The home of Britain's last surviving Battle of Britain ace comes up for sale
Britain's last-surviving Battle of Britain ace died earlier this year. The house he called home is now on the market.

Last month, the nation remembered the immense sacrifice that The Few made 80 years ago in the Battle of Britain. One such hero was Paul Farnes, who was the last surviving ‘Ace’, until his death in January 2020 at the age of 101.
As a 19-year-old in early 1938, Farnes noted that 'things were not looking too good in the world', and decided to enlist in the Royal Navy. According to his obituary in The Guardian He got as far as picking up an application form from the recruitment vessel moored on the Thames, near the central London office where he was working. Fate stepped in: a chance encounter that weekend with a man who'd just joined the RAF convinced Farnes that it'd be 'far more fun' to follow suit.
His went on to fly Hurricanes in the skies over Dunkirk, taking part in the Battle of Britain, earning decoration and a commission, before being posted to Malta — where he first took command of a squadron — and eventually to Egypt, Aden and Iraq, sometimes training new pilots, sometimes in front-line duty. In the process he downed seven enemy planes single-handed, jointly accounted for two more, had a further two unconfirmed and damaged 11.
Farnes stayed in the RAF until 1958, moving into jet fighters and continuing to train others before retiring as a Wing Commander. He went on to work in the motor, building and tourist industries on the south coast — and his home in later years was the house on this page, Oak Cottage, which is on the market for £1.65m.
It's a characterful brick-and-flint house on the outskirts of the Goodwood estate, very close to his former base at RAF Tangmere, and it’s a house fit for a hero.
There are six bedrooms, park-like gardens of some 3½ acres and long views over the Goodwood estate and beyond.
Inside, the extremely adaptable accommodation features two kitchens, a garden room, three further reception rooms and the possibility of creating a self-contained annexe within the property.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Exposed brick, open fireplaces, ornamental beams and flagged floors add further character, which is matched by the extensive 3.5 acre gardens.
There's a beautiful mix of parkland, lawned areas, paddock and various outbuildings that include a stable and workshop.
Oak Cottage is for sale via Jackson Stops — see more pictures and details.
D-Day veterans in their own words: 'A lot of men did very brave things. I simply did what I was told to do'
The surviving veterans of D-Day are well into their nineties, but many still remember the events with stark clarity. Three
VE Day in pictures: 14 powerful and evocative images that capture the joy of May 8, 1945
Country Life takes a look back at this day in history, 75 years ago, when the Second World War in
Credit: Alamy
Curious Questions: Does 'Red Sky at Night' actually work? And why?
It's the oldest weather forecasting adage of them all – and you'd be surprised at how accurate it is. Jay Griffiths
Toby Keel is Country Life's Digital Director, and has been running the website and social media channels since 2016. A former sports journalist, he writes about property, cars, lifestyle, travel, nature.
-
'Just look at those stairs. Just as an art form, they are bewitching, like the shell of a nautilus': The lure of buying a stairway to heaven
It seems like madness to buy a house purely because you fall in love with the staircase — but sometimes, they are simply so beautiful that it's impossible to resist. Toby Keel takes a look at some glorious examples of staircases we've seen in Country Life in the last couple of years.
By Toby Keel Published
-
'I found myself in a magical world of a sun-dappled forest, speckled with wild flowers of kaleidoscopic colours and brilliant mosses': Solo walking in the Pyrenees
The Pyrenees reserves its best treasures for walkers prepared to venture off the well-beaten trail, says Teresa Levonian Cole, on a solo holiday in Ribes de Freser.
By Teresa Levonian Cole Last updated
-
'Just look at those stairs. Just as an art form, they are bewitching, like the shell of a nautilus': The lure of buying a stairway to heaven
It seems like madness to buy a house purely because you fall in love with the staircase — but sometimes, they are simply so beautiful that it's impossible to resist. Toby Keel takes a look at some glorious examples of staircases we've seen in Country Life in the last couple of years.
By Toby Keel Published
-
A one-of-a-kind waterfront estate with two private beaches is for sale on the same storied American island that Jackie Kennedy, the Obamas and Princess Diana have all visited
Beach Farm on Martha’s Vineyard — a favourite summertime holiday destination with prominent American families — is a perfect melding of New England and Scandinavian design styles.
By Rosie Paterson Published
-
The architect who created the MI6 building only designed a tiny handful of houses — and one of them is now up for sale in one of London's most bucolic spots
Sir Terry Farrell designed the beautiful, light-filled, T-shaped Drum House in Petersham, with gardens laid out by John Sallis Chandler, who has won multiple RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medals.
By Toby Keel Last updated
-
'True waterfront homes are finite... miss one and it could be years before you see another like it again': Why the best waterfront property always hits the spot
There’s no denying the appeal of waterfront property, which now sells for some 51% more than its inland equivalent, finds Knight Frank. Annabel Dixon explores the shore.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
19 charming homes for sale, from picture-perfect cottages to beachside retreats, as seen in Country Life
This week's selection of some of the best homes to come to the market via Country Life this week.
By Toby Keel Published
-
Tim Burton is selling the house he shared with Helena Bonham-Carter, a sublime home on the Thames that comes with three private islands
Mill House in Sutton Courtenay, Oxfordshire, might just be the perfect English country home.
By Rosie Paterson Last updated
-
A spectacular tower for sale that's a blend of Victorian folly, architectural marvel and 21st century family home
Hadlow Tower has space, and a back story of love, jealousy and intrigue.
By Toby Keel Published
-
A spectacular, light-filled home on the Isle of Wight where you can see the water from practically every window
Penny Churchill takes a look at the grand and impressive Fishbourne Quay House.
By Penny Churchill Last updated