Luxury Georgian Mansion in Essex

Grand pianos and gilded opulence

Escape to a world of grand pianos and gilded opulence in a gorgeous Georgian mansion set in 52 acres of rolling Essex parkland. The White House comes with 21 stables and a manège. What’s a manège? Who knows, but it’s sure to be posh in a place that resembles the traditional seat of American presidents.

You’ve 7000 square feet of fun and finery here for 12 (or 22 with a little jiggery-pokery) friends and family, wedding guests, or hens, plus dogs and horses, in which to relax, rest, rejuvenate and rip forehands on the floodlit tennis court. You like toys like that? Step this way. You’ll be in the heated indoor pool and the hot tub in no time.

 

Like the sound of that? Great. You’ll probably also enjoy working out in the fully equipped, air-conditioned gym, showing off your misspent youth on the full-size snooker table, tinkling the grand piano and sizzling in the sauna. Or head outdoors for croquet on the lawn, trampolining, football and outdoor chess.

 

That’s the fun out of the way, so what about the finery? We think you’ll be pretty comfortable here, cooking on the Aga, surveying the grounds from your balconied bedroom, warming your toes on the heated floors in the five bathrooms, and asking the butler to pass the wine along the 14-seat table in the panelled dining room.

Gardens and grounds

Just an hour from London, The White House comes wrapped in 52 acres of private Essex countryside. It’s a place where the partying doesn’t stop indoors. So bring your dog, or maybe your horse. With 21 stables and paddocks, they’ll be right at home.

And so will you, playing tennis on the floodlit all-weather court, watching the kids in the play area complete with croquet, trampolining, football and outdoor chess. You can even get married by the lake and celebrate in the 2500-square-foot medieval event barn. Stay outside for the gas barbecue and terrace seating for 22. Yes, just the 22.

Pool and living spaces

If you were thinking of running for American president, this is the place to practise. You’ll feel completely statesmanlike amid the panelled walls and parquet floors, the gilded trimmings and the grand piano. Settle back beneath the chandeliers on the sumptuous sofas and remember how to relax.

Or don’t. There’s plenty to keep you busy here. Let’s start with the snooker table, the full-size one in the panelled billiards room. Move on to the piano room – there’s a grand in there so you can tinkle the night away. Then it’s on to the games room, for table football or board games.

But bring your cossie, because the indoor pool’s scene-stealer. Heated to 30 degrees and ten metres long, it’s a perfect prelude to a sizzle in the sauna or a dip in the four-person hot tub. Like to keep in shape? Towel off and head to the gym, complete with treadmill, rowing machine, Smith machine, free weights, yoga mats and medicine balls.

Is there a TV? No, there are ten, plus another in the cottage next door. Stream Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Now TV over the high-speed Wi-Fi. Keep the party sounds popping on the Bluetooth speaker and the Sonos. Raid the library for books. And let us know if you want a wedding reception in 2500-square-foot barn. We’re sure you will.

Cooking and dining

Cooking and dining is a pleasure at The White House, with the electric Aga, additional electric oven and microwave on hand in a fully equipped island kitchen. Of course, if you’d prefer to marinate in the hot tub while your dinner gets done, we can always supply a chef for one-off celebrations or full catering package, and probably a butler.

Shop at Sainsbury’s or Waitrose with deli goodies from Hume’s Bakery, meat from Blackwell’s and wine from Peter Watts. Eat in the panelled dining room around the 14-seat table or out on the sunshine terrace with space for 22. Tuck in to takeaways from The Shish (Turkish), Yoshi Haru (Japanese) and Riverside Spice (Indian).

Eat out at The Lion in Earls Colne for thick-cut honey and mustard roast ham or sticky chicken wings, at The Five Bells for Sunday roast on the terrace, or at Whispers Wine Bar for tapas washed down with fine wine. Or how about a Caribbean-spiced chicken burger or Whitby scampi at The Onley in Stisted?

Enjoy fresh and seasonal Italian dishes at 47 The Street, Rayne or a picturesque setting beside the River Stour at Talbooth Restaurant in Dedham, home to fine dining and beautiful wines and all in a highly Instagrammable setting. Or push the boat out at the Michelin-starred Flitch of Bacon, where an old Citroen van acts as a bar.

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