Manor house and holiday park in Kent considered ‘Birthplace of British Aviation’ on the market

Muswell Manor is a Grade II-listed building which incorporates a five-star family-run B&B business, a historic 16th century bar and restaurant which is open all year round, and private three-bedroom residence. Outside the manor house is a beer garden and terrace overlooking the surrounding nature reserve, countryside and coastline.

Muswell Manor is also home to a 47-unit caravan park, which holds a ten month season licence for 28 static caravans and 19 chalets across 3 acres of grounds, as well as two large workshops adjacent to the manor house.

Muswell Manor is steeped in history, most notably being the site where the earliest aviators performed their first flights. The Short Brothers, Charles Rolls, Frank McClean, Maurice Egerton, John Moore-Brabazon, and other founding members of the World's First Aero Club practised their aviation skills on the stretch of marshland at Shellbeach near Leysdown on the Isle of Sheppey in early 1909, using Muswell Manor as their clubhouse. 

At the same time, the Wright Brothers visited the Aero Club flying ground at Shellbeach and were photographed in front of the clubhouse door of Muswell Manor, alongside all the early British aviation pioneers. To this day, the photograph hangs above the fireplace in the pub in Muswell Manor, and is the only photograph known to exist of all the early aviators together.

The Short Brothers were some of the first occupants of the grounds, and they acquired a licence to build copies of the Wright aircraft and set up one of the world's first aircraft production lines at this site. In 1909, the first recognised flight by a British pilot in the UK was recorded in the Guinness Book of Aircraft, having taken place at Muswell Manor.

Located approximately 200 yards from the beach, today the site sees a high percentage of repeat business and returning customers each year.

Having owned the park for 28 years and run the business hands-on, owners Sharon and Terry Munns now wish to retire. They commented, “Our family have made many happy memories at Muswell Manor, and it has been a pleasure to call this our home for nearly thirty years. The time is now right for us to hand the reins over to a new owner, who can continue its legacy and take it forward.”

Markus Grun, Business Agent at Christie & Co, is managing the sale process and added, “This is a great opportunity to acquire a stunning, family-run holiday park with symbolic aviation history at its centre. We encourage all interested parties to get in touch for further information about the opportunity.”

Muswell Manor is on the market with a freehold guide price of £1,800,000. For more information, visit: https://www.christie.com/2490025/

For further information on this press release, contact:
Jasmine Davis, Corporate Communications Manager
P: +44 7561 115179
E: jasmine.davis@christie.com

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