We were thinking about downsizing - but instead decided to splash out on a £3million mansion on an abandoned private island on the Thames

A couple who briefly considered downsizing their home have made a dramatic U-turn - by splashing the cash on a River Thames private island mansion worth £3million.
Andy and Sheila Hill first spotted the overgrown D'Oyly Carte Island, near Weybridge, Surrey years ago while kayaking along the Thames.
They were immediately intrigued by the 'ridiculous' patch of land and its eye-catching derelict property, but the house was not for sale at the time.
But their patience soon paid off, with the owner's agent getting back to them in 2021 and the couple eventually buying the island and home.
Instead of downsizing their house in Richmond, southwest London, they took on the ambitious task of renovating the 13-bedroom mansion.
The music entrepreneur, 67, and his wife, 66, described how they got drawn in by the colossal project to 'bring it back to life'.
Andy said: 'My wife is very creative and she could see through what was essentially a derelict property. Every window was smashed and boarded up, the garden had metres of brambles in it.
'She turned to me and said, "that is so sad, we should do something about it."
After they bought the property, Andy said the family felt up to the challenge of restoring the place to its former glory, with Sheila being a former student of the Royal College of Art and their two children both architects.
He added that it was the 'best decision they ever made' despite the dust and construction noise.
'It would have been so sad to see it demolished as it has such a rich history and culture,' Andy said.
'When we told them that we were interested in this ridiculous house on this ridiculous island my family were very excited because it was quite a different project.
'It gave us a lot of confidence to take the plunge and give it a go.
'You just have a gut feel. It is so unique, there aren't many private islands on the Thames.
'We had no idea what to do with it. We just wanted a nice family home. We thought it would be a great place to have family reunions.'
The couple have had their work cut out since they started work in the mansion, from repairing a shattered glass dome which was responsible for flooding in the hallway to converting a 'horrible' former boat house at the end of the island into a lively bar called D'Oyly's.
Indeed, the private land has become something of a party destination for family events, music concerts, and even Pilates classes.
The pair are now able to host their three children and three grandchildren regularly, as well as throwing grand family birthday parties.
Their new home was even visited by Princess Anne in February to thank them for their efforts to restore the cultural landmark, which is named after the late 19th century owner Richard D'Oyly Carte, a London theatre impresario who Andy described as the 'Simon Cowell of the 1800s'.
Mr D'Oyly Carte also built the Savoy Hotel and produced the first operettas from Gilbert And Sullivan.
Andy added: 'I think the expression no pain no gain is very true.
'It is great being here and watching the place improve. We are seeing lots of progress every day. It is fun to see what was a dead island and house be brought back to life.
'It is a lovely place to live, but we do have to work around the renovations. I have no regrets whatsoever. If I had to do it all again, I wouldn't change a thing.'
Inspired by the island's rich music history, Andy has also decided to host summer concerts as part of the Weybridge Festival.
After a successful run last year, he has planned for the three-day event to come back on July 4-6 with live music, a hog roast, a Pimm's tent, face paint, and other activities.
The entrepreneur met with many representatives to discuss how to make the event safe, and said he invested around £35,000 to ensure the island passed all the necessary requirements.
Elmbridge Borough Council had originally opposed plans, but has now given the green light after escape plans were put in place in case of emergency.
There is a secure footbridge from the mainland to D'Oyly Carte, which is only about 50 yards away and Andy claims his island is safer than the mainland as there is no traffic and it is much harder for people to sneak in.
He said: 'It is not dangerous. Nobody is going to burn to death on an island 50 yards from the mainland.
'It is an amazingly calm place to live. It really does feel like a party house and a fun house. We have the perfect balance.
'It was always going to be an expensive project and we were happy with that.'
The left-field decision to move on to an island is becoming more popular with one young couple revealing how they're saving a whopping £20,000 a year on renting in London - by moving to an island only accessible by boat.
Adventurous couple Sacha Pritchard, 25, and Matt King, 28, moved to their island in Hampton on the River Thames after spending seven years in 'cramped seven-person flat shares'.
Three months on, they said it was the 'best decision' they had ever made, and would never have been able to afford their spacious one-bedroom bungalow in the capital's centre.
