An English Tudor Manor With Ties to Queen Elizabeth I Lists for $9.3M

Haslingfield Manor in Cambridgeshire isn’t your average country house. This one comes with some serious pedigree. It was originally built in the mid-16th century by Sir Thomas Wendy, physician to Henry VIII, and host to Queen Elizabeth I during her 1564 progress to Cambridge. There are rumors the queen lost a ring while overnighting on the estate, with no reports of it ever being found. Now on the market for £6.95 million (about $9.3 million), Haslingfield Manor is one of the county’s most historically significant homes, but it comes with an unexpected twist: behind its traditional variegated brick façade is a thoroughly modern family retreat.

Cross the late-1600s red brick bridge over the original moat, and you’ll find the stately three-story residence, all that remains of what was once a sprawling H-shaped mansion. Inside, the mood shifts from historic to refreshingly contemporary, thanks to Studio Ilse. Designer Ilse Crawford, whose projects include Soho House New York and the boutique hotel Ett Hem in Stockholm, was brought in to reimagine the 7,420 square feet of interior space, layering warmth and understatement with a little drama where it counts.

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While extensively updated and modernized, when you step inside, “the inherent character remains, however—two timber-framed bay windows have survived the centuries, original timber and fireplaces abound, and the original wine cellar remains,” says owner Caroline Hudack. “The designer [Crawford] has worked on the house twice, with us and the former owners, which has enabled each custodian to make our mark on the house while resulting in a wonderful continuity and flow throughout.”

The interiors are a mix of cozy and elevated, from a drawing room that opens straight to the gardens to a kitchen and breakfast room complete with a wine cellar. There are also multiple reception rooms, a soaring double-height library, and two tucked-away home offices. Upstairs, the primary suite feels more boutique hotel than dour Tudor manor, with dual dressing rooms, a rolltop bath, and even a private yoga studio. Five more bedrooms keep things generous for family and guests.

The gardens keep pace with the interiors. Internationally acclaimed landscape designer Dan Pearson, best known for the Delos Garden at Sissinghurst, was tasked with shaping the grounds. His naturalistic philosophy comes through in winding pathways that lead to rose and kitchen gardens, a children’s play area, and a wood-fired hot tub under the trees. There’s also a grass tennis court for summer matches and plenty of lush borders designed to look pretty all year round.

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“Haslingfield Manor truly is a Tudor house reimagined for modern life,” says Barclay Macfarlane of Savills Country Department, who is marketing the property with property agent Tim Phillips. “Seamlessly blending timeworn grandeur with contemporary design, the understated elegance and emotional warmth are enveloping on arrival. Accommodation is thoughtful, from the principal bedroom suite with two dressing rooms, ensuite bathroom and yoga room to the galleried landings, balcony, and impressive, double-height library and playroom. It functions for all the family.”

In total, the Grade II*-listed home sits on about three acres, with a converted garage gym, cinema room, children’s playground, and three reception rooms—all wrapped in centuries of history and reinvented for modern living.

Click here to see more photos of this English Tudor home.