Winnie the Pooh Lived Here – Brian Jones Died Here!

Winnie the Pooh Lived Here – Brian Jones Died Here!

Winnie the Pooh Lived Here - Brian Jones Died Here!

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For those who have longed for the quintessential English country house, all prayers have been answered in the form of Cotchford Farm in Hartfield, Sussex, about an hour or so south of London. It’s a storybook house - both visually and in truth, with not one but two iconic past owners.

Not at all hard to see how master storyteller, A.A. Milne of Pooh fame, was so enchanted by this property that he was inspired to see it through his child’s eyes. Pooh Bear has been a close childhood friend of toddlers around the world since Winnie-the-Pooh was first published in 1926. Christopher Robin Milne, the son and character on whom the stories were based, became bitter toward his father’s stories due to the ribbing he received in school. Instead of being proud of his father’s fame and achievement, he continued living in bitterness toward his family until his death in 1996.

It was also the home of Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones. Though all the other Stones already owned their country mansions, Brian dilly dallied living in hotels and apartments until he finally bought his own country masterpiece, Cotchford Farm. Unfortunately, by this time he had been in and out of rehab hospitals but was still on heavy drugs and alcohol and was considered out of control by band members, who fired him. To make matters worse, his girlfriend jumped ship and went to live and love with another of the band members. A short time later in July of 1969, Jones was found dead in the swimming pool, sending fans into emotional turmoil.

Cotchford Farm, with its original section dating back to 1580, is a rare property to come on the market. At first sight, it looks like the house in fairy tales, in paintings or on the cover of books about English garden style. On 9.5 acres of manicured grounds and gardens, the 3-story house has 6 bedrooms, 3 baths, a library, cottage-formal living and dining rooms, a family-game room and master suite. A fascinating feature of the master bath for Americans is the "airing cupboard" The purpose is to hang clothes that are not quite dry from the wash to continue drying before being stored. With the exposed beams throughout, polished brick floors, fireplaces and large eat-in kitchen with fabulous Britannia stove, we can’t imagine a lovelier place to live. All of Pooh’s haunts are still there or nearby, along with the statue of Christopher Robin and the sundial commissioned by Christopher’s mother portraying Pooh characters.

Cotchford Farm, England’s magical retreat. Priced at $3.1m.

Source: residentialsearch.savills.co.uk