A Victorian Gothic manor located in the English countryside, which served as the residence of the late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts during the 1970s and 1980s, is now available for purchase at £7.95 million (US$9.67 million). Known as Foscombe House, this grand castle-like mansion is situated in the village of Ashleworth, just outside Gloucester, approximately 120 miles northwest of London. Described by historian Sir Nikolaus Pevsner in his extensive 46-volume architectural guide as “an unspoiled Victorian fantasy in an unsurpassed situation commanding exquisite views in all directions,” the house was recently listed by Savills earlier this month. Watts, affectionately nicknamed “the Wembley Whammer” by Mick Jagger, joined the Rolling Stones as a full-time member in 1963, shortly after the band’s formation. He remained an integral part of the legendary band for 58 years until his passing in 2021 at the age of 80. Alongside Jagger and Keith Richards, he was one of the only band members to have contributed to every studio album released by the Stones.
The stone orangery is flooded with light.
According to Savills, Watts purchased the property in 1976 and resided there until 1983, during which he transformed a coach house into a music studio in classic rocker fashion. Today, this annex has been converted into a 2,000-square-foot guest house. With its castellated tower, turrets, and intricately carved stone orangery, the house is described by Ed Sugden, director of Savills Country Department, as “the embodiment of splendid Victorian Gothic architecture.” Sugden further elaborated, stating, “The lofty ceilings and spacious rooms create a delightful flow of living space, and despite its grandeur, the property exudes a sense of cozy living, enhanced by the panoramic views from all main rooms.” He added that guests can enjoy the unique experience of staying in the former music studio of a Rolling Stone.
The house was built in 1966.
As per the brokerage, the current proprietor has meticulously restored and renovated the eight-bedroom estate, preserving its period charm. Among its notable features are a sitting room adorned with a pyramid stone fireplace, an intricately adorned beamed ceiling with decorative stone corbels, a drawing room offering views of the grounds, a chef’s kitchen, and a formal dining room. The bedrooms, boasting vistas of the surrounding countryside, are dispersed throughout the upper levels of the residence, while atop the tower lies the smoking room, complete with trefoil windows, a fireplace, and direct access to the rooftop terrace. Additionally, there is a refurbished stable block transformed into a recreational facility, featuring a kitchen, a resistance pool, sauna, and steam cabin. Nestled on the property’s expansive 52 acres are flower meadows, lawns, and parkland, alongside a Japanese-style garden, terraces, vegetable patches, a greenhouse, and ponds. According to Savills, the proprietor, who acquired the property for £3 million in 2011 based on property records, has cultivated thousands of trees during their tenure, with a significant portion of the land dedicated to attracting wildlife, including tranquil areas for nesting ducks and dense wooded regions for deer.
The house has a chef’s kitchen.
In 1989, Watts was honored with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside the Rolling Stones, followed by induction into the U.K. Music Hall of Fame in 2004, also with the band. He is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest drummers in history.
The house is loaded with period charm.
The Victorian retreat is not the sole part of Watts’s legacy available for purchase. A selection of the drummer’s possessions is set to be auctioned later this week at Christie’s in London. Among the items for sale is his personal copy of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” anticipated to fetch £300,000, along with various jazz memorabilia.
The house is loaded with period charm.
Furthermore, the property related to the Rolling Stones is not the only one changing ownership. Last month, Mick Jagger and his partner, choreographer and former ballerina Melanie Hamrick, sold their waterfront residence in Florida for $3.25 million.
The former recording studio is now a modern guest house.
There are a number of stone fireplaces.