Oxford News
Princess’ riverside Oxfordshire manor in £6m price drop
Newington House in Newington, near Wallingford, was put on for sale by Savills last September for £16 million.
In April it had its price slashed to £14.25 million and now it is listed for £9.95 million, over £6 million less than its original price.
READ MORE: Princess’ historic Oxfordshire manor in near £2m price drop
However, this is in part because The Manor House and Coach House, which are part of the overall estate, are now being listed as separate lots when they weren’t before.
The main Newington 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.
The lake at the manor (Image: Rightmove)
As she was homesick, he had the mansion built for her as a gift, in the Italianate style of the palace of Genoa where she grew up.
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.
Newington Manor is on sale for £16 million (Image: Rightmove)
Henry James, Arnold Bennett and Virginia Woolf are all known to have stayed at the mansion.
In recent times the 42-acre site has become a wedding venue, while also being available for other events.
Its listing states: “Today, in the 21st century, the house is filled with the everyday sounds of busy family life and the original features like the open fires and wooden shutters are still in daily use.
“The property has been fitted with a modern biomass boiler which continues to benefit from government tariffs.
The dining room in the manor (Image: Rightmove)
“The whole estate offers several options for ancillary or rental accommodation.
“But whatever the use or occupation, the heritage and impression of grandeur at Newington is undiminished.”
A freehold property it has ten bedrooms and five bathrooms as well as landscaped gardens, a swimming pool, tennis court, croquet lawn and greenhouse.
READ MORE: Popular Oxford United community pub put up for £495,000 sale
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.
The River Thames runs through the west of the estate with an island in the middle of it and there is a woodland filed with wildlife.
The listing describes the whole property as “an elegant country house in unspoilt Oxfordshire, centred on a restored 17th-century palazzo and set within 42 acres of gardens, meadows and water, including the river Thame running through”.
Oxford News
Jeremy Clarkson among famous men backing cancer treatment
English actor and broadcaster Peter Duncan, 72, who has written and directed pantomimes for Oxford Playhouse, is urging health authorities to approve focal therapy more broadly across the UK.
Mr Duncan, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2019, called the treatment “life-changing” after it successfully targeted the cancerous part of his prostate with minimal side effects.
Jeremy Clarkson is some of a few famous faces who have received focal therapy for prostate cancer (Image: PA)
Other public figures who have received focal therapy include Jeremy Clarkson and former prime minister Lord David Cameron.
Mr Duncan said: “I was originally offered a radical prostatectomy which would have removed the whole prostate, but I was lucky enough to be treated with focal therapy which was better for me and a less invasive option.
“It was a complete success, and I’ve only experienced very minor after-effects, allowing me to continue with my life as before.”
The treatment is backed by Prostate Cancer UK, which is urging the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) to review and approve the treatment for wider use on the NHS.
Peter Duncan received prostate cancer therapy accessed by Jeremy Clarkson (Image: Alistair Wilson)
Amy Rylance, director of health services, equity and improvement at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Without a timeline from Nice, we simply don’t know how long men will have to wait for approval on the NHS.”
A recent report from Imperial College London found focal therapy is as effective as radiotherapy or surgery but carries a much lower risk of incontinence or erectile dysfunction.
One in eight men in the UK will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
Oxford News
Criminal broke into Oxford home and slept in owner’s bed, court hears
Richie Reeves broke into the home in Westminster Way on January 12 this year.
Oxford Crown Court heard how the 33-year-old, of Bristow Close, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, spent the night there and then stole some pants and socks before leaving.
As well as this, Reeves was sentenced, on August 6, for stealing bank cards in various locations and then using them to buy things for himself.
Reeves stole a bank card, wallet and cash belonging to John Keen in Oxford on January 17.
READ MORE: Oxford University student from China found dead at accommodation
Richie Reeves (Image: TVP)
He also stole bank cards belonging to Gordon Boland and Aya Zemzam in Milton Keynes in April.
Using the bank cards, the total he spent was £586.87.
Judge Maria Lamb said: “You broke into a young man’s home. You slept in his bed and helped yourself to his belongings.
“The feeling of intrusion to that young man must have been very significant. You were a rough sleeper and entrenched in substance misuse.
“You are now beginning to realise the impact of your offending on other people. It has had an enduring impact. You are now seeking to turn things around.”
Reeves was jailed for a total of 16 months.
The judge added: “I hope you build on the work you are doing already.”
Oxford News
Second weapon unveiled by police to combat e-scooters and e-bikes
It was reported earlier this week that Southampton’s officers had started using DeterTech’s SmartTag spray.
This can be fired from a handheld canister over distances of up to 10 metres, coating riders, clothing and bikes with an invisible marker.
READ MORE: Tips will no longer accept these items as new £15 charge introduced
The spray is only detectable under ultraviolet light and carries a unique forensic code linked to the specific canister used, allowing investigators to match a suspect to a particular incident weeks or even months later.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary says the technology gives officers a safer tactical option when dealing with motorcycles, e‑bikes and e‑scooters being used in crime or anti‑social behaviour, reducing the need for risky pursuits or close confrontation.
The move comes amid growing complaints about riders using powered two‑wheelers on pavements and in public spaces, and follows similar trials by Dorset Police and other forces to tag offenders rather than chasing them through busy streets.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire shop to permanently close with all products now £1
Thames Valley Police has told this newspaper this week that a second spray is being used in Oxfordshire and across the region.
The DNA tagging spray from SelectaDNA acts in a similar way and is also being used to combat e-bikes and e-scooters.
TVP, which covers Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, has already seized more than 100 illegal machines in recent operations and warned that privately owned e‑scooters used on public roads risk fines, penalty points and confiscation.
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