. 

‘There is also a yew tree which is listed and subject to a TPO. There was an avenue of yew trees leading away from the property in Tudor times and it’s believed this is one of only two of those remaining. 

‘There was an old conservatory which we knocked down and created an extension. While we were having that done we discovered some tunnels that led from the priest hole – one into the garden, one towards the church that is behind the house and one towards Hampton Court Palace.

‘Now the house has so much space and is really flexible. It’s perfect for entertaining and the kids have their own space. The priest hole is in the play room and they use it as a den, but it’s been boarded up at the back so you can’t climb out.

‘It has been a great family home.

‘We’re moving out of the area, further north to be closer to family. We will be sad to see it go.’ 

The property is on the market with estate agents Knight Frank.

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