
Annunciata Elwes
Annunciata grew up in the wilds of Lancashire and now lives in Hampshire with a husband, two daughters and an awful pug called Parsley. She’s been floating round the Country Life office for more than a decade, her work winning the Property Magazine of the Year Award in 2022 (Property Press Awards). Before that, she had a two-year stint writing ‘all kinds of fiction’ for The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, worked in internal comms for Country Life’s publisher (which has had many names in recent years but was then called IPC Media), and spent another year researching for a historical biographer, whose then primary focus was Graham Greene and John Henry Newman and whose filing system was a collection of wardrobes and chests of drawers filled with torn scraps of paper. During this time, she regularly gave tours of 17th-century Milton Manor, Oxfordshire, which may or may not have been designed by Inigo Jones, and co-founded a literary, art and music festival, at which Johnny Flynn headlined. When not writing and editing for Country Life, Annunciata is also a director of TIN MAN ART, a contemporary art gallery founded in 2021 by her husband, James Elwes.
-
All aboard! This incredibly-renovated coal barge turned riverboat in St Katharine Docks offers a floating alternative to city living
Complete with a sauna, over 5,000 sq ft of contemporary living space and a large foredeck perfect for entertaining, Matrix Island is 'one of the River Thames most luxurious houseboats.'
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
An irresistible thatched cottage — thought to be the oldest property in its village — has arrived on the market in Somerset
Quirky, delightfully higgeldy-piggeldy and completely charming, this Grade ll-listed thatched cottage from the early 16th century is everything you could hope a cottage in Somerset to be.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
A Grade II-listed thatched cottage brimming with beams and charming period features in the popular village of Widdington
More is certainly more in the case of exposed timbers at this cottage in Widdington, as Annunciata Elwes discovers.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
In one of North Cornwall's 'most famous and sought after locations' is an enchanting former Manor House that has fallen into a state of disrepair — now seeking a brave new owner to take on the project
For the right buyer, Bossiney Court will feel like stumbling upon treasure – treasure that comes in the shape of a very run down Manor House set back from the North Cornish coast.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
A delightful period thatched cottage that has been exquisitely reimagined in the Chiltern Hills AONB
New England style meets French chic at Chestnut cottage near the sought after town of Marlow.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
A beguiling diamond in the rough, this 17th century property is crying out to be restored to its former glory
Currently divided as two, three bed cottages, Manor Cottage in the village of Glinton near Peterborough is a project to really sink your teeth into.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
A spectacular renovation opportunity in Surrey with romantic sweeping gardens and a magical stilted tree house
Buyers looking for a project will be delighted to stumble across Drummond House and the opportunity it presents to create a really special home surrounded by mesmerising gardens.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
An inspiring and recently renovated period town house in London's Old Chelsea for sale at £8.95 million
21 Old Church Street is everything you would expect a renovated London property to be — stylish, modern and expertly finished but with all the grace and charm that comes with a period property.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
A delightful 17th-century home in 'the best-preserved medieval village in England', for sale at under £500k
Quirky, charming and part of a village steeped in history, Byes Barn is a wonderful, recently renovated family home for a price that wont make your eyes water.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
The Hampstead home where Charles de Gaulle lived during exile, up for sale for the first time in 50 years
Set in London's leafy suburb, this Grade II listed, 18th century property would be perfect for buyers looking for a renovation project with a healthy budget.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
A charming thatched cottage with wonderful interiors in a lovely Oxfordshire village — and it's within walking distance of three pubs
The aptly named Thatched Cottage is an excellent example of thatched period charm with plenty of style and character in a sought-after village.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
A breathtaking, secret idyll on the banks of the River Dart, with stunning views and almost on the doorstep of Dartmouth Castle
One for the water babies — this spectacular three-bedroom waterside property sits on the edge of the River Dart where it meets the sparkling Channel.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
In Focus: The artwork that helped define one of Radiohead's defining albums
A series of paintings by Stanley Donwood, the artist who produced what is arguably Radiohead's most famous album cover, are up for auction via Christie's. Annunciata Elwes takes a look.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
A handsome Ashlar stone property in a village named 'The Queen of the Cotswolds' has come to market
Meticulously restored in recent years, Loveday's House is an early Georgian property set in beautiful gardens in a well-known Cotswolds village.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
A magnificent country house in Somerset with impressive oak beams throughout, and a cute two-bed stone cottage in the garden
Whites Farm is a quintessential west-country period home that is just as equally captivating as it is wonderful. From the impressive wood features that run throughout each room, to the stone cottage — it's hard not to be charmed by this property.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
Wimbledon's 'critical' expansion plans spark controversy in SW19: 'The locals feel that Wimbledon used to hold a special place in their hearts. Now, it’s just a big, money-driven machine'
The All England Lawn Tennis Club's ambitious plans to expand into Wimbledon Park have caused consternation among local residents. Annunciata Elwes reports.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
How keeping chickens boomed in the pandemic — and the charity helping new keepers do it right
Chickens became the fourth most popular domestic pet in Britain over the past year and a half, and the British Hen Welfare Trust have been helping thousands of people. Annunciata Elwes reports.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
A delightful — and unlisted — thatched property from the 16th century in a quiet Wiltshire hamlet that makes for an exciting project
Set in the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Henley Lodge is a wonderfully sized period property bursting with potential... but you may want to check its energy rating.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
A pretty cottage in a popular Oxfordshire village that offers peaceful country living with lots of 14th century period charm
Magdalen Cottage offers country living in an unspoilt, peaceful surrounding, yet is close enough to larger towns should the desire to leave the idyll arise.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
The beautiful part of Britain so dismayed at being overlooked that it declared itself an unofficial national park
The South Pennines Park isn't a legally enshrined National Park with a capital-N and a capital-P, but its passionate creators believe that it'll be no worse for all that — and could even show the way forward for protecting our most beautiful areas.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
The former home and gallery of Sir Henry Tate – where he hung his artwork before he founded the Tate Britain — is up for sale in Streatham
Talk about art history. Sir Henry Tate's former mansion has a 'prototype Tate Gallery' — which, although no longer adorned by his works of art, is still impressive.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
A wonderful Georgian house with a greenhouse that Hogwarts would be proud of, and an incredible converted dovecot
What could buy you a two bedroom flat on the outskirts of London goes a whole lot further in Northumberland, in the shape of this charming Georgian stone house with beautiful gardens, six bedrooms and a separate Dovecote.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
A delightful thatched cottage on the outskirts of the Stour Valley with charming period features and a flourishing country garden
Old Fenners is the epitome of countryside living — a thatched period property, full of charm and character, with an over-flowing garden full of flowers and trees.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
A sprawling, 10,000sq ft house in a Scottish nature reserve, with views to die for across the northern Highlands
Forsinain Steading stretches for more than 10,000 sq ft and sits in the heart of a nature reserve close to the village of Armadale.
By Annunciata Elwes Published