James and Lucinda Bruce are selling their rare William and Mary Manor house in Wiltshire. Having lived in the house since 1999, James and Lucinda have now decided it’s time to sell. In fact they have been in the area substantially longer: they were next-door-neighbours to Chalcot House until 1999, admiring the house from over the field, and visiting their neighbours for dinner – until it came up for sale and they knew they just had to have it.
It was a similar tale when Vivienne Westwood spotted the house while driving past. She was so taken by the facade that she wrote to the Bruces to ask about purchasing the house. For James, it was a certain ‘No’. He was flattered and delighted by Westwood’s infatuation with Chalcot but it was not yet time to sell. Fast forward to 2024 and the house is now on the market with Strutt and Parker.
The stunning, Inigo Jones inspired property is set in just under 53 acres of parkland. It is Grade II* listed, with the architectural highlight being the Palladian facade. The living space is complete with 12 bedrooms, a kitchen, dining room, drawing room, study and library. The cellar includes a wine cellar/gunroom and a playroom/fitness room.
For those of a literary inclination, a house has appeared on the market promising a Brontëan sort of life – without the anguish (hopefully)
James recalls, ‘I’d always wanted to live in a Palladian House’ – his mother having been brought up in West Wymcobe Park. James always had a taste for their symmetry, harmony and stature. Upon moving in, James and Lucinda went to great lengths to redecorate and restore – making sure the exceptional qualities of the principal rooms were allowed to speak for themselves.
French estate agents have described the price of the 17-bedroom property, which has its own hair salon, as ‘absurd’
The family also added a swimming pool and created two additional rooms upstairs. Chalcot House has remained a brilliant family home for them and a place their children come back to regularly. Besides family enjoyment, Chalcot has also hosted yoga and writers’ retreats.
Another interesting detail is that the house was lived in by a young Amber Rudd during the 1970s, at which time her father found an enormous hoard of Romano-British coins in the grounds. James reckons that most of the coins have now been found, but there is still plenty of ancient pottery knocking around in the flower beds. James and Lucinda are looking to downsize but will remain in this beloved corner of the West Country.
Strutt and Parker's Oliver Custance Baker says of Chalcot, ‘Chalcot House is one of those perfect little estates that’s infinitely manageable and provides just the right balance of parkland and gardens that complement such a beautiful home. It’s probably one of the finest Palladian homes I’ve come across, and a really good example of William and Mary architecture – a short architectural period that’s incredibly sought after.
‘This part of Wiltshire is close to popular artistic enclave, Frome, and very accessible Westbury making Chalcot House an exciting prospect for somebody looking for a slice of history and rare architecture in this part of the West Country.’ Chalcot House is on the market for £8,000,000.
