Now YOU can live in Henry VIII's castle (for £15 million): Grade I-listed home goes up for sale complete with 16 bedrooms, 11 reception rooms, two tennis courts and an indoor marble swimming pool
- Chilham Castle, in Chilham, Kent, has gone on the market with Knight Frank for a staggering £15million
- The Grade I estate has been owned by royalty, including Saint Louis King of France and King Henry VIII
- Chilham Castle is a hexagonal property which was first built as a fortress in 709 AD by Wihtred King of Kent
- The estate has 16 bedrooms, 11 reception rooms, a swimming pool, and tennis courts on its 300-acre grounds
- Castle can act as a 'family home' and has been described as the 'perfect house for large-scale entertaining'A sprawling Grade I-listed castle which was owned by several kings, including King Henry VIII, has gone on the market for a staggering £15million.
Chilham Castle, in Chilham, Kent, is a unique hexagonal property which was originally built as a fortress in 709AD by Wihtred King of Kent.
The estate, which is on the market with Knight Frank, boasts 16 bedrooms, 11 reception rooms, a stunning swimming pool, and two tennis courts on its vast 300-acre grounds.
The castle is rich with historic ties, as it has been owned and lived in by royalty, including Saint Louis King of France, King Edward I, King Edward II and King Henry VIII, who bought the castle in 1539.
Henry VIII later granted the estate to Sir Thomas Cheney, who gradually dismantled it to build a home on the Isle of Sheppey, before selling it to Sir Thomas Kempe.
Sir Thomas' granddaughter Mary married Sir Dudley Digges, who built the current house on the site of the ancient castle between 1612 and 1616.
Grade I estate Chilham Castle, in Chilham, Kent, which was owned by several kings, including King Henry VIII, has gone on the market for £15million. Pictured, the exterior
The estate, which is on the market with Knight Frank, boasts 16 bedrooms, including one with stunning peach decor and a large fireplace (above), 11 reception rooms, a swimming pool, and two tennis courts on its vast 300-acre grounds
The castle can act as a 'family home' and is described as the 'perfect house for large scale entertaining, as it boasts numerous formal reception rooms, including one with checkered flooring and stunning wooden wall paneling (above)
The unique hexagonal property, which was originally built as a fortress in 709 AD by Wihtred King of Kent, also boasts a marble indoor swimming pool (above)
Only ten families have lived at Chilham Castle since 1616, while the owners since 2002, the Wheeler family, have restored the house with the approval of English Heritage and under the eye of the interior designer Christopher Gibbs.
The castle boasts an impressive lobby and beautiful entrance hall, which is complete with a large fireplace and plasterwork ceiling, and has unique period features throughout.It can act as a 'family home' and is described as the 'perfect house for large scale entertaining', as the ground floor has formal reception rooms, including the library, study, dining room and card room, as well as an indoor marble swimming pool.
Meanwhile, the first floor features a master bedroom suite with a sitting room, dressing room and two bedrooms, as well as five additional en-suite bedrooms and a TV room.
Additionally, the castle also boasts two other en-suite guest bedrooms, two three-bedroom wings, and a two-bedroom staff flat.
Only ten families have lived at Chilham Castle since 1616, while the owners since 2002, the Wheeler family, have restored the house, to create the stunning bedrooms that have a homely feel (one pictured)
The ground floor of the castle is perfect for hosting large events or dinner parties, as the dining room features a long 12-seater table (above), while the room also features a roaring fireplace
The property boasts an impressive 16-bedrooms, most of which are en-suite or feature family bathrooms, while they are each beautifully furnished with statement beds (pictured), and comfortable seating areas
The castle is not short of living space as it features 11 reception rooms, including one that serves as a large sitting room with three-seater sofas, while it is stylishly adorned with rouge curtains and statement rugs and other period touches
Only ten families have lived at Chilham Castle since 1616, and it is considered to be a beautiful family home that has many stylish period touches,including tall ceilings and statement chandeliers
The gorgeous bedrooms are a perfect space for either residents or guests, as they are equipped with fireplaces to keep warm, large four-poster beds and space to sit and work or relax
The beautiful gardens come with wonderful terraced lawns, a topiary to the south of the expansive house, herbaceous borders and a Taittinger planted vineyard.
The estate is also equipped with staff accommodation, leisure facilities, two Astroturf tennis courts, a swimming pool, cinema, paddock and stables.
The vast 300-acre grounds, concealed behind a front gate and entrance lodges, have picturesque views and feature a lake for fishing, outbuildings and a gravel parking area for residents and visitors.
There is also a stunning park which has played host to equestrian events, mixed woodland, a stable block, paddocks and a storage barn on the vast estate.
Will Matthews, P artner, Knight Frank Farms & Estates, said: 'Chilham Castle is one of the best houses to have come to the market for decades, and undoubtedly one of the best houses I've seen in my time.
'The Jacobean property offers the unique opportunity to acquire a piece of English history, and despite its impressive historical credentials, the property recently underwent a full restoration and is in remarkable condition.'
Each of the 16 gorgeous bedrooms have been given the same stunning finishing touches, including one which features a red four-poster bed, an en-suite bathroom, and stunning period-style wooden walls
Some of the bedrooms have been updated to have a more modern feel, while still preserving the historic feel of the property, as one bedroom (above) has modern mustard coloured walls, mixed with deep chocolate wood furnishings
The family home, which has been owned by the Wheeler family since 2002, has no shortage of space for entertaining and boasts a number of cozy sitting rooms, including one with tall arch windows and a unique chandelier
The estate (exterior pictured) is rich with historic ties, as it has been owned and lived in by royalty, including Saint Louis King of France, King Edward I, King Edward II and King Henry VIII, who bought the castle in 1539
The beautiful gardens come with wonderful terraced lawns, a topiary to the south of the expansive house, herbaceous borders and a Taittinger planted vineyard
The vast 300-acre grounds, concealed behind a front gate and entrance lodges (pictured), have stunning views and feature a lake for fishing, outbuildings and a gravel parking area for residents and visitors
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