Ben Shephard
has spent £3.5 million on an exquisite new property that previously served as the official residence for a bishop.
While a number of
ITV
While some daytime television personalities might be contemplating cost-cutting measures 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 in a picturesque riverside location in the western area.
London
following an upgrade from his previous residence nearby.
However, Ben faces an issue with his ideal house: although spacious, it lacks both a driveway and rear entrance, allowing access solely through a narrow front gate.
This will make it challenging to organize any construction work needed for updating the Grade II listed building.
A source mentioned: “It’s an incredibly stunning house. However, the floor plan implies that
If he wishes to make significant changes to it—and it certainly requires an update—he will face difficulties bringing in larger materials or heavy machinery.
The sole entry point is through a comparatively small front gate, and since it’s registered, he’ll find it difficult to modify the design to change that.
‘Best of 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 dark spot on the horizon for them since everything else about the house is part of their dream come true; thus, he’s looking for a way to resolve this issue.
When Shephard joined forces with Cat Deeley last year to become the new hosts of ThisMorning, taking over from long-standing presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, he received a significant salary increase.
It is said that both of them are earning approximately £550,000 per year to host the show for 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 outdoor areas.
He devoted a year to meticulously converting the pair’s previous residence in Richmond into an exquisite fantasy home.
The couple might view their new home as an “undertaking” of sorts.
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,’ highlighting its ‘unequaled location.’
However, implying that there was potential for improvement, they mentioned that it was ‘ready to be turned into a fantastic family residence.’
The large detached property, which is thought to be 300 years old, was originally the home of Thomas Twining, who made his fortune in the tea trade after setting up his first tea house in 1706 in Devereux Court near the Strand in London.
The estate stayed within the family for seven generations until, upon her demise in 1889, artist and social reformer Elizabeth Twining left the property to the church.
The house initially served as an impressive vicarage and later became the official office and dwelling place for a bishop.
The 10-bedroomed property, which is located in a riverside conservation area, comprises almost 6,000 square feet of accommodation.
Estate agents highlighted how it offered buyers ‘an exceptional opportunity’ after coming on the market ‘for the first time in three centuries’.
The property is located near the River Thames, adjacent to a large Grade II-listed church on one side and an historic park and garden on the other.
It is believed that this place was once preferred by royalty as a summer getaway spot.
The description of the house includes an ‘elegant facade from a past era adorned with an intricate entryway canopy and a distinctive sundial feature’ positioned over the main doorway.
Within, the property maintains many of its original period features including ‘impressive ceiling heights, fireplaces,’ as well as an elegant entrance hall and intricately wood-carved staircase.
In the lower area, although the majority of spaces were set up as offices and reception areas, you can still find a living room, dining room, kitchen, and utility room.
The first floor consists of six bedrooms and two bathrooms, whereas the second-floor annex includes three additional bedrooms and another space that has been converted into an office.
As stated in an elegant real estate agency pamphlet, the gardens surrounding the property encircle three sides of the house and provide opportunities for transformation through landscaping into a remarkable outdoor space.
The pamphlet mentioned that the sale presented “a remarkably rare chance to develop an extraordinary and distinctive family residence in an excellent position.”
The statement went on to say: “Boasting an impressive waterside setting, a deep-rooted heritage, and top-notch accessibility, this residence provides a distinctive fusion 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 had trouble getting through 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 pursuing their studies at the University of Birmingham, Shephard encountered Annie.
Aiming 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.
Shephard, who was born in Essex, went on to have a thriving television career, helming some of Britain’s most cherished programs, including serving as the principal presenter for GoodMorningBritain.
He once had a brief appearance in an episode of the popular American 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, she organized glamorous parties, impressive conferences, and award ceremonies.
Following her journey into motherhood, Annie—who identifies as ‘a wellie-wearing vegetable grower’—juggled nurturing her kids for 18 years alongside ‘demolishing and redesigning 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 enabled me to grasp both the theoretical aspects of design and gain practical experience through hands-on creation, metaphorically wearing Wellington boots and wielding a shovel.”
Following several missteps and numerous achievements, my friends began seeking assistance with their personal interior design and gardening projects.
In 2016, the couple purchased their house in Richmond, and Shepherd would sometimes post pictures on social media showcasing his family life outside the spotlight.
Photos shared during the COVID-19 lockdown of their former residence highlighted their impressive extensive gardens, featuring amenities such as a ‘gin bench,’ an outdoor fire pit, and archways 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 recording studio, he remains far from inactive. He showcased his impressive build on the cover of Men’s Health magazine, proving he’s not just a ‘sofa slug.’
Shephard explained how he maintains his fitness 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 their level of competition. 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 ThisMorning.
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