Royal History Up for Grabs

A rare piece of royal heritage has just gone on sale on the Isle of Wight. Padmore House, once home to Queen Victoria’s chaplain, is available for a whopping £3.5 million. Nestled in Whippingham village, just a stone’s throw from Queen Victoria’s favourite Osborne House, this Grade II-listed gem is steeped in history.

Grand Victorian Family Home on Massive Grounds

Boasting seven bedrooms across 5,660 square feet and set within a sprawling 15-acre estate, Padmore House is the ultimate family retreat. Once the hub for royal household and estate staff, the home still oozes Victorian charm, blending period details with vibrant modern interiors.

• Seven bedrooms and three reception rooms with ornate period features
• Spacious kitchen and grand reception hall
• 11.5 acres of picturesque gardens with flagstone paths, stone pillars and terraces bursting with colourful flowers
• Gravel terrace leading down to lawns overlooking the River Medina

The wider estate includes development land and can be sold as one or split into lots, with the main house priced at £2.5 million.

The Long House & Veggie Garden Also Listed

Part of the offering includes The Long House, a six-bedroom conversion of a 1920s motorcar storage building, priced at £975,000. There’s also a charming old vegetable garden featuring gravel paths, timber-edged beds, fruit trees, and herbs – perfect for green-fingered buyers.

From Royal Connections to Lavish Living

Padmore House’s story began in 1841 when Queen Victoria’s chaplain moved in, making it central to estate life. The property changed hands in 1914 when aviation pioneer Samuel Saunders bought it, adding features like a water tower around 1920.

Since 2011, the current owners have lovingly restored the home into a bright, spacious family haven while retaining its historic essence.

Holiday Royalty: Nearby King Charles Estate Escape

Not far away, holidaymakers can stay in King Charles’ Sandringham estate at “The Folly” — a lavishly converted Victorian three-bedroom retreat that once entertained King Edward VII and his famous mistress. Now renting at £6,300 per week, it’s a chance to live the royal life for a spell.

Padmore House, meanwhile, offers a rare chance to own a genuine slice of British royal history — and live like royalty on the stunning Isle of Wight.