You’d maybe expect the home of a famous spy novelist to be deep in a secret bunker or hidden away down a discreet passageway. Yet this cosy country house in Somerset – complete with panelled ceilings, a neatly mown lawn, French windows and an intricate Georgian fireplace – was once home to John Le Carré, who wrote ‘The Spy Who Came in From the Cold’ and ‘Tinker Sailor Soldier Spy’.
The novelist moved to Stoppers Lane in Wells, Somerset, after leaving MI6 in 1965. The Grade-II listed property dates back to the seventeenth century, and is now on the market for £1.9 million.
The house comes complete with a terracotta-tiled kitchen, a sun-filled conservatory and library to get lost in a spy novel or two. The lucky buyer will also get five bedrooms – one with its own dressing room and ensuite – as well as a roomy attic and luscious gardens.
That’s not all, though. Stoppers Lane is also home to an external cottage east of the main building, complete with its own living room, kitchen, dining room and ensuite bedroom, as well as its own private walled garden and separate access from Stoppers Lane. Le Carré apparently wrote his 1965 novel ‘The Looking Glass War’ here, so you can bet it is a peaceful spot.
The house is for sale via Inigo. Find out more here.
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