Country home which once hosted the ill-fated King Charles I goes on sale for £3.5million

A spectacular country home steeped in history, having once played host to the ill-fated King Charles I, has gone on the market for £3.5million. 

The stunning Grade I-listed the Manor House at Bradninch, Devon, boasts 400-year-old interiors, a rose garden, an indoor swimming pool and seven acre grounds which include a picturesque lake.

Offering plenty of original features, there are plenty of reception rooms, five bedrooms plus a further main bedroom where Charles I himself once slept, and a self-contained, one bedroom apartment on the second floor.

The master bedroom is known as The King Charles Room following the monarch’s overnight stay in early 1644. The royal, who was the first monarch to be tried and executed for treason in 1649, was a friend of the owner at the time, local MP Peter Sainthill.

From 1874 to 1976, the Manor House was owned by the Duchy of Cornwall – the private royal estate currently run by Prince Charles – before being sold several times from the 1980s onwards, according to Country Life.

A spectacular country home steeped in history, having once played host to the ill-fated King Charles I, has gone on the market for £3.5million. Pictured is one of the main reception rooms

The stunning Grade I-listed the Manor House at Bradninch, Devon, comes complete with 400-year-old interiors, a rose garden, an indoor swimming pool and seven acre grounds which include a picturesque lake. Pictured is one of the comfortable living rooms

The stunning Grade I-listed the Manor House at Bradninch, Devon, comes complete with 400-year-old interiors, a rose garden, an indoor swimming pool and seven acre grounds which include a picturesque lake. Pictured is one of the comfortable living rooms

Offering plenty of original features, there are plenty of reception rooms, five bedrooms (pictured above is one of them) plus a further main bedroom where Charles I himself once slept, and a self-contained, one bedroom apartment on the second floor

Offering plenty of original features, there are plenty of reception rooms, five bedrooms (pictured above is one of them) plus a further main bedroom where Charles I himself once slept, and a self-contained, one bedroom apartment on the second floor

From 1874 to 1976, the Manor House (pictured is the indoor swimming pool) was owned by the Duchy of Cornwall - the private royal estate currently run by Prince Charles - before being sold several times from the 1980s onwards, according to Country Life

From 1874 to 1976, the Manor House (pictured is the indoor swimming pool) was owned by the Duchy of Cornwall – the private royal estate currently run by Prince Charles – before being sold several times from the 1980s onwards, according to Country Life

Visitors of the Manor are greeted to an 18th century dining hall upon first entering the home, which sets the tone for the rest of the home, offering a large area with incredible viewers over the terrace garden, front lawn and lake (pictured)

Visitors of the Manor are greeted to an 18th century dining hall upon first entering the home, which sets the tone for the rest of the home, offering a large area with incredible viewers over the terrace garden, front lawn and lake (pictured)

Visitors of the Manor are greeted to an 18th century dining hall upon first entering the home, which sets the tone for the rest of the home, offering a large area with incredible viewers over the terrace garden, front lawn and lake.

There is also a well preserved 16th century drawing room with a decorative plaster ceiling with pomegranate and oak panelling throughout and an eye-catching stone fireplace.

Extensive improvements made by the current owners have brought the Manor House into the 21st century whilst maintaining an abundance of character – in particular, the new finishes include a contemporary kitchen and bathroom. 

Originally built in 1547, and slightly remodelled in nearly every century after, the manor - pictured is the dining room - has a long association with the Duchy of Cornwall prior to its latest dealings with the estate

Originally built in 1547, and slightly remodelled in nearly every century after, the manor – pictured is the dining room – has a long association with the Duchy of Cornwall prior to its latest dealings with the estate

King Charles I, who was the first monarch to be tried and executed for treason in 1649, was a friend of the owner at the time, local MP Peter Sainthill. Pictured, a reception area in the Manor House

King Charles I, who was the first monarch to be tried and executed for treason in 1649, was a friend of the owner at the time, local MP Peter Sainthill. Pictured, a reception area in the Manor House

Extensive improvements made by the current owners have brought the Manor House into the 21st century whilst maintaining an abundance of character - in particular, the new finishes include a contemporary kitchen and bathroom (pictured)

Extensive improvements made by the current owners have brought the Manor House into the 21st century whilst maintaining an abundance of character – in particular, the new finishes include a contemporary kitchen and bathroom (pictured)

The master bedroom, seen above, is known as The King Charles Room following the monarch's overnight stay in early 1644

The master bedroom, seen above, is known as The King Charles Room following the monarch’s overnight stay in early 1644

The home’s grand hall centres around the 16th century dog-leg staircase leading to the master bedroom suite and adjacent guest bedroom.

