Dusty Springfield’s old home is going... but not for a song

THIS splendid country house was once the home of Dusty Springfield.

The singer was renting it from the owner Andre Sypkens before her death in 1999.

Little Hill is a spacious Edwardian property in Harpsden Bottom.

Mr Sypkens bought it from the Ministry of Defence at an auction at the Little Angel in Henley 45 years ago and it now belongs to his daughter Naomi.

He recalls: “It was the fantastic views over the golf course and all the space inside the house that we fell in love with when we first saw it. I could also commute easily to London from there.

“I now live in Amsterdam and my daughter lives permanently abroad so we thought it was time to sell it.

“We lived there for a few years initially but my work took me all over the world, so it made sense to rent it out.

“We had a family from Belgium living there for 16 years.

“Also Dusty Springfield used to live next door to me in Amsterdam for a time and I didn’t even realise. Then she moved into my house in Henley — what a coincidence.”

Little Hill, which was built in 1907, is an elegant property in an elevated yet secluded position and set in 2.5 acres of landscaped gardens. It was substantially extended before the war in keeping with its traditional origins to 5,569 sq ft.

Mr Sypkens says: “We refurbished it when we moved in, uncovering the original wooden flooring, and we’ve replaced the kitchen twice.

“The house was designed for staff before the war, with a separate staircase leading to a two-bedroom suite.”

The main rooms are south-facing with views from the first floor towards Harpsden Woods beyond Henley golf course.

There are five grand reception rooms, a pantry, utility and kitchen, cloakroom and store room on the ground floor. Upstairs are between five and eight bedrooms and four bathrooms which can be configured to suit.

The principal bedroom suite has a wraparound balcony which takes advantage of the views.

The house has two sweeping tree-lined driveways, one of which is accessed via Harpsden and the other from Gillotts Lane. There is parking for about five cars near the house and there are two garages.

Mr Sypkens has only one warning for the new owners: “The earliest deeds we can find stipulate that you are not allowed to have a pig farm!”

• Little Hill is on the market with a guide price of £3,750,000. For more information or to arrange a viewing, call Knight Frank on (01491) 844900.