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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Country house with £25m price tag | Country house with £25m price tag |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A country estate is to test the top end of the UK's property market when it goes up for sale with a £25m price tag. | A country estate is to test the top end of the UK's property market when it goes up for sale with a £25m price tag. |
| It is only the fifth time the Encombe House estate, in Purbeck, Dorset, has gone on sale in its 1,100-year history. | |
| It sold for £15m in 2002 but should sell for more this time round after receiving extensive restoration work. | It sold for £15m in 2002 but should sell for more this time round after receiving extensive restoration work. |
| The sellers believe the price tag will make it the most expensive country house to be sold on the UK market, so far in 2008. | The sellers believe the price tag will make it the most expensive country house to be sold on the UK market, so far in 2008. |
| The 2,017-acre estate covers the world heritage coastline at St. Aldhelm's Head, Chapmans Pool and Swyre Head. | The 2,017-acre estate covers the world heritage coastline at St. Aldhelm's Head, Chapmans Pool and Swyre Head. |
| 'Huge privilege' | 'Huge privilege' |
| It has three lakes, 60 acres of formal garden, 10 cottages, a swimming pool, Grecian style temple, stable block, new equestrian centre and pheasant and partridge shooting. | It has three lakes, 60 acres of formal garden, 10 cottages, a swimming pool, Grecian style temple, stable block, new equestrian centre and pheasant and partridge shooting. |
| The grade-II listed country house was bought by American merchant banker Charles McVeigh five years ago. | The grade-II listed country house was bought by American merchant banker Charles McVeigh five years ago. |
| The Georgian manor was built by its MP owner, John Pitt, in the late 18th century on the site of a retreat built by the Abbess of Shaftesbury in around 948 AD. | |
| Over the past six years the house has been restored by Mr McVeigh and his wife Jenny. | |
| The country house features a double-height dining room | |
| Mr McVeigh said: "It has been a huge privilege to have lived at Encombe for the last six years and to have been its custodian over that time. | Mr McVeigh said: "It has been a huge privilege to have lived at Encombe for the last six years and to have been its custodian over that time. |
| "The challenge of restoring an important heritage property inspired us to acquire Encombe and we have had enormous enjoyment in making all the improvements we have to both the house and the estate. | "The challenge of restoring an important heritage property inspired us to acquire Encombe and we have had enormous enjoyment in making all the improvements we have to both the house and the estate. |
| "Both of us are passionate about the conservation of English country houses and we have now found another property to take on and restore." | "Both of us are passionate about the conservation of English country houses and we have now found another property to take on and restore." |
| They have installed new wiring and central heating throughout and replaced almost all the windows with Georgian-style panes. | They have installed new wiring and central heating throughout and replaced almost all the windows with Georgian-style panes. |
| It includes four reception rooms, including a double-height dining room, a galleried hall and a restored Victorian library, all with carved marble fireplaces. | It includes four reception rooms, including a double-height dining room, a galleried hall and a restored Victorian library, all with carved marble fireplaces. |
| There are eight bedroom suites on the first floor with large bathrooms, an attic floor which once housed the servants and a separate guest wing with five more bedrooms. | There are eight bedroom suites on the first floor with large bathrooms, an attic floor which once housed the servants and a separate guest wing with five more bedrooms. |