Their new home boasts a front garden with beautiful riverside views, while a boat to get them to shore is included in the rental price.
However, as the island doesn't have a bridge, Sacha and Matt are completely reliant on their little motorboat, and have been stranded when the engine has failed.
They also have to pile all their bags onto the boat after doing a food shop, and have to make the journey to the mainland at least every other day to take the bins out.
Sacha also uses the boat to commute to her 9 to 5 job four days a week.
Taking to her TikTok account @LondonIslandLiving, Sacha explained that their new living situation 'isn't for everyone', but that she and Matt 'love it'.
Last June, an island in the middle of the River Thames went on sale for just £75,000 - far less than the price of an average London flat.
The pair are completely reliant on their little motorboat, and have been stranded when the engine has failed
The property is close to the homes of celebrities including Hollywood heartthrob Orlando Bloom and rock star Liam Gallagher.
Images show an island listed as 'land for sale' measuring about 2,000sq ft in the 1,099-population village of Bisham in Berkshire, near Marlow in Buckinghamshire.
The seller previously used the site, which comes with a fetching stone pergola, for mooring a private vessel as well as private entertainment and fishing.
Temple Weir Island was being advertised for sale by estate agent Savills.
Property agent Richard Maby has told how the property which provides 250ft of river frontage would make the 'perfect spot' for rest and relaxation.
He said: 'The seller has used the island for mooring a private vessel and recreational use, such as private entertainment and fishing.
'One side has a built-up mooring, the other a more natural tree-lined bank. A domed stone pergola also stands in the middle of the island, which makes for an interesting and attractive feature.
'It's a rare opportunity for someone to purchase their own off-grid sanctuary.
'For those with a spirit for adventure, who are looking for somewhere they can escape to after a busy day, it's the perfect hideaway.'
A handful of intriguing small private islands on the Thames in Surrey house some of the world's most rich and famous, alongside ordinary Brits looking for an idyllic escape from the city.
However, island life, while beautiful, carries an element of risk. With these small pockets of land only accessible by boat or a narrow path, there is no guarantee emergency services will be able to reach residents in time during a crisis.
For Andrew Philip, who lives in one of just 23 homes on Pharaoh's Island, Surrey, this unfortunate drawback is something he is all too aware of.
Mr Philip's dream riverside home he bought with his wife in 2001 was engulfed by flames in April last year and suffered severe damage as a result.
With no bridge connecting the island to the mainland, fire services struggled to access his home and both he and his family have been living in rental accommodation ever since.
Holding his 18-month-old baby, the island's youngest resident, he said that he felt 'lucky' to have escaped.
As work on rebuilding his home gathered pace in January, he was eagerly anticipating returning to his beloved waterside residence with his young family.
Mr Philip added: 'It is slightly nerve-wracking living so close to water, we've got to be really careful and keep a close eye on him (his son).
'Every few years our lawns will get flooded. But, it is a really lovely community, the other day somebody lost power on one of their boats and everyone messaged to try and help.'
Many Brits searching for peace and quiet and a cheaper life have been flocking to a quaint seaside town that has become the new downsizing capital of Britain.
In the lovely town of Exmouth, Devon, homes remain on the market for just 26 days on average before they are sold, MailOnline can reveal.
Purplebricks analysis has revealed the town as the most desired place to downsize in, with homes being snapped up less than a month after they've been put on the market on average.
That is despite homes costing a whopping £73,000 more than a typical house in the rest of the UK.
The average price of an Exmouth home is £341,268, which is well above the UK average of £268,087.
Exmouth: The downsizing capital of Britain
Exmouth United Kingdom
Average Price - £341,268 Average Price - £268,087
Detached Price - £493,538 Detached Price - £440,190
Terraced Price - £299,947 Terraced Price - £223,808
Flat Price - £242,895 Flat Price - £196,361
Yet locals speaking to MailOnline said they weren't surprised Exmouth had become the downsizing capital.
They said the beautiful sea air was a draw to many people of differing ages, both those looking for somewhere to retire but also young parents looking to bring up their children somewhere peaceful.
Local primary school teacher and mother-of-two Georgia Wright, 34, said: 'It is a gorgeous place to live and it's relatively safe and nice to bring up your kids in.
'We've talked about moving and we just don't want to leave the beach.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Mail​

