A five-bedroom Grade II listed Georgian house in Chichester, England, known as Eastergate House, has been listed for sale at £1.59 million. The property served as a discreet country retreat for former British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan during his time in office in the 1950s and 1960s.
Macmillan frequently stayed at Eastergate House to escape the pressures of Westminster. During his visits, police cars were reportedly stationed along the nearby Church Lane to enhance security. It is believed that the bedroom Macmillan used still retains its original security door, reinforced with a hidden metal plate.
Eastergate House was the home of Sir Philip and Lady Marie-Louise de Zulueta in the 1950s and 1960s. Sir Philip served as a private secretary to three prime ministers: Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan, and Alec Douglas-Home. The property's historical significance is a key feature highlighted by the estate agency Jackson-Stops, which is handling the sale.
"It is unusual for a property with such high-profile connections to come to the market, particularly one where that history remains so tangible," Mark Astley, director and head of West Sussex and Hampshire Waterfront at Jackson-Stops, told This is Money. "For its next owners, there will be something rather special about welcoming guests and being able to share the stories associated with the house, from Macmillan's stays to the security door in the bedroom believed to have been used by him, which remains reinforced by a concealed metal plate today."
The current owners purchased the house in 2009 and are now downsizing as their children are finishing university. They described the property as an "historic property with a 'rich history'" and a "brilliant property for entertaining," having hosted numerous celebrations and gatherings over the past 16 years.
Property Features
The 18th-century property has been updated over the years, with its current structure recognizable from around 1890. Eastergate House spans over 6,000 square feet and includes five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and five reception rooms. The grounds encompass a walled garden and approximately 0.8 acres of land. Inside, the house features an orangery, a butler's pantry, a larder, a breakfast room, a games room, a boot room, and cellars. The south-facing reception rooms are noted for their natural light, fireplaces, fitted bookcases, and ornamental plasterwork.
The kitchen is equipped with a Rangemaster cooker and retains the original bell semaphore system. The property is situated in a conservation area near St George's Church and opposite Tithe Barn and Manor Farm.
Astley added that while the political connections are noteworthy, the property is primarily being marketed as a "very special family home" that offers generous and flexible space suitable for modern family life, appealing to buyers who value character and provenance.
During the Profumo scandal in the early 1960s, it is rumored that Christine Keeler, a central figure in the scandal, was in hiding at a country house not far from Eastergate House in the South Downs. Although not directly linked to the property, this historical context adds to the area's political intrigue during that era.