By Tom Bevan
The home of Rolling Stones legend Charlie Watts, where he lived for 40 years until his death, is being sold by his family for $3.7 million.
Halsdon House is an exceptional Grade II listed country residence with equestrian facilities set in 55 acres in the heart of rural Devon.
The drummer and his wife Shirley were looking to buy a country escape in 1983 and came across the Grade II-listed home on the outskirts of the village of Dolton in Country Life magazine.
They stayed there happily for the rest of their lives until Charlie died in 2021 at the age of 80. Shirley died a year later also at the home.
It is now being sold by their daughter Seraphina through Savills.
She was just 15 when the family moved there and had previously said her parents valued the sanctuary out of the glare of the spotlight when the band wasn’t touring.
One previous profile on Charlie Watts wrote that his family were “content to live their solitary human lives amongst a menagerie that includes fifteen Arabian horses, eighteen dogs, and two cats.”
Pictures now show both inside and outside the stunning property that is said to combine “architectural grandeur with a warm and welcoming feel.”
The listing read: “Set within extensive private grounds, the property offers an outstanding principal house of elegant proportions, a self contained annexe, and an impressive collection of outbuildings including stabling, workshops, and traditional barns.”
Savills said the house is “perfectly positioned for those seeking privacy and tranquillity, while remaining highly accessible to the thriving villages and market towns of mid-Devon.”
It was described as a fine example of a traditional Devon country house, showcasing period features throughout including sash windows, high ceilings, decorative plasterwork and elegant fireplaces.
The accommodation extends to over 8,500 sq ft across three floors with the principal reception rooms arranged around a central entrance hall.
There is a drawing room with tall sash windows and an ornate fireplace, a formal dining room, a more relaxed sitting room and a breakfast room adjoining the kitchen.
Additional ground floor rooms include a library-style sitting room, boot room, and a cellar providing practical storage.
The heart of the home is the kitchen, supported by a utility room and walk-in pantry. From here, doors open to the garden and breakfast room.
Across the upper floors, the house offers nine bedrooms in total.
The principal bedroom suite has far-reaching views while further bedrooms, some with dual aspects and charming period detail, provide family or guest accommodation.
A library room on the first floor offers flexibility as a study, reading room or private sitting room.
The second and third floors contain additional bedrooms, ideal for children, guests, or as home offices.
Attached to the main house but with independent access, the one-bedroom annexe provides valuable self-contained accommodation.
Comprising a sitting room, kitchen, bedroom and en suite bathroom, it is ideally suited for staff, extended family or guest use.
The estate also includes several outbuildings, carefully laid out to suit both agricultural and equestrian use.
These include a substantial stable yard with multiple loose boxes, tack room and feed room.
There are also a number of workshops and barns and other detached outbuildings.
The listing added: “Together, these buildings create a highly functional estate, perfectly suited to equestrian pursuits, smallholding, or lifestyle farming.
“The house sits at the heart of its own grounds, surrounded by sweeping lawns, rhododendron beds, and an impressive collection of mature specimen trees.
“The formal gardens, with wide lawns and colourful borders, provide a wonderful setting for entertaining and outdoor living.
“Beyond the gardens, the land opens into rolling pasture and paddocks, ideal for horses or livestock.”
The listing also highlights a significant water reservoir, which features as a striking landscape feature and offers practical water supply potential.
The listing concluded: “In all, Halsdon House extends to approximately 55 acres, offering a unique combination of beauty, privacy and practicality.”
