The Grade II listed Georgian mansion bought by Sir Michael Caine using the wage he received from a ‘terrible’ movie he starred in has just gone on the market for £10million.
The Hollywood star lived in the sprawling Rectory Farm House on the banks of the River Thames in Wallington, Oxfordshire, for 15 years.
He and his wife, Shakira, carried out extensive renovations, adding a cinema room and home spa to the ‘quintessentially English country house’.
Sir Michael, now 92, once admitted the revamp was funded by the reported $1million he earned for starring in Jaws: The Revenge.
He said: ‘I have never seen Jaws 4, but by all accounts it was terrible. However, I have seen the house that it built and it is terrific.’
The movie, which flopped at the box office, was released while Caine was living in the Rectory Farm House.
The Alfie and Italian Job star recalled buying the property ‘on the spot’ after his wife fell in love with it as they drove through the gates.
The bar in the Rectory Farm House which was once owned by Sir Michael Caine
The property boasts of a cinema room for guests to enjoy added by Sir Michael and his wife
An avenue of lime trees draws the eye from the house towards the boathouse, mooring jetty and river
The leisure complex houses a 100,000 litre pool, part of which is enclosed by a glass pavilion with its curved glass roofline
The listing describes the property as ‘architecturally interesting’
Sir Michael and his wife, Shakira, both pictured, carried out extensive renovations, adding a cinema room and home spa to the ‘quintessentially English country house’
He said: ‘As we drove up through the gates marked ‘Rectory Farmhouse’, Shakira leaned over to me and whispered, ‘We’ve got to have it!’ ‘We haven’t even bloody seen it!’ I grumbled, but deep down, I should have known better.’
The Alfie and Italian Job star sold the house in 1998 for £1.9 million before it was sold again in 2001 for £3.75 million.
The stunning property, which includes numerous features designed by the Oscar-winning actor, is on the market again for £10million.
Estate agent Savills, which is handling the sale, said: ‘Michael Caine extensively added to the house and planted many of the specimen trees to be found in the grounds.
‘The driveway sweeps round to the front of the house, with its impressive portico entrance.’
The 11,660 square foot main house has six bedrooms, several reception rooms, a boot room, library, two kitchens, music room and wine store.
The land where the Grade II Listed 17th Century Country House offers 200 yards of River Thames frontage
The huge office in the 11,660 square foot main house
The spa offers plenty of space for any one looking to relax after a busy week
There is even a sauna to fully switch off from the worries of life
The grounds also include Caine’s dovecote, a two-bedroom cottage used as staff accommodation
The cottage has sitting room, kitchen, downstairs bedroom suite and mezzanine bedroom suite
The lovely bedroom in the cottage in the grounds of the Georgian mansion
The sitting rooms in the cottage also boasts of a fire place perfect for the cold winter evenings
The 8 acres even has a lake perfect for any morning dog walks
Nestled in 8.3 acres, the property boasts three lakes, a summer house and a boathouse
The grounds also include Caine’s dovecote, a two-bedroom cottage used as staff accommodation.
Nestled in 8.3 acres, the property boasts three lakes, a summer house and a boathouse with a mooring jetty accessing the River Thames.
A tennis court and croquet lawn, which were both designed and built by Caine and his wife, are sited close to the extensive vegetable garden and orchard.
Savills added: ‘The hexagonal Georgian dovecote, which once housed Michael Caine’s Port collection and whose shelves still bear the labels written by him, provides ample storage for wine.’
