Award-winning director Tim Burton might be known for gothic fantasy films and a macabre sense of humor, but you would hardly know it looking at his historic estate tucked in the English countryside. Dubbed the Mill House, the 18th-century residence in Oxfordshire is a storybook example of Georgian architecture, with bright and generously proportioned rooms, and a facade embellished with period details fronted by a rose garden.
Originally built in 1741 on the site of a paper mill, the 17-acre property sits directly on the River Thames—upstream from London—and was once owned by former U.K. Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith, who led the country from 1908 to 1916. The estate later changed hands, but an Asquith descendant brought it back into the family in 2006. That progeny? Actress Helena Bonham Carter, who was in a relationship with Burton at the time. The filmmaker kept the Grade II-listed residence in the breakup.
The living room features a marble inset fireplace surround.
Now, the Beetlejuice director has decided to sell, putting the eight-bedroom retreat on the market for £4.5 million, or roughly $6 million, with Savills. Located in the rural village of Sutton Courtenay, the 5,900 square-foot dwelling is chock-full of period charm. (Think decorative plaster cornicing, dado rails, and elaborate fireplace surrounds.) But there are also not-so-subtle decorative nods to Burton’s career, with eye-catching movie posters and other memorabilia popping up in various spots.
Large sash windows allow light to flow through the interiors.
On the ground floor are four reception rooms and the kitchen, which features painted wood floors and a walk-in pantry. There’s also a dedicated cloak room, utility space equipped with a Chubb safe, and mudroom. The top two floors hold the bedrooms, including a primary suite with its own entry hall, and a second, smaller bedroom that would make for a convenient nursery or dressing room.
Weeping willows grace the banks of the Thames.
The grounds, meanwhile, are dotted with mature specimen trees such as cedar of Lebanon, dawn redwood, weeping willow, and silver birch. Several streams and tributaries of the River Thames meander through the property, creating a series of islands accessible via wooden and rope bridges. In addition to the rose garden out front, the estate comes with a formal courtyard garden enclosed by brick walls, croquet lawn, and a pergola-shaded terrace overlooking a pond.
One of several bridges on the grounds.
For those with security top of mind, the gated property is installed with CCTV and an intercom, as well as an alarm system monitored by Chubb. Notably, ownership also comes with full riparian and fishing rights. With easy access to London by both car and train, the estate is also just 16 miles from the Oxford airport, which is private.
Geoffrey Montes is an associate editor at ELLE Decor with a serious love for all things real estate and design. Before that, he worked at Architectural Digest, Galerie, and Preservation magazines, covering everything from jaw-dropping listings to world-famous architects and design events like Salone del Mobile and Homo Faber.