Houses for sale, but which to choose: Jane Austen or Gilded Age?????

Lyme Park, another Jane Austen movie site

It could be an amazing coincidence or just good fortune, but two homes with ties to two of my greatest interests, Jane Austen and Gilded Age, came to the market this week with very similar price tags. So, which to choose? 

Yesterday, my husband, Chris, sent me a link to a story on a "just in" listing for Luckington Court, in Wiltshire, England. This Cotswold residence was the home of the Bennet family, Longbourn, in  BBC's "Pride and Prejudice", (1995) with Jennifer Ehle and, yes (!), Colin Firth. 

According to the Daily Mail, Luckington Court is selling for 6 million pounds, which is about 7.3 million dollars (U.S.).  A bargain with so much space and so much history!

Chatsworth, Mr. Darcy's home in the 2002 movie version of Pride and Prejudice

The primary home, has 8 bedrooms, a kitchen, dining room, two sitting rooms and a drawing room, where, like Mrs. Bennet, I can settle my nerves. The estate, with River Avon frontage, also includes farm buildings and a 1,400 square foot cottage (tea room? VRBO?).

Luckington Court, a Grade 2 building (historic building with some requirements as to what can and cannot be altered) was built in the 11th century with, as noted in today's Mirror, "original Tudor features" and "16th-century remodeling". (This, I'm thinking was before "open concept" and barn doors were only seen in the barn). It also has roots back to King Harold II, where before the Battle of Hastings, he had a home on the Luckington Court site.  

Chris and Barb, near the Cotswold region. Perhaps your future hosts of Luckington Court VRBO?

It was also rumored to have been considered by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for their humble abode back in 2018.  At that time, Luckington Court's listing price was 9 million pounds. So, you see, we have a deal here.

Although I have not personally visited Luckington Court, I have been to a few Jane-Austen-in-the- movies-estates (and two of her actual homes) which are not for sale. In 2018, we were at Lyme Park, the home of Colin Firth's Mr.'s Darcy. On that same trip, we also called upon Chatsworth, home of Matthew MacFayden's Mr. Darcy.  Both estates are much larger than the stand-in for Longbourn, which may be why there was at least one detractor who could find fault with it. Of course, it was Lady Catherine de Bourgh.  Titled, wealthy and in possession of more opinions than grace, Mr. Darcy's  strong-willed aunt, upon entering Longbourn and sitting herself down in the drawing room, openly declared without any prompting:  "you have a very small park here".  

Perhaps it is no Rosings, but I could make do.

The Vanderbilt Mansion, like Villa Nuit, is a grand home the Hudson. (Don't forget your sweater!)

Incredibly, this week, an estate with Gilded Age connections also came on the market for almost the same asking price. 

Reported in RobbReport, Villa Nuit, located in Westchester, New York, whose interior conservatory can be seen in  the movie, "The Age of Innocence" (1993), based on Edith Wharton's Gilded Age tale, is  up for sale for 6.5 million dollars. And, like Luckington Court, along with a large home (over 20 rooms), it, too, has a spacious cottage/coachouse on the grounds as well as river views (Hudson river).

In addition, like Luckington Court, it has had a price decrease in recent years. An article in the New York Times, from May, 2015, reports an asking price of $14.75 million. 

Again, another bargain!

However, there is one difference between the two estates (aside from the obvious difference in location). Villa Nuit isn't centuries old, but rather just shy of 170 years.  Originally built in 1853, it was expanded in the 1860's and in the late 1880's it served as the last residence of John Jacob Astor III. Rather a "new build" by British aristocrats' standards.

Rachel, inside the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park, NY

Also, I have not been to Villa Nuit, but, again, have visited a similar estate back in 2015. With daughter and BTS partner, Rachel, we toured the Vanderbilt Mansion, Gilded Age home of Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt, built in the late 1890's in Hyde Park New York. Like Villa Nuit, it is also resides on the Hudson River, boasting picturesque grounds. 

The Vanderbilt Mansion boasts an impressive estate with beautiful views. Could we live here?

So, looking back, I guess one could say, I've been scouting locations for the past six years, searching for my next home.

Difficult to choose between Luckington Court and Villa Nuit.  I should hurry, though. Prices - or dreams - like these won't last!