Tom Jones originally bought the house with fellow singer Engerbert Humperdinck to throw lavish parties for the rich and famous. Now, after sitting in ruins for the past many years, the house has been bought by Dave and Angela Dawes, a British couple who won £101 million in the Euromillion lottery in 2011.
A beautiful house
The six-bedroom house stands on a beautiful 56 acres land and boasts a cinema and designated party rooms, and has often been described by realtors as a quirky and bright place with “eclectic mix of touches”. It is full of rugs with animal prints, and heads of moose and zebras are mounted on walls throughout the property.
The property, in addition to its lush green lawns and fields, also has a boathouse which opens on a lake, a feature not many houses possess. Of course, there exist the usual swimming pool and a spa, landscaped grounds, tennis court, stables, and a private petrol station built underground only for the owners.
This means the Dawes would no longer be required to take their Rolls-Royce out to the petrol station, because their new property comes with an inbuilt refuelling capability.
The property has seen many residents after it was bought by Jones and Humperdinck, and quickly gained the reputation of being the “party house”. The interior, obviously, matched the reputation, and stands at a stark contrast to the otherwise historic feel of the architecture which the property exudes.
However, its legacy of hosting the rich and famous for years has become a part of the offering, and that is part of the reason why the Dawes have chosen it to be their new home.
Co-owned by Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck
The house was originally bought by both Jones and Humperdinck in the 1960s. At the time both celebrities enjoyed immense fame in the media industry. Guests included high-profile names such as US singer Janis Joplin and supermodels such as Jean Shrimpton.
But after the pair fell out in the 90s, the house was sold. Jones and Humperdinck, now 77 and 81 respectively, have had a long-running feud going on for at least the past two decades. In 2015, Jones reportedly threw a cuss word at his former pal in a 2015 interview, to which Humperdinck responded in disappointment, saying he also always found Tom in a “bad mood”.
Recently, it was also revealed that Jones has sold his LA property for £6.5 million and is now moving back to Britain because his wife, Linda, no longer wishes to stay in the US.
What did they do with £101 million?
The winning of £101 million made the Dawes the fifth-biggest winners of lottery in Britain. Initially, the Dawes gave out £1 million each to 20 friends and family, and invested in a charity.
They spent lavishly on their wedding, bought a Rolls-Royce, went on holidays around the world, and bought designer clothes. Last year in May, the couple was pursued by their son for part of the winnings, a battle which they won.
A lifestyle change
Originally, the Dawes lived in Wisbech, a region in Cambs in a £70 a week rented accommodation. A pretty-normal football-loving pair, the Dawes could not believe their senses when they found out they had won the £101 million lottery.
The lottery changed their lives, and of course, enabled the couple to make drastic improvements to their lifestyle. Right after winning the lottery, the couple bought a luxurious flat in West London, in a prime location just 10 minutes away from Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge ground.
However, probably considering the city life too quick to their liking, the Dawes purchased another £4.5 million property situated in Etchingham. The couple also purchased a house in Portugal for an undisclosed amount, before purchasing this one. It would be interesting to see how the Dawes convert this historic “party palace” into their new home and whether they would stay here longer than past owners or shift and sell it just like others did…