Daphne Neville, the 89-year-old actress known for her role in Broadchurch, is selling her Gloucestershire estate, Bakers Mill, for £1.85 million. The performer has relocated to Denville Hall, a specialist care facility in north London designed for entertainment professionals.
The £1 .85 million sale of Bakers Mill
The property, known as Bakers Mill, is a Grade II-listed residence situated in the Golden Valley between Stroud and Cirencester.. According to the report, the estate spans approximately 11.78 acres and includes a private lake, woodland, and river frontage along the River Frome. The sale includes a former Georgian silk mill that was previously converted into additional living space.
Estate agents Knight Frank have described the five-bedroom home as an exceptional country retreat. The property's location in the Golden Valley is particularly noted for its sheltered environment, which allows trees to retain their autumn leaves longer than in surrounding areas, a characteristic that led the monarch to name the valley in 1909.
Ten tame otters and a legacy of wildlife campaigning
For over four decades, Daphne Neville transformed Bakers Mill into a sanctuary for wildlife , most notably housing a succession of tame otters. As the report notes, Neville began keeping these animals in 1980, starting with an otter named Bee. over time, she raised ten otters in total, often carrying them on her shoulders while visiting local shops.
The most famous of these animals, an Asian small-clawed otter named Rudi, became a minor celebrity in his own right. Rudi appeared on television productions such as the ITV drama The Durrells and competed alongside Daphne Neville on Channel 4's Come Dine With Me, where the pair finished in second place. Rudi eventually retired to the New Forest Wildlife Park, where he passed away in 2024.
Denville Hall's 36-place sanctuary for the arts
Daphne Neville's move to Denville Hall places her within a community specifically reserved for veterans of the performing arts and showbusiness. This charity-run facility in north London offers only 36 places, providing specialized care for those who have spent their lives in the spotlight. The home has a storied history, having hosted former residents such as Richard Attenborough,Andrew Sachs, and Marianne Faithfull.
The prestige of Denville Hall is further underscored by its high-profile supporters , including Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Helen Mirren, and Daniel Radcliffe. For performers like Daphne Neville, whose career spans The Crown, Casualty, and Prime Suspect, such institutions provide a transition into old age surrounded by peers who understand the unique pressures of the entertainment industry.
Who will buy the Grade II-listed Georgian silk mill?
While the details of the property's features are extensive, the report does not identify a current buyer or indicate if the new owner intends to maintain the estate's history as a wildlife haven. It remains unclear whether the specific licensing requirements for exotic animals, which Daphne Neville navigated for decades, will be a factor for future residents of Bakers Mill.
Furthermore, the report focuses primarily on the sale and the move, leaving open the question of how the Grade II listing will impact any modernizations the new owners might seek for the five-bedroom residence and its adjoining silk mill.
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