Inside 33-bed mansion that once hosted Henry VIII but was then left to crumble

03 February 2024 , 08:00

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The mansion was last seen looking worse for wear (Image: Allsop.co.uk)

Troy House is the kind you spend hours on Rightmove looking at, even though you've got £1 in your savings account.

Built in the 1680s, the mansion was created for the first Duke of Beaufort, who gave his son the property as a wedding gift (not a shabby present, right?). According to reports, King Henry VIII visited an 'earlier version' of the house during his trip to Wales. Parts of the buildings were then "later incorporated into the current mansion," according to Mail Online.

In 2020, the house garnered global media attention after photos of its interior were posted on an online auction. It seems the one regal property had lots most its shine - and wallpaper...

Its condition has deteriorated since being abandoned (Allsop.co.uk)

The Grade II listed, four storey dream home comes complete with a theatre, chapel and two tennis courts. It was built for the family of the Duke of Beaufort, adding to an imposing portfolio of properties which also included Great Castle House in Monmouth and Badminton House in Gloucestershire.

The estate was later converted into a convent school and then became a school, but as the condition of the buildings deteriorated it moved locations in the 1980s and the once grand manor has been left to rot. Back in 2020, the 44,000 square-foot property was put up for auction, with a guide price of between £200,000 and £250,000.

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The house needed 'extensive' work (Allsop.co.uk)

However, it sold for a whopping £1.3 million, despite having been abandoned and left to crumble. The auction, listed by Allsop, showed the property's 29 bedrooms, four dormitories, a principal's flat, a staff flat, a caretaker's flat, a two storey hostel block, outbuildings and garages - and sparked a bidding war.

Partner and Auctioneer at Allsop Richard Adamson said it witnessed 'exceptional amount of interest' in the lead up to the auction - with 23 different bidders competing for the property until the final minute. He said this 'demonstrates the continued demand for well-priced assets in a challenging market landscape'.

Auctioneers set a minimum bid of £200,000 - but the house fetched more than a million (Allsop.co.uk)

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But the lucky winner certainly has their work cut out for them. The picturesque setting and grand exterior do little to override the true scale of the renovation job required, with photos of the interior showing floorboards and structures rotten through, with a huge clearance job needed to clear the abandoned school furniture.

It needs a lot of work done, buyers were warned (Allsop.co.uk)

"The property is presented in a poor state of repair and requires extensive works of modernisation and refurbishment," the description read. "The property may afford possible potential for redevelopment and/or a number of alternative uses, subject to obtaining all necessary consents."

It has not been confirmed what plans the successful buyer has for the property. However, auctioneers said they witnessed a 'mixed-bag of interest' from people wanting to use the property as a private home, hotel and spa, and luxury apartments.

It sits on six acres of land (Allsop.co.uk)

Back in 2015, property developers aimed to build an extension (not that it needs one) to the building and convert it into a block of 19 flats. However, the plans were blocked by the Welsh government - despite laying derelict for years and being added to a register of buildings at risk. The decision was made due to fears the building was located within a flood zone.

The property comes with its own chapel (Allsop.co.uk)

Peter Carroll, former owner of the building, slammed the council's decision and said it had never flooded 'in living memory'. According to the BBC, he added: "This is such a fantastic building in such a fantastic site that we should not take this lying down." So, it looks like the new owners may have a bit of a tough time convincing the council of their new plans.

Liam Gilliver