Arreton Manor, Isle of Wight: Home to EIGHT monarchs
Arreton Manor is an ancient manor house in the Isle of Wight.
Arreton Manor, traced back to 872AD in Alfred The Great's Will, has been home to eight British monarchs.
Its earliest known royal owner was King Alfred the Great, he was the first of the eight British monarchs who were known to own it.
The other monarchs include Edward The Confessor, William The Conqueror, Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and Charles I.
The stone manor house has a wealth of period features including stone mullioned windows with leaded lights, fine wood panelling, Tudor-arched doorways and fireplaces as well as much of the original timbering and joinery.
It’s set in about 4.5 acres of formal gardens and grounds.
This property provides extensive accommodation including 8 bedrooms and 7 reception rooms together with outbuildings.
It is understood that Alfred The Great's mother owned the manor before him and that she had inherited it from her Father.
It was left by King Alfred by his will to his youngest son Aethelweard.
As mentioned in the Domesday Book, it was owned by William the Conqueror in 1086, in the 12th century it became part of Quarr Abbey and was used by the monks for over 400 years.
William the Conqueror, also known as William I, was a significant historical figure who became the first Norman King of England after his victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
He was born around 1028 in Falaise, Normandy (now part of France), and was the illegitimate son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy.
In 1525, this magnificent property was leased to the Leigh family - and it was shortly after rebuilt between 1595 and 1612, built in Jacobean style.
Charles I (pictured below) enjoyed relaxing here as well as acting as 'Judge and Jury' in the Court Room during his reign.
He also hid in a cupboard on the first floor when troops came searching for him from Carisbrooke Castle.
Queen Victoria, meanwhile, graced the ancient building by planting a conifer tree on the front lawn.
Queen Mary and HRH Prince Philip were also known to enjoy visiting here.
The Manor was given to the Quarr Abbey monks who farmed the land for about 400 years, one of the stone floors still has dips in its flagstones where the monks prayed.
In 1525, Henry VIII reclaimed the house from the monks as it owned a considerable amount of land all the way up to Fishbourne.
The Manor has predominantly been a home in its long history and architecturally it has changed very little since the 1590's and is truly a very handsome and exceptionally fine example of Elizabethan and Jacobean manorial architecture.
From the late 1800s the manor has changed hands many times with the property having been used for many different uses, from private residence to museum to more recently as a destination for weddings.
Today, it’s a private home, but some rooms are available today for a more unusual escape.
They also have extensive ornamental gardens open for guests to explore.
Writing on TripAdvisor, a recent visitor said: “I have recently returned from a lovely weekend at Arreton Manor on the Isle of Wight.
” We only stumbled across the house whilst looking for a short break . Beautiful , clean and the owner was so welcoming and helpful , we learnt so much of the house’s history.”
Another person added: “We have just returned from a truly fabulous stay at Nathalies beautiful home. Nathalie greeted us warmly giving us a tour of The Nook and giving us some history of Arreton Manor.
”Nathalie could not have been more generous in her offering of her home, immediately making us feel welcome and relaxed.
”The accommodation in The Nook was extremely comfortable offering everything that one could need. The gardens really do need seeing to be believed.”
You can find out more and book a room via their official website - each room is very different to the next and some do not come with certain amenities.
About Alfred the Great - first owner of Arreton Manor
King Alfred the Great was a notable and revered ruler of Wessex, a kingdom in Anglo-Saxon England, who reigned from 871 to 899 AD.
He was born in 849 AD and was the youngest son of King Æthelwulf of Wessex.
Alfred is remembered for his efforts in defending his kingdom against Viking invasions and for his contributions to the development of law, education, and culture in England.
During his reign, England faced numerous Viking raids, and Alfred was instrumental in organizing resistance against these incursions.
He implemented military reforms, constructed fortified towns known as burhs, and established a system of defense known as the Burghal Hidage to protect his kingdom from Viking attacks.
He initiated a revival of scholarship, invited learned men to his court, and promoted the translation of Latin texts into Old English.
He himself translated several works, including historical, religious, and philosophical texts, aiming to make knowledge more accessible to his people.
He is often regarded as a just and wise king, earning the epithet "the Great" for his achievements in protecting Wessex, preserving its culture, and fostering education and legal reforms.
King Alfred's legacy remains influential in English history, and he is considered one of the most important figures of the early medieval period in England.
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