What’s in a name? Well it depends. When it comes to a person, probably not that much. When it comes to a home, however, it can be quite a bit (at least, financially). Savills have done some digging, and found out that properties with the name ‘The Manor House’ command the highest price tag in England and Wales.
This may not come as an enormous shock to readers of Country Life, who probably see The Manor House illustrated in print and online with alarming regularity. So too homes with names such as the Old Rectory, the Old Vicarage, Grove House, the Oast House, Glebe House and, uhh, Mallards.
It seems the English and Welsh have long had an affinity for the ancient feudal system, religion, mythology, flora and beer, and have a rich tradition naming our homes after those things.
The result is that homes with those names command a certain market premium. For example, a ‘Manor House’ was sold 56 times by Savills in the past five years, with the average value of those homes being £1.423 million, and 43% of those homes selling for more than £1 million.
As well as The Manor House, homes named Old Rectory, Mallards, Old Vicarage and Oast House all had an average value of more than £1 million. ‘Certain English house names have held steady over hundreds of years, and tell us a lot about the provenance and history of the property,’ says Lucian Cook, head of residential research at Savills. ‘Still today, house names instantly conjure an image, whether it’s the distinctive roof line of an oast house or the intricate timbers within a tithe barn.’ It is not clear what someone is supposed to imagine when they see a home called Mallards, but I would assume it is something to do with ducks. Or possibly trains.
| Rank | Name | Sales | Average Value (£) | % over £1m |
| 1 | THE MANOR HOUSE | 56 | 1,423,128 | 43% |
| 2 | (THE) OLD RECTORY | 355 | 1,301,424 | 50% |
| 3 | MALLARDS | 38 | 1,164,150 | 24% |
| 4 | (THE) OLD VICARAGE | 325 | 1,086,887 | 39% |
| 5 | THE OAST HOUSE | 31 | 1,038,774 | 45% |
| 6 | LIME TREE HOUSE | 33 | 981,121 | 21% |
| 7 | MANOR HOUSE / THE MANOR | 204 | 967,117 | 29% |
| 8 | MANOR FARM HOUSE | 41 | 966,235 | 32% |
| 9 | GROVE HOUSE | 68 | 962,904 | 25% |
| 10 | GLEBE HOUSE | 86 | 940,814 | 31% |
‘The name of a house can give it a particular charm, even a notional personality, before a prospective buyer has even set eyes on the property. Quintessentially English names symbolise ideal country living, and conjure up images of period drama,’ adds Phillippa Dalby-Welsh, head of Savills Country Department.
‘Manor houses, rectories and vicarages, in particular, benefit from central locations typically sitting on the edge or at the centre of the village. Properties which historically symbolised high stature are also usually very well proportioned with high ceilings and large windows, and good sized gardens, perfect for modern day families.’
Credit: Jackson-Stops
An idyllic Norfolk property that comes with a business which brings in over £200,000 a year
Penny Churchill takes a look at the charming Wood Farm, a property which is far more than just a beautiful
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
Credit: Savills
A 40ft-high former water tower in Hampshire that could be the next great Grand Design for £45,000
This water tower on Eagle Road offers those with a bold vision the chance to create a unique family home
A West Sussex farmhouse with its own vineyard where you could make 40,000 bottles a year
The ideal country house with the ideal lifestyle business? Dillions Farmhouse and Vineyard in West Sussex are up for sale.
-
'The watch is Head Boy of men’s accessorising': Ginnie Chadwyck-Healey and Tom Chamberlin's Summer Season style secretsWhen it comes to dressing for the Season, accessories will transform an outfit. Ginnie Chadwyck-Healey and Tom Chamberlin, both stylish summer-party veterans, offer some sage advice.
-
Lewis Hamilton, Claude Monet and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Country Life Quiz of the Day, April 29, 2025Tuesday's Quiz of the Day looks back at Lewis Hamilton's first win and ponders on the meaning of greige.
-
About time: The fastest and slowest moving housing markets revealedNew research by Zoopla has shown where it's easy to sell and where it will take quite a while to find a buyer.
-
A wisteria clad hall built by one of the founders of the Bank of EnglandCome for the history of Old Hall. Stay for the interesting interiors.
-
A gorgeous Scottish cottage with contemporary interiors on the bonny banks of the River TayCarnliath on the edge of Strathtay is a delightful family home set in sensational scenery.
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country LifeWe take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producersStormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in KentNorth Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streetsThis six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
-
A tale of everyday life as lived on Britain's most expensive streetWinnington Road in Hampstead has an average house price of £11.9 million. But what's it really like? Lotte Brundle went to find out.
