Annunciata Elwes
Annunciata grew up in the wilds of Lancashire and now lives in Hampshire with a husband, two daughters and an awful pug called Parsley. She’s been floating round the Country Life office for more than a decade, her work winning the Property Magazine of the Year Award in 2022 (Property Press Awards). Before that, she had a two-year stint writing ‘all kinds of fiction’ for The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, worked in internal comms for Country Life’s publisher (which has had many names in recent years but was then called IPC Media), and spent another year researching for a historical biographer, whose then primary focus was Graham Greene and John Henry Newman and whose filing system was a collection of wardrobes and chests of drawers filled with torn scraps of paper. During this time, she regularly gave tours of 17th-century Milton Manor, Oxfordshire, which may or may not have been designed by Inigo Jones, and co-founded a literary, art and music festival, at which Johnny Flynn headlined. When not writing and editing for Country Life, Annunciata is also a director of TIN MAN ART, a contemporary art gallery founded in 2021 by her husband, James Elwes.
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A breathtaking, secret idyll on the banks of the River Dart, with stunning views and almost on the doorstep of Dartmouth Castle
One for the water babies — this spectacular three-bedroom waterside property sits on the edge of the River Dart where it meets the sparkling Channel.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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In Focus: The artwork that helped define one of Radiohead's defining albums
A series of paintings by Stanley Donwood, the artist who produced what is arguably Radiohead's most famous album cover, are up for auction via Christie's. Annunciata Elwes takes a look.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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A handsome Ashlar stone property in a village named 'The Queen of the Cotswolds' has come to market
Meticulously restored in recent years, Loveday's House is an early Georgian property set in beautiful gardens in a well-known Cotswolds village.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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A magnificent country house in Somerset with impressive oak beams throughout, and a cute two-bed stone cottage in the garden
Whites Farm is a quintessential west-country period home that is just as equally captivating as it is wonderful. From the impressive wood features that run throughout each room, to the stone cottage — it's hard not to be charmed by this property.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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Wimbledon's 'critical' expansion plans spark controversy in SW19: 'The locals feel that Wimbledon used to hold a special place in their hearts. Now, it’s just a big, money-driven machine'
The All England Lawn Tennis Club's ambitious plans to expand into Wimbledon Park have caused consternation among local residents. Annunciata Elwes reports.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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How keeping chickens boomed in the pandemic — and the charity helping new keepers do it right
Chickens became the fourth most popular domestic pet in Britain over the past year and a half, and the British Hen Welfare Trust have been helping thousands of people. Annunciata Elwes reports.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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A delightful — and unlisted — thatched property from the 16th century in a quiet Wiltshire hamlet that makes for an exciting project
Set in the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Henley Lodge is a wonderfully sized period property bursting with potential... but you may want to check its energy rating.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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A pretty cottage in a popular Oxfordshire village that offers peaceful country living with lots of 14th century period charm
Magdalen Cottage offers country living in an unspoilt, peaceful surrounding, yet is close enough to larger towns should the desire to leave the idyll arise.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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The beautiful part of Britain so dismayed at being overlooked that it declared itself an unofficial national park
The South Pennines Park isn't a legally enshrined National Park with a capital-N and a capital-P, but its passionate creators believe that it'll be no worse for all that — and could even show the way forward for protecting our most beautiful areas.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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The former home and gallery of Sir Henry Tate – where he hung his artwork before he founded the Tate Britain — is up for sale in Streatham
Talk about art history. Sir Henry Tate's former mansion has a 'prototype Tate Gallery' — which, although no longer adorned by his works of art, is still impressive.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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A wonderful Georgian house with a greenhouse that Hogwarts would be proud of, and an incredible converted dovecot
What could buy you a two bedroom flat on the outskirts of London goes a whole lot further in Northumberland, in the shape of this charming Georgian stone house with beautiful gardens, six bedrooms and a separate Dovecote.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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A delightful thatched cottage on the outskirts of the Stour Valley with charming period features and a flourishing country garden
Old Fenners is the epitome of countryside living — a thatched period property, full of charm and character, with an over-flowing garden full of flowers and trees.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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A sprawling, 10,000sq ft house in a Scottish nature reserve, with views to die for across the northern Highlands
Forsinain Steading stretches for more than 10,000 sq ft and sits in the heart of a nature reserve close to the village of Armadale.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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A grand country house with its own salmon fishing stretch at the price of a London terrace house
Set in 10 acres of gorgeous grounds including one-third of a mile of River Nairn, Cantray House is a magnificent neo-Palladian house with six bedrooms.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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Rewriting the history of the Clumber spaniel
Rebirth of the Royal Spaniel, a new book by James Darley, celebrates the storied history of the breed and busts a few myths along the way.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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'The allegation that racehorses who show little ability on the racetrack have no future off it is simply incorrect': How retired racehorses are finding new lives
BBC's Panorama painted a grim picture of the fate of failed racehorses, but it doesn't always end badly as Annunciata Elwes reports.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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A summer of rediscovering the traditional British seaside holiday
With foreign travel still uncertain, millions of us are set to holiday in Britain this year — and that is something to celebrate, says Annunciata Elwes.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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A wonderfully unique house set on the River Thames that comes with its own boathouse, a 120 ft mooring and separate studio
This eclectic river-fronted property in sought-after Marlow is sure to delight.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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One of London's most iconic buildings, with 1,100 rooms and 2.5 miles of corridors, transformed into luxury apartments
Since the government moved out in 2015, the Old War Office in central London has been converted into Raffles-branded residences. Annunciata Elwes takes a look.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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Kinloch Castle, a crumbling-but-iconic landmark on the Isle of Rum with a nominal value of £1 — but the buyer will need very deep pockets...
Kinloch Castle has been seeking a buyer for years, but as its condition worsens the renovation and repair costs for this magnificent Scottish property are estimated to be in the region of £20 million. Can a new owner be found?
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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An 8,500sq ft slice of Utopia on Richmond Hill, with poolhouse, balcony and breathtaking views
You no longer need to escape to the country in search of stunning leafy green surroundings and river frontage, like this rather substantial (and rather expensive) Georgian property in Richmond proves.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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The cosiest castle you'll ever find, with paddock, ancient moat, tennis courts and a billiard room
Built in 1327, Grade II listed Blestoe Castle today stands as a beautiful family home, that retains many original features in a beautiful part of Bedfordshire.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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A sprawling water-side home with 4,600 sq ft of accommodation on the English Riviera
Luxurious water-side living doesn't get much better than this — with masses of space, stunning views over Torquay harbour and a beautiful garden set over varying levels.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
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An Arts-and-Crafts home with stunning gardens and private river frontage on the River Avon
Everything about Avon Court has a opulent yet whimsical air about it — from the large wrought iron entrance gates, to the mature Willow tree in the garden that leads down to a mooring on a private stretch of river.
By Annunciata Elwes Published