Ben Shephard
has spent £3.5 million on an exquisite new abode that previously served as the official dwelling for a bishop.
While a number of
ITV
While some daytime television personalities might be contemplating scaling back due to reduced budgets and layoffs, Shephard, who is 50 years old, is advancing in her career.
The television host bought a large new home located in a picturesque riverside area in the western part of town.
London
following an upgrade from his previous residence nearby.
However, Ben faces an issue with his dream house: although it is spacious, there is neither a driveway nor rear entry. The sole means of access is through a narrow front gate, putting him in quite a predicament.
This will make it challenging to organize any construction work needed for updating the Grade II listed building.
A source stated: “It’s an utterly stunning house. However, the floor plan implies that
If he wishes to make significant changes to it—and it certainly requires updates—he will face challenges in bringing in larger materials or heavy machinery.
The sole entrance is through a comparatively small front gate, and since it’s listed, he’ll find it difficult to modify the design to change that.
‘Good luck to his architect and builder!’
I believe that’s why it requires an update – because it’s extremely challenging to find a method for managing it.
However, disregarding the headache, Ben and Annie are delighted with it.
It’s the sole blemish on the horizon for them since everything else about it is their ideal house; hence, he’s searching for a potential fix.
When Shephard joined forces with Cat Deeley last year to become the new hosts of ThisMorning, replacing the long-standing presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, he received a significant salary increase.
It is said that both of them are receiving approximately £550,000 per year to host the show four days a week.
It now seems that Shephard – whose net worth is reportedly around £3.6 million – is putting some of this money into purchasing his new home.
It is reported that the relocation was managed by her wife, Annie, who works as a design consultant with expertise in interior spaces and gardens.
He devoted a year to beautifully converting the family’s previous residence in Richmond into an exquisite fantasy home.
The couple might view their new home as an “endeavor” to tackle.
There’s ample opportunity to revamp the rather dull interiors of the old church house, where several ground-floor spaces previously served as offices and official meeting areas.
Once it hit the market, real estate agents lauded the ‘iconic house,’ noting its ‘unequaled location.’
However, suggesting that there was potential for improvement, they mentioned that it was ‘poised to become a fantastic family residence’.
The sizable separate residence, believed to date back 300 years, initially served as the abode for Thomas Twining, whose wealth stemmed from the tea industry following the establishment of his inaugural teahouse in 1706 within Devereux Court close to the Strand in London.
The estate stayed with the family through seven generations until artist and social reformer Elizabeth Twining left the property to the church following her demise in 1889.
Previously serving as an impressive vicarage, the house later became the official office and dwelling place for a bishop.
The property, featuring 10 bedrooms and situated in a riverside conservation area, spans nearly 6,000 square feet in total living space.
Real estate agents emphasized the remarkable chance for potential purchasers as it hit the market “after remaining off limits for the past three hundred years.”
The property is located near the River Thames, adjacent to a large Grade II-listed church on one side and an historic park and gardens on the other.
It is believed that this place was once favored by royalty as a summer getaway.
The description of the house includes an ‘elegant facade from a bygone era, complete with an intricately designed entrance canopy and a distinctive sundial feature positioned above the main doorway.’
The interior of the property retains many original period features including ‘impressive ceiling heights, fireplaces,’ as well as an exquisite entrance hall and intricately wood-carved staircase.
In the lower part of the building, although many areas were set up as offices and reception spaces, you can still find a living room, dining area, kitchen, and utility space.
The first floor has six bedrooms and two bathrooms, whereas the second-floor annex includes three additional bedrooms and another space that was converted into an office.
As per an elegant realtor’s pamphlet, the gardens surrounding the property encircle three sides of the home and provide opportunities for enhancing them through landscaping, potentially resulting in a remarkable outdoor space.
The pamphlet stated that the sale presented “a remarkably rare chance to develop an extraordinary and distinctive family residence in an excellent setting.”
The statement went on to say: “Boasting an impressive waterside setting, a deep-rooted heritage, and top-notch accessibility, this residence provides a distinctive mix of tradition and modernity, rendering it a dwelling that distinctly sets itself apart from the commonplace.”
The sole drawback of this property is its closeness to both the church and cemetery, which includes a path connecting them. This arrangement leaves no room for car parking and restricts access to the rear entrance.
A person close to Shephard, who also hosts the ITV quiz shows “Tipping Point” and “Ninja Warrior UK,” mentioned, “The moving van even got trapped since everybody needs to enter from the front.”
Since the back of our home is near the church path, we must utilize the front entrance as the primary way to get into the house.
It seems Annie has already started working on the property, and this week she received three big parcels delivered to her home by a courier van.
In 1995, when they were enrolled at the University of Birmingham, Shephard encountered Annie.
Determined to become an actor, Shepherd earned a BA honors degree in Dance, Drama, and Theatre Arts, whereas Annie pursued studies in Philosophy.
The pair who tied the knot on Burgh Island near Devon’s coastline in 2004 are parents to two boys — Jack, aged 19, and Sam, aged 18.
Born in Essex, Shephard has built a thriving career in television, where she has hosted several beloved British programs, including serving as the principal presenter for GoodMorningBritain.
He once had a brief appearance in an episode of the popular U.S. sitcom “Friends,” where he was listed in the credits as ‘Man with Microphone.’
In the meantime, Annie advanced from working at fashion and interior design magazines to becoming an advertising manager. Alongside this career progression, she also hosted glamorous parties, remarkable conferences, and award ceremonies.
Following her journey into motherhood, Annie—who identifies as ‘a wellie-wearing vegetable gardener’—juggled caring for her kids over an 18-year span with ‘demolishing and revamping homes and overseeing large-scale renovation endeavors’.
She previously posted on her website: “I have dedicated myself to rigorous study and pursued top-notch courses, which allowed me to grasp both the theoretical aspects of design and gain practical experience by starting from scratch—wellingtons on my feet and shovel in hand.”
Following several missteps and numerous achievements, my buddies began seeking assistance with their personal interior design and gardening projects.
In 2016, the couple purchased their house in Richmond, and Shephard would sometimes post pictures on social media showcasing his family life away from the public eye.
Photos uploaded during the COVID-19 lockdown at their former residence showcased impressive extensive gardens featuring a ‘gin bench,’ a fire pit, and arches adorned with roses.
The garden was adorned with a pristine lawn, bronze statues, and a section dedicated to growing the family’s own produce.
The previous week, Shephard demonstrated that outside the studio, he remains far from idle, showcasing his impressive build on the cover of Men’s Health magazine.
Shephard explained how he maintains his fitness level by attempting to match his sons during their exercise sessions.
He stated, “It has been immensely satisfying for me to demonstrate to my 18-year-old and 19-year-old boys that I can still keep up with them. We truly enjoy working out together.”
Shephard mentioned that his primary difficulty was dealing with the constant availability of baked goods, sweets, and high-calorie dishes prepared by television cooks on This Morning.
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