32 minutes ago

• Daily Mail​

EDEN CONFIDENTIAL: Art dealer's withering verdict on Petra Ecclestone's ex James Stunt

Cleared of all charges relating to a £266 million money-laundering scam – unlike his four fellow co-defendants, three of whom are on the run – James Stunt, who was declared bankrupt in 2019, argues that the value of his artworks, currently held by museums and galleries, is greater in value than his debts. But I can disclose that perhaps the most impeccably informed of Stunt's old acquaintances disagrees. New York art dealer Ezra Chowaiki, released from a US prison in 2020 after a 13-month stretch for fraud, first met the self-styled gold bullion dealer one weekend in 2015, when Stunt was still married to Formula 1 heiress Petra Ecclestone. What followed was so extraordinary that it helped spur Chowaiki into writing an eye-popping expose of the art world, the basis for a documentary now in development. 'Even within the absurd circus that is the high-end art world, Stunt stood out as a master clown,' Chowaiki tells me from New York, recalling their first encounter during which Stunt asserted that his Rolls was 'the only truly bulletproof car in England' and 'worth £1 million'. At his Mayfair office – which resembled 'something between Miami Vice and Succession' – Stunt reached into a safe, threw an object into Chowaiki's lap and asked: 'Do you know how much that's worth?' It was a gold ingot. Chowaiki then offered Stunt a painting. It was, aptly, a clown by Salvador Dali, priced £1.16million. Stunt responded by getting out his phone, showing Chowaiki two paintings by French artist Georges Braque and saying that he'd trade them for the Dali and $1million. Saying that he'd think about it, Chowaiki left London. In the following week, he alleges, he was 'hounded' by Stunt, who now offered the Braques for the Dali plus $500,000, and sent a series of 'increasingly deranged and voluminous texts'. Chowaiki insisted that Stunt send him photos of the Braques in their frames. 'The images he had sent could have been scanned from books,' reflects Chowaiki, who says that he had severe doubts about the authenticity of one of the paintings in particular. He had one last exchange with Stunt, who lent several paintings to Dumfries House – saved for the nation by King Charles – only for it to emerge that a number of them were fakes. Called by Stunt, who was seeking guidance about how to have the Picassos in his collection authenticated, Chowaiki explained that they should be submitted to Picasso's son, Claude. He recalls that Stunt asked in a 'hushed' tone: 'Do you think Claude could The comment (presumably a joke) made Chowaiki laugh, he recalls, before he explained to Stunt that Claude 'would never compromise himself'. A source close to Stunt says that the visit to his office couldn't have happened as he did not have access to his office at weekend. Doubtless Stunt is speaking in good faith, besides which, as his former butler, John Gilmour, told the Mail On Sunday last month, he frequently enjoyed Sunday lunch with his godfather, convicted crime baron Terry Adams. But one wonders if he has failed, in this instance, to take into account his past cocaine addiction and the consequent damage that it might have done to his memory. Chowaiki's texts for the weekend in question unequivocally show that Stunt asked to meet him on September 27, 2015. The source additionally insists he did not toss a gold ingot as Chowaiki suggests and denies that Stunt ever asked whether Claude Picasso could be influenced. Chowaiki, aware that he blotted his own copybook, counters: 'As unreliable a narrator as I may be, I'm still better than most in this field. Plus, I keep my texts.' Double take as 'Kate' parties at Annabel's The Princess of Wales's absence from Royal Ascot was much remarked-upon, and some at Annabel's summer solstice party were convinced they had spotted her at the private members club in Mayfair. However, on closer inspection, they realised it was Meg Bellamy, who played the younger version of Catherine in drama The Crown. The actress, 22, wore a white mini dress, and one guest tells me: 'I had to do a double take.' Hancock's new ink Matt Hancock's reinvention continues. The former Tory MP, 46, resigned as health secretary after CCTV showed him kissing and embracing Gina Coladangelo, his aide, at Whitehall in breach of Covid distancing restrictions in 2021. The pair were both married to other people. This week, his daughter Hope, 18, announced online: 'My dad got a tattoo today. Mid-life crisis.' Hancock declines to say which design is now inked on his body – or on which part of his anatomy – telling me: 'I'm not commenting.' Not like him… Brian's boozy podcast appearance Recalling actor Brian Cox's recent appearance on her podcast, chef Angela Hartnett mischievously claims the Succession star, 79, got tipsy on margaritas before going on the West End stage that night. With Cox playing JS Bach in The Score at the time, Hartnett quips: 'We just got Brian Cox drunk, it was fine. He went on to do a show later, it was amazing.' Podcast co-host Nick Grimshaw says: 'He got right on it.' Surely not! Dominic West and Alexandra Tolstoy share trek's appeal Dominic West once trekked to the South Pole with Prince Harry, who later shunned him. But The Affair star's latest adventure found him saddling up with a far more appealing companion. Alexandra Tolstoy, 51, rode horseback across Kyrgyzstan with West, 55, for a new documentary. 