Amidst a severe drought and record-breaking heatwaves in the United Kingdom, the gardens surrounding Sir Rod Stewart's Grade II-listed mansion in Essex remain remarkably green. The 81-year-old singer's estate, purchased in 2013 for £4.65 million, features extensive grounds that contrast sharply with the browning landscapes seen across much of the country.
The property's amenities include a ten-bedroom home opening onto sprawling gardens, a mini-golf course with a fairway, putting green, and two bunkers. Also present is an artificial football pitch with a 20-space car park.
Affinity Water, which supplies Sir Rod's property, implemented a hosepipe ban across its central region, including Essex, on July 17 due to the dry weather. This ban, along with similar measures from eight other water companies, legally prohibits customers from using hosepipes for watering gardens or washing vehicles and outdoor spaces. Drought conditions have been declared in all of Wales and more than half of England, with further high temperatures expected.
While there is no direct evidence that Sir Rod has violated the current ban, watering can be used as an alternative to hosepipes, and properties may also hold exemptions. In August 2006, Stewart faced a potential £1,000 fine for flouting a hosepipe ban at his previous property in Epping Forest. At the time, his representative stated he was using an underground irrigation system, which his water provider confirmed was prohibited. Stewart later acknowledged continuing to water his football pitch during that dry summer, stating, "For me there's hardly anything more beautiful than to walk across my tended grass."
Stewart sold his former property, Copped Hall, for £4 million in 2019. His representative was contacted for comment by the Daily Mail, and Affinity Water declined to comment on the matter.
