The Cotswolds home of the writer who penned the definitive account of Edward and Mrs Simpson
The former home of Frances Donaldson is up for sale, a beautiful old Gloucestershire farmhouse where she chronicled Edward VIII's tumultuous decision to abdicate.


Originally part of the estates of Sir Matthew Hale, Lord Chief Justice of England at the time of Oliver Cromwell, Grade II*-listed Burden Court at Tresham, three miles from Badminton, is described by Historic England as ‘a good and intact example of the south Gloucestershire farmhouse type’.
For sale through the Cirencester office of Strutt & Parker at a guide price of £1.75m, the charming mid- to late-17th-century house stands in 1½ acres of walled garden and paddock on the edge of this pretty Cotswold-stone village, within 10 minutes’ drive of the popular market towns of Tetbury and Nailsworth.
From the end of the Second World War to the 1960s, the striking cross-passage farmhouse was home to the writer Frances Donaldson and her husband, Jack, a brilliant academic-turned-farmer, social worker and politician, who served as Minister of Arts in the Wilson and Callaghan governments, before being sent to the Lords as Lord Donaldson of Kingsbridge in 1967.
Although Frances is probably best known for her award-winning biography of Edward VIII – upon which the TV series Edward and Mrs Simpson was based – no less fascinating is her enchanting autobiography, A Twentieth-Century Life, which documents her life with Lord Donaldson at Burden Court, where she also wrote an endearingly honest biography of her father, the playwright and bon viveur Frederick Lonsdale.
With 4,844sq ft of internal space, the whole as fresh and neat as the proverbial pin, Burden Court is equally suited for use as a delightful family home or a Cotswold weekend retreat, says selling agent Ian Daniels.
The ground floor offers light, spacious and versatile reception rooms, including a reception/dining hall with a flagstone floor and a large stone fireplace with a wood-burning stove.
There is also an impressive drawing room with an oak floor, a large open fireplace with carved stone surrounds and a games room that currently houses a pool table and piano.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
A wide first-floor landing leads to an open-plan study area with views over the gardens and the valley beyond and to the master bedroom suite, with two further en-suite bedrooms; the second floor lends itself to two further double bedrooms.
Burden Court is for sale via Strutt & Parker at £1.75 million – see more details and pictures.
Credit: Butler Sherborn
Stunning riverside family home set in the heart of the Cotswold AONB
Fawler Manor is looking for new owners after serving as a beloved family home for over a quarter of a
Country House Hotel: Ellenborough Park Hotel
This country house hotel in the Cotswolds makes Megan Jenkins feel right at home
The Country Life guide to the Cotswolds: Where to go, what to see, where to stay and what to eat
Straddling five counties, the Cotswolds is arguably England's most famous region outside of London. Here’s our guide to what to
Seven gorgeous Cotswolds homes for sale at under £500,000
Cotswolds properties can cost millions — but they don't have to, as these gorgeous homes show.
-
Galls: Nature's most beautiful, horrifying and intriguing parasites
A playground for aphids, wasp eggs, and funghi — galls come in all shapes and sizes
By Deborah Nicholls-Lee Published
-
The market for super-prime houses in England's biggest millionaire's playground is booming — and this £10m example is one of the best
Whirley Hall is a 17th century building that's a perfect example of how 21st century updates can transform an old home almost beyond recognition.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
The market for super-prime houses in England's biggest millionaire's playground is booming — and this £10m example is one of the best
Whirley Hall is a 17th century building that's a perfect example of how 21st century updates can transform an old home almost beyond recognition.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
If I had to spend the rest of my life living underground, I would do it in this four-bedroom house for sale in the Peak District
The aptly named Underhill is a 'a work of inhabitable art' that was built in the 1970s. And there's a swimming pool in the middle of it.
By James Fisher Published
-
A micro estate for sale in west Wales shows that the best things come in small packages. In this case, three of them
Brithdir is a remarkable collection of properties centred around a lake and just five miles from the sea.
By James Fisher Published
-
This blissful converted mill has sweeping views, a breathtaking library and gardens by a Chelsea gold medallist
Penny Churchill takes a look at Stanbridge Mill, one of the finest properties for sale today in the west country.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Portmore has it all: A 3,459-acre Scottish estate for sale, with a signature Baronial sandstone mansion at its heart
For sale for the first time in 40 years, Portmore Estate is everything you could ever want in Scotland.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Location, community and charm: the enduring desirability of London's mews houses
From birds, to horses, to beautiful family homes, the mews of London are some of the nation's most sought-after homes. But why?
By James Fisher Published
-
The distinctive and historic home that might just be 'one of Dorset’s most picturesque'
Grade II*-listed Manor House, set in just under eight acres, dates from the 16th century.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
A 17th century farmhouse in Surrey with one of Britain's oldest squash courts
Fords Farm is on the market for the first time in over half a century.
By Penny Churchill Last updated