'It's a bit embarrassing I haven't watched The Wire,' she says of one of the actor's most celebrated TV dramas. 'But it's been so much fun.' Author and broadcaster Tolstoy is a tourism ambassador for the former Soviet state. Royal fiction is foul play The Royal Family may feel they have enough to contend with from America, especially its West Coast. But things can deteriorate further, judging by a play now being performed off Broadway. It would be a challenge to summarise Prince Faggot – the play's title – as merely 'imaginative', given that it features a fetish mask and recreational drugs and other activities which would look more in place in Fifty Shades Of Grey. A programme note asserts that all the text is fictional and adds that 'any resemblance to real events is purely coincidental'. Yet playwright Jordan Tannahill opts for a central character called Prince George, son of the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate. Shame on Tannahill. The smart set's talking about Henry's Royal Ascot role Carriage three in the Royal Procession caught the eye at Royal Ascot, thanks to the elegant figure of Harriet Sperling, the paediatric nurse accompanying the King's nephew, Peter Phillips, just over a year after the couple – both divorced – were first seen together in public. Their marital histories would once have made their attendance unthinkable, but this more forgiving era had another beneficiary – in carriage four. Not Lady Joanna Morton Jack, the Earl and Countess of Halifax's only daughter, but Joanna's husband, judge's son Henry Morton Jack. A barrister of brilliance, he's described as 'hugely talented' by Chambers legal directory. But he's not always been quite so upright... most memorably at a Madonna film premiere party in his youth when he and his chum, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent's son, Lord Freddie Windsor, took a little too much refreshment. Tuesday was certainly a day to build up a thirst but, happily, Henry, 46, remained splendidly vertical. How divorced Luke finally beat drugs Rupert Murdoch's former grandson-in-law, British rapper Luke 'Lukey' Storey, has spoken publicly for the first time about the addiction that destroyed his marriage to the media magnate's granddaughter – just 12 hours after they said 'I do'. Charlotte Freud, 24, daughter of media executive Elisabeth Murdoch and PR supremo Matthew Freud, married Luke in 2022 in a star-studded Cotswolds wedding with guests including Woody Harrelson and Claudia Winkleman. But behind the spectacle, the couple were already teetering on the brink. 'We had been married for 12 hours when our whole world fell apart,' Charlotte later admitted. Luke relapsed on the way to their honeymoon. What followed was a turbulent, 14-month marriage marked by mutual attempts at recovery – and frequent collapse. for Sarah's memoir, How Not To Be A Political Wife, at Hatchards in Piccadilly, London. 'It wasn't easy writing this book – and for some it will be an equally difficult read,' she admits. Luke, 39, now says: 'I ruined a lot of relationships while I was using – people I loved dearly, close friends, family. You can't heal relationships while you're still actively hurting yourself.' Sarah's bond with Kemi She may have fallen out with David 'man-baby' Cameron, but my colleague Sarah Vine enjoys warmer relations with the current Tory leader. Kemi Badenoch joined guests including Kirstie Allsopp and Piers Morgan at the launch party for Sarah's memoir, How Not To Be A Political Wife, at Hatchards in Piccadilly, London. 'It wasn't easy writing this book – and for some it will be an equally difficult read,' she admits. (Very) modern manners The love lives of Fern Britton's daughters are providing inspiration for her novels. 'Grace has a lovely partner, but Winnie is single, and whilst she's a very attractive girl, it all seems so difficult now,' says Fern, 67, who separated from their father, TV chef Phil Vickery, in 2020. 'In the 1970s, a man would come and say, 'Oh, do you want to go out?' and you'd reply, 'Yes, thank you'. Now, it seems they're all giving each other therapy about someone they've been seeing for ten days.' She tells Saga magazine: 'I was intrigued about how these relationships work and wanted to explore that a bit.'

