Chichester house where former PM Harold Macmillan regularly stayed as a discreet retreat on sale for £1.59m as current owners downsize

A five-bedroom Grade II listed Georgian house in Chichester where a former British prime minister regularly stayed is up for sale for £1,590,000. The seller, who wished to remain anonymous, told This is Money the house was an historic property with a 'rich history'. A building was first recorded on the site in the early 18th century. Over the next 170 years the house evolved and by 1890 a three bay fronted flint house existed, the outlines of which are very recognisable today. In the 1950s and 1960s Eastergate House was home to Sir Philip and Lady Marie-Louise de Zulueta. Sir Philip served as private secretary to three successive prime ministers, Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan and Alec Douglas-Home. Macmillan often stayed at Eastergate House as a country retreat away from the pressures of Westminster, Jackson-Stops, the estate agency selling the property, said. Famous faces: Eastergate House was reportedly visited regularly by former prime minister Harold MacmillanWhile Macmillan stayed at the house, several police cars reportedly parked up and down nearby Church Lane to bolster security during his visits. It is believed that the bedroom used by Macmillan still retains its security door reinforced by a hidden metal plate running the entire length of the door. In the 1960s, former British secretary of state for war John Profumo was implicated in an affair with Christine Keeler, a model whose relationship with a Soviet naval attaché made her connection to Profumo concerning. During the Profumo scandal in the early 1960s, it is rumoured that Christine Keeler was hiding at a country house not far away from Eastergate House in the South Downs. The current owners of Eastergate House moved from South Africa to Britain in 2009.One said: 'We were looking for a home which provided ample space to bring our children up in, great schools nearby and access to shops, a station and work. 'We fell in love with Eastergate House and it filled up with friends, children and family for the next 16 years.'The couple are now downsizing as their children are in the process of finishing university. The seller told This is Money: 'We'll miss Eastergate House and it's a brilliant property for entertaining. We have had so many wonderful dinners, garden parties, eighteenth and twenty-first birthday celebrations and gatherings at the house.' Plush: Eastergate House has been exquisitely decorated throughout Ready to go: Eastergate House has a large modern kitchen Space: The Grade II listed property spans more than 6,000 sq. ft. and has five reception rooms Welcoming: The hallway has a polished oak floor and is adorned with period features Light: The property has an orangery and a walled garden How much? Eastergate House is on sale for £1,590,000 via Jackson-Stops Fun times: The current owner told This is Money the house has been great for parties Legacy: In the 1950s and 1960s Eastergate House was home to Sir Philip and Lady Marie-Louise de ZuluetaEastergate House in West Sussex has five bedrooms, four bathrooms and five reception rooms. The property spans more than 6,000 sq. ft. and is set within a walled garden and 0.8 acres of land. Boasting ample space, the property has an orangery, a butler's pantry, larder, breakfast room, games room, boot room, cloakroom, cellars and a laundry room. The south-facing reception rooms are flooded with natural light and have fireplaces, fitted bookcases, ornamental plaster work and window bays with cushioned seating. To the east of the sitting room is a south-facing orangery with exposed brick and flint work, vaulted glazed roof and double doors opening south onto the garden. The kitchen has matching units with polished stone worksurfaces and returns, a central island unit with stone worksurface and a Rangemaster cooker set in a tiled chimney breast recess with mantle shelf. The original bell semaphore can still be seen in the kitchen. Eastergate House is within a conservation area, close to St George's Church and opposite Tithe Barn and Manor Farm. The village of Eastergate is situated between Chichester and Arundel and has a local shop, a pub and a primary school. Mark Astley, director and head of West Sussex and Hampshire Waterfront at Jackson-Stops, told This is Money: 'It is unusual for a property with such high-profile connections to come to the market, particularly one where that history remains so tangible. 'For its next owners, there will be something rather special about welcoming guests and being able to share the stories associated with the house, from Macmillan's stays to the security door in the bedroom believed to have been used by him, which remains reinforced by a concealed metal plate today.'He added: 'We expect Eastergate House to appeal particularly to buyers who value the character and provenance of a genuine period property, but who also need generous and flexible space for modern family life. 'Its political connections will undoubtedly capture attention, but it is first and foremost a very special family home.'Best mortgage rates and how to find them Mortgage rates have shot up again due to inflation triggered by the conflict with Iran reversing hopes that the Bank of England would cut rates. 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