The monarch has opened The Water Tower, located on his vast Norfolk estate, for overnight stays for the first time since it was built in 1877
The King spends most of his time on the Sandringham estate(Image: Getty Images)
King Charles has started a ‘new chapter’ at the Sandringham estate, by opening one of its historic buildings for overnight visitors. The Water Tower has been transformed into a ‘retreat for two’, with bookings now available for the first time since it was built in 1877.
The cosy rooms look over the picturesque 20,000-acre estate, with the news of the tower’s renovations being announced on social media. “THE WAIT IS OVER…Introducing The Water Tower,” read the caption on the Sandringham Instagram post. “Rising majestically above the Norfolk countryside on the historic Sandringham Estate, a remarkable piece of Royal history is being unveiled for a new chapter.”
The tower was built in 1877 after the future King Edward VII and his eldest son, Prince Albert Victor, contracted typhoid at Sandringham and there were urgent concerns over water qualilty. Engineer James Mansergh was then commission to build the tower and it became a main source of supplying clean drinking water to the entire estate.
The Sandringham website states: “This extraordinary Victorian landmark has been thoughtfully restored into an exceptional retreat for two — bringing together Royal heritage, architectural grandeur and breath-taking views.
“Designed by renowned engineer James Mansergh, the Tower’s distinctive neo-Byzantine architecture, circular form and intricate brickwork have stood proudly above the Norfolk landscape for almost 150 years.”
The post concluded by encouraging royal fans to head to their website and book their stay at the ‘transformed landmark’. The Sandringham Estate website boasts that the Water Tower is “one of the most unusual and memorable stays in Britain”.
“Inside, the accommodation has been carefully designed to celebrate the building’s unique character,” the listing describes. “Heritage-inspired tones and neutral interiors complement the Tower’s original features, while reclaimed elements sourced from the wider Estate sit alongside thoughtfully chosen furnishings.”
“Historic pictures and photographs depicting The Royal Family and Sandringham’s rich past create a strong sense of place, ensuring the story of the Tower remains woven throughout the experience,” it continues.
“Private, atmospheric and entirely unique, The Water Tower is an exceptional retreat for couples seeking something truly out of the ordinary.”
The Water Tower is spread across several floors, with the entrance, kitchen, dining room and bathroom located on the ground floor, while the king-sized bedroom with views across the state takes up the first floor.
The second floor features a cosy living room with fireplace and access to a rooftop terrace, which boasts 360 degree views of the Norfolk countryside.
The terrace was once used by the Royal Family and their guests during shooting parties and picnics, where they would take in the same sweeping views across the Estate.
The Water Tower is the most intimate accommodation available on the Sandringham estate, with other homes, including The Folly and the Gardens House, can house six and eight people respectively.
The Water Tower at Sandringham is available through Oliver’s Travels, with weekly rates from £1,500 to £2,395.
Sandringham is one of two estates that the monarch privately owns, with the other being Balmoral in Scotland. The Royal Family gather at the Norfolk estate each December, as Christmas in Sandringham is one of many royal traditions.
The estate is filled with royal history, while also being home to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the King’s disgraced younger brother, who resides in Marsh Farm after being booted out of the Royal Lodge in Windsor last year.
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