Daily Mail​

33 minutes ago

• Daily Mail​

Holly Willoughby cosies up to pal Christine Lampard in hysterical throwback snap from the pair's kooky girls' night

took to Instagram on Friday with a hysterical throwback snap from her and pal Christine Lampard 's kooky girls' night. The former This Morning presenter, 44, and Loose Women host, 46, appeared to be having a wonderful time as they playfully posed with crisps in their mouths as fangs. The cheeky duo looked fresh faced and radiant in the snap as they posed up a storm and gazed into the camera. Holly captioned the post: 'About last night… found this on the roll.… how do you eat your crisps? @christinelampard #fangtastic'. Fans were left in hysterics and rushed to the comments writing: 'I just love you two': 'love this xx': 'So many questions and not enough answers, I fear Looks like it was a hilarious night x'. Back in April Christine was on hand to support her close friend after her long running show Dancing On Ice was axed by ITV. Once again taking to Instagram Holly shared a selfie as the pair enjoyed a glass of wine in the sunshine. It came after she'd been left without an ITV primetime show for the first time in 21 years after turning down a major job with the broadcaster. Taking her mind of the matter, Holly look as lovely as ever with a pair of stylish black sunglasses and a navy blue padded jacket. Meanwhile Christine looked equally as stunning as she also donned black sunglasses and a grey jacket. Soaking up the sun, the pals beamed for the camera as they caught up with each other over a drink. Holly captioned the sweet snap: 'Rosé kinda Day.' It comes after Holly sent fans into a frenzy as she unveiled a striking new look on the platform on Thursday. The TV presenter looked worlds away from her usual style as she posed for a car selfie wearing bold, chunky black-frame glasses. The pair feature in a close knit group of pals alongside Emma Bunton and Nicole Appleton Turning heads in a yellow and white striped shirt, Holly beamed at the camera as she showed off her new look and joked about her latest parenting challenge. 'Any other mum/dads of 16 year old / post GCSE children suddenly find themselves with a new role of personal party driver? Mums Mini Cabs and yes I'm now a glasses wearer ... game changer!' she captioned the snap. Holly and her husband Dan Baldwin are parents to son Harry, 16, daughter Belle, 12, and nine-year-old son Chester. The broadcaster revealed a secret health battle that drove her to 'write herself off' in an emotional Channel 4 documentary. Jamie Oliver 's new show, Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution, hit screens earlier this month. The documentary saw the TV chef look into the challenges dyslexic children have to tackle at school and push for more support from the Government. Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling and difficulties with processing. During the film, Holly features and opens up about her own battle with dyslexia. Reflecting on her time at school, the TV star spoke about her 'poor results' in tests despite 'working really, really hard'. She said: 'I definitely was terrible at spelling. I knew that because in spelling tests I would always get poor results' 'I always knew that when I got my homework back, there would be red pen all over it where there would be 'silly mistakes',' Holly added. The presenter revealed how it made her feel 'different' and explained: 'I felt like I was working really, really hard, with not getting much results. So I felt different.' She shared her take on the current school system and how it isn't suited for everyone. 'The school system is made for a certain type of learning and its so hard when you don't learn like that,' Holly said. 'When you then write yourself off at school as being non-academic that does shape your future somewhat,' she added. The TV presenter has previously said she was diagnosed with dyslexia 'quite late in life' and has praised her teachers with helping her overcome it at school. And during an episode of This Morning back in 2022, the star said she did not see the learning difficulty as a 'disability', adding: 'I think it makes me who I am.' While discussing dyslexia with British entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson, 71, who is also dyslexic, Holly said: 'I don't see it as a disability at all, I see it as a real feather in my cap. 'I'm very proud of being dyslexic, I think it makes me who I am. I think half of the things I think that I'm actually quite good at in life are because I'm dyslexic.' Sir Richard responded: 'I was so hopeless at school work that I decided aged 15 to leave school and do the things that I was interested in, and once I started putting my dyslexic thinking brain to things that I was interested in I started to excel at them.

