_Private View 2019 property of the week: Dinmore Manor, Herefordshire, UK

Below is an excerpt of an article on Dinmore Manor, a featured property in Private View 2019, Knight Frank’s definitive guide to luxury property and lifestyle in the UK – and beyond. We take a look in and around this extraordinary Grade II-listed estate that has secured a legacy as one of the UK’s most precious private estates, since the 12th century. Read the full version in Private View, 2019 on p21.

The sale of Dinmore Manor Estate in Herefordshire presents a rare opportunity to own an important residential, sporting and farming estate steeped in history. Centred around a Grade II-listed house and chapel, the 1,468- acre estate has been in the hands of only four families since 1559, a provenance that demonstrates the commitment of dedicated owners over the years. 

 “The approach to the manor as the drive meanders through the estate is incredibly impressive, one of the most superb in the country and serves to emphasise Dinmore’s wonderful seclusion,” says Clive Hopkins, Partner and Knight Frank’s Head of Farms and Estates.

The earliest sections of the Manor House were built at the end of the 16th century but the estate’s history dates back to 1189 when Dinmore was inaugurated by the Knights Templar and subsequently owned by the Knights Hospitaller. Under the military and religious orders Dinmore became a refuge for pilgrims and a training centre for knights heading to the Crusades.

Each family played a part in preserving and adapting the estate but it is the current owner, who purchased Dinmore in 1999, who has most extensively brought it up to date. Working with a pre-eminent classical architect, whose clients include the Prince of Wales, he has blended natural materials with contemporary, elegant finishes and the combination of exquisite craftsmanship, modern technology and exemplary attention to detail are masterful.

“The owner has renovated all aspects of the estate to the highest specifications,” Clive Hopkins says. “It is rare to find such uncompromising attention to detail on such a scale.” The drawing room has an 18th-century marble fireplace from Berkeley Castle, the more intimate sitting room with soft green panelled walls leads on to the terrace and the artfully-lit arched cloisters link the principal reception rooms with a grand entertaining space including a magnificent music room. This is one of the most significant rooms in the manor, added along with the cloisters in 1936.

 “There has not been an estate on the market for many years with a comparable range of facilities,” concludes Clive Hopkins. “The sheer breadth of what is on offer and the immaculate condition of the entire estate are exemplary.” With a superbly managed farm and ancient woodlands, a high-bird pheasant and partridge shoot and 20 separate outbuildings and dwellings, Dinmore Manor Estate is ready to add the next dynasty of owner to its illustrious history. 

Uncover the secrets of Dinmore Manor for yourself. Contact Clive Hopkins, Partner and Knight Frank’s Head of Farms and Estates for more information:

Dinmore Manor is one of several extraordinary properties featured in the 2019 edition of Private View, which can be downloaded here: