Newington House in Newington, near Wallingford, was put on for sale by Savills last September for £16 million but now is listed at £14.25 million.

The mansion was originally built in the 17th century when an English aristocrat married an Italian princess who was a member of the noble Pallavicini family.

READ MORE: Italian princess’ Oxfordshire manor on sale for £16m

As she was homesick, he had Newington House built for her as a gift, in the Italianate style of the palace of Genoa where she grew up.

Newington House has been recently used as a wedding venue (Image: Rightmove)

Since then it has gone through several renovations although many elements of the Grade II listed structure remain.

Some of its most notable recent history occurred in the early 20th century when American artist and hostess Ethel Sands purchased the property and used it as a gathering place for many famous literary figures.

Henry James, Arnold Bennett and Virginia Woolf are all known to have stayed at the mansion.

Newington House is on sale for £16 million (Image: Rightmove)

In recent times the 43-acre site has become a wedding venue, while also being available for other events.

READ MORE: Michael Caine’s riverside Oxfordshire manor in £1m price drop

A freehold property it has nine bedrooms and seven bathrooms as well as landscaped gardens, a swimming pool, tennis court, croquet lawn and greenhouse.

In addition it boasts a gym, reception room, gun room, wine storage and games room with a full-size snooker table thought to have belonged to war-time UK prime minister Winston Churchill.

It also comes with a separate coach house which has its own kitchen and four bedrooms, and another Grade II listed property with three reception rooms, five bedrooms and four bathrooms

Former Thames Valley policeman Nicholas Peel, 55, was based in Newbury but worked across West Berkshire.

He was found guilty of raping his victim four times and attempting to rape her again, following a trial at Salisbury Crown Court in March.

Between 2015 and 2020, Peel targeted the victim – a woman in her 50s who was known to him – several times.

The former police constable worked for the police force from November 1997 until he retired in December 2024.

READ MORE: Delivery driver, 24, who was rammed in ‘police chase’ named and charged

In a hearing on Monday, April 13 at Winchester Crown Court, Peel was sentenced to nine years in prison and handed a 10-year restraining order, stopping him from making contact with the victim.

The jury returned guilty verdicts after he appeared at Salisbury Crown Court on March 6.

He was guilty of committing four counts of rape and an attempt to rape a woman aged 16 or over.

Peel, now living in Essex, will also have to sign on to the Sex Offender’s Register indefinitely.

He was struck off from the force last year after he was found guilty of gross misconduct for abusing access to police systems.

He was investigated for two separate cases of misconduct.

The first case involved incidents between December 2022 and April 2023.

During this period, Peel used his police radio both on and off duty to access multiple channels belonging to other police forces.

Investigating officer DC Jo Newbery, of Wiltshire Police, said: “I’d like to praise the victim in this case for having the courage and conviction to see this case through, which has resulted in Nicholas Peel being jailed for his abhorrent actions.

“Peel repeatedly targeted her and raped her over a number of years, and then denied the offences, forcing her to relive the experiences through a trial.

“Her incredible bravery in giving evidence and statements ensured that Peel was found guilty by jury for his crimes, and he now faces spending several years behind bars.

“I hope that this sentence inspires others who have suffered sexual violence to come forward and report incidents to the police where we will endeavour to support you.”

But were you aware of the nine garden plants that you do not want anywhere near your own personal plot of peace?

From plants hitting your wallet hard (£2500 in some cases) to toxic plants infecting the area, you’ll want to make sure you know what is what.

Garden experts from Power Sheds have listed the top criminal plants that can grow in gardens, as well as the fines homeowners could face for having them.

Japanese Knotweed

The Japanese knotweed is one of the most invasive plants around. It has bamboo-like stems and clusters of small white flowers which can cause significant damage to property and infrastructure.

It is difficult to eradicate once established, making it even more important to avoid in your garden. It can regrow quickly and can be costly to leave.

Spear Thistle

The plant has spiky leaves and purple flowers and can spread quickly, causing harm to crops and other vegetation. If discovered, the fines for it can cost up to £2,500.

Common Ragwort

The common ragwort is easily recognisable with its bright yellow flowers and feathery leaves.

Although it is one of the most common weeds, this toxic plant is harmful to livestock.

Broad-Leaved Dock

The plant can be recognised by the broad leaves and spikes of small yellow flowers. If they are found in your garden, you can be fined £2,500.

Curled Dock

Another noxious weed, the curled dock, has distinctive curly leaves and spikes of small yellow flowers.

It can spread quickly and is a flexible weed. Fines of up to £2,500 can be given for allowing it to grow on your property.

Rhododendron Ponticum

The plant has evergreen leaves and large clusters of pink or purple flowers and is poisonous to vegetation and wildlife. It is difficult to eradicate once established, making it even more important to avoid growing it, otherwise, you could face a £5,000 fine.

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Himalayan Balsam

Perhaps one of the quickest to spread, each plant has around 800 seeds that are easily transported by wind, animals, or water, and will grow again.

The plant has spikes of showy pink or purple flowers, and fines can go up to £2,500.

Giant Hogweed

This toxic plant is harmful to humans, as its chemicals can cause significant wounds to the skin.

While for some, it is just a burning sensation, for others, it can cause permanent scars. They can be recognised by their large white flowers and towering height.

New Zealand Pigmyweed

It’s an invasive plant and the sales of this seed have been banned since 2014.

The plant has small green leaves and clusters of tiny white flowers, and it can harm even aquatic environments. If found guilty of having it in your garden, you could face a fine of up to £2,500.