Times

an hour ago

• Times

How to pull off summer's no make-up look

No make-up make-up is the ultimate beauty oxymoron. Don't expect it to involve fewer products or any less money, but it will most definitely leave you looking your best without seeming overly made-up. In other words, it is perfect for long summer days and lazy holidays. Here's what really works. Stila All About The Blur StickNow this is a little stick of magic that goes on clear, mattifies and gives a soft-focus finish but without pigment. Use on shiny T-zones on warmer days and watch pores, unwanted shine and sweat disappear. £28.50; Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF50This tinted sunscreen has taken the beauty cognoscenti by storm this summer. Why? Because it truly works on all skin shades and gives a flattering finish, especially on sensitive and oilier skin. It's not a primary SPF but ideal for an added layer of sun protection. It looks great on the go, comes in 15 shades and is a multifunction summertime saver. £34; Erborian CC CrèmeSeeing is believing with this little beauty from the wildly popular Korean brand. It goes on looking like a moisturiser yet turns to a lightly pigmented, Instagram-esque 'Paris filter' for your face. Just recently it has been reduced in price. It comes in four shades but more are promised later this year. I tested this on This Morning and every male presenter wanted to take one home. Your skin on its best day in a tube. £38; • Caroline Hirons: Britain's most powerful beauty expert House of Hur Moist Ampoule BlusherThis is the serum soft-tint liquid blusher that took TikTok by storm as the much more reasonably priced alternative to Armani. It comes in three shades and is gorgeous: super-flattering and sheer, it blends Korean hydrating skincare with a hint of a tint. £15; Jane Iredale Just Kissed Lip and Cheek StainThis lip balm goes on sheer but reacts to the pH of your lips to create a flattering, slightly intensified version of your lip colour. What's more, it acts as a lipcare balm at the same time to stave off the threat of dry, parched lips. £35, in four shades; Chanel Les Beiges Water-Fresh TintChanel has trouble keeping this in stock the minute the sun shines because it is such a cult product. It adds a hint of a tint, a hit of hydration and a healthy glow. Add concealer for more coverage, but this is the type of base you can wear on the beach and not look as if you're wearing a scrap of make-up (just great skin). £55, in eight shades; 19/99 Lash Tint MascaraNow this is clever: a mascara that is so subtle it can be worn in your brows too. It looks more like a lash tint as it adds colour but no volume or length, for a really natural and pretty look. It's tubing too, so no telltale smudges on hot and sweaty days. Better yet, it will rinse away with just warm water when you want. This is a brilliant Canadian brand that specialises in multipurpose products that are affordable too. £14, in three shades; • Read more beauty product reviews and advice from our experts Wonderskin FYP Translucent PowderI don't care how natural you look, you never want to be sweaty or shiny, and this totally translucent powder will work over even the most subtle base and on any skin tone. I discovered this when chatting to the make-up legend Val Garland, who keeps it in her SOS kit on set both for her own face when filming Glow Up and for models on cover shoots. £18; Glossier Shadow Stick Sometimes you need just a touch of shadow to define the eye in the lash line and in the crease of both eyes. This comes in five shades with music-themed names: try Riff for contouring – it's the ideal neutral shade that creates shadow and definition, blends easily, stays in place and doesn't really look like eyeshadow. £22; Find @nadinebaggott on Instagram and YouTube where she answers all your beauty questions