Outside, owners are treated to a range of outbuildings, including a new garage block formed around a large stable yard, as well as stunning grounds, complete with a rose garden and lake.

Originally built in 1547, and slightly remodelled in nearly every century after, the manor has a long association with the Duchy of Cornwall prior to its latest dealings with the estate, which is credited with the survival of much of the home’s interior.

However, according to the publication, ‘Henry VIII, troubled in conscience by his theft of lands from the College of Windsor, charged his son by will to recompense the dean and canons. 

The home's grand hall centres around the 16th century dog-leg staircase leading to the master bedroom suite and adjacent guest bedroom

Pictured is the grand staircase, an original feature of the country home

The home’s grand hall centres around the 16th century dog-leg staircase leading to the master bedroom suite and adjacent guest bedroom

Certain parts of the property have been altered by the current owner, with more contemporary rooms on display, including the very modern kitchen (above)

Certain parts of the property have been altered by the current owner, with more contemporary rooms on display, including the very modern kitchen (above)

There is also a well preserved 16th century drawing room with a decorative plaster ceiling with pomegranate and oak panelling throughout and an eye-catching stone fireplace

Pictured is part of the enormous garden, which includes several outbuildings

There is also a well preserved 16th century drawing room with a decorative plaster ceiling with pomegranate and oak panelling throughout and an eye-catching stone fireplace, seen left. Pictured right is part of the enormous garden

‘Accordingly, Bradninch was granted to them, and it was they who leased the rectory and lands to Peter Sainthill senior. From then onwards, it was held on renewable leases until the freehold was acquired in 1869.’

Lawyer Sainthill’s grandson, also Peter, ‘served Charles I loyally and liberally until the success of the Parliament brought him to ruin’.

From his succession in 1625, Charles quarrelled with the Parliament of England, which sought to curb his royal prerogative.

Charles believed in the divine right of kings, and was determined to govern according to his own conscience. Many of his subjects opposed his policies, in particular the levying of taxes without parliamentary consent.

The back of the remarkable country home opens up onto a terrace, complete with garden furniture and stunning views of the surrounding grounds

The back of the remarkable country home opens up onto a terrace, complete with garden furniture and stunning views of the surrounding grounds

Outside, owners are treated to a range of outbuildings, including a new garage block formed around a large stable yard, as well as stunning grounds, pictured, complete with a rose garden and lake

Outside, owners are treated to a range of outbuildings, including a new garage block formed around a large stable yard, as well as stunning grounds, pictured, complete with a rose garden and lake

Charles fought the armies of the English and Scottish parliaments in the English Civil War. After his defeat in 1645, he surrendered to a Scottish force that eventually handed him over to the English Parliament.

He refused to accept his captors’ demands for a constitutional monarchy, and temporarily escaped captivity in November 1647.

Re-imprisoned on the Isle of Wight, Charles forged an alliance with Scotland, but by the end of 1648 Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army had consolidated its control over England and Charles was tried, convicted, and executed for high treason.

Following Cromwell’s victory, Sainthill fled to Italy, dying there in 1648. His estate was passed down through his family until the lease was later bought by Capt Anthony Martin, who acquired the freehold before selling it to the Duchy of Cornwall in 1874.

Why was King Charles I executed?

King Charles I was born in Fife, Scotland, in 1600 and became king in 1625 following the death of his older brother Henry.

The new monarch favoured a High Anglican form of worship and his wife, Henrietta Maria of France, was Catholic.

He went on to dissolve parliament three times from 1625 to 1629 and decided to rule alone.

This meant the king was left to try and raise funds by non-parliamentary means, which made him unpopular with the British public. He also tried to force a new prayer book on the country.

King Charles I (with his wife Queen Henrietta Maria) was born in Fife, Scotland, and became king when he was 24 years old 

King Charles I (with his wife Queen Henrietta Maria) was born in Fife, Scotland, and became king when he was 24 years old 

The king attempted to have five MPs arrested and was involved in other disagreements following tense discussions over who should command an army to defeat the uprising in Ireland – and a civil war broke out.

In 1646, the Royalists were defeated and Charles subsequently surrendered to the Scots, escaping to the Isle of Wight a year later. 

Charles was put on trial for treason by a number of MPs, including Parliamentarian general Oliver Cromwell – and was held in Carisbrooke Castle, on the Isle of Wight, beforehand.

He was convicted and later executed outside the Banqueting House on Whitehall in London, in 1649.

The monarchy was abolished and the Commonwealth of England – also known as the Cromwellian Interregnum – came into power.

An 11-year gap in royal rule followed before Charles’ son, Charles II, took the reins in the restoration of 1660.