Mr. Men Author's Former Estate on Market for £4 Million

Sussex House Farm, a sprawling country estate in Cowden, Kent, formerly owned by Roger Hargreaves, the creator of the beloved Mr. Men series, is now on sale for £4 million.

The Grade II-listed farmhouse, dating back to 1580, features nine bedrooms and eight bathrooms. The property is situated on 30 acres of land that includes a swimming pool, tennis court, and stables. The estate was once also home to Oscar-winning actor Sir John Mills.

Hargreaves purchased the property in 1982, moving in with his wife Christine and their four children after his children's books achieved significant success. His son, Adam Hargreaves, recalled his father enjoying his success, noting that a "very nice house" was one of the perks.

The first Mr. Men book, featuring Mr. Tickle, was published in 1971, inspired by Hargreaves' son's question about what a tickle looked like. The book, featuring an orange character with long, bendy arms, sold one million copies within its first three weeks. Initially, Hargreaves faced challenges finding a publisher, but the book's success paved the way for a global phenomenon.

By 1981, the Little Miss series was introduced with characters like Little Miss Bossy. Worldwide sales for the Mr. Men and Little Miss books have exceeded 250 million copies, with adaptations including a BBC television series and comic strips published in major newspapers.

Hargreaves died in 1988 at the age of 53. His son, Adam, took over the family business at age 25 and continued to create new characters. Despite initial teenage embarrassment about his father's work, Adam Hargreaves now expresses regret that he never got to fully convey his appreciation for the Mr. Men series to his father.

Benji Weinberger, the real estate agent representing the seller, highlighted the estate's "sense of complete serenity, peace and privacy," noting that "the only sound you hear is birdsong." He also pointed out its proximity to London, which is under an hour away, making it suitable as both a family home and a weekend retreat. Offers for the property are invited in excess of £3.95 million.