Sally Lindsay’s Posh Sleepover is offering a rare glimpse inside the 900-year-old Ugbrooke House in Devon, complete with 80 rooms, a private lake and an ancient chapel hidden behind a bookshelf.
The Channel 5 programme, which airs tonight at 7pm, follows the presenter as she visits some of the UK’s wealthiest families to learn about their privileged lives and enjoy a tour of their beautiful properties.
Tonight’s episode will see Sally travel to Devon, where she will stay at the stunning stately home, which is owned by the Honourable Alexander Clifford, 33, the elder son of Lord Clifford of Chudleigh.
Alexander was just 28 when he took over the 80-room house, which has been the seat of the Clifford family for over 400 years, and has spent £500,000 putting his own stamp on his incredible home, including splashing out £30,000 on bedroom wallpaper.
Channel 5’s Sally Lindsay’s Posh Sleepover is offering a rare glimpse inside 900-year-old stately home, complete with 80 rooms, a private lake and an ancient chapel hidden behind a bookshelf (pictured, the dining room)
A look at Ugbrooke’s beautiful blue dining-room, which was restored using traditional methods in order to keep the house’s historical heritage alive
Sally meets the live in husband wife team, butler Alex, and chef Tina, as well as the dedicated gamekeepers who help the estate run smoothly.
She tries several super-posh firsts during her stay – from pigeon for dinner, to shooting clays and dressing up in Alexander’s ancestors’ armour.
Alex explains: ‘The house I’ve got about six staff, and outside we’ve got about 25. It’s a bit of a family here, but we all try to pull together to keep things running.’
He goes on to compare a portrait of his father to a ‘cross between Montgomery Burns and Hugh Hefner.’
A look at the 3,000 acre of garden surrounded the stately home, which follow the design of 18th century landscaper Lancelot Capability Brown
Ugbrooke House’s cream drawing room. The stately Home, of which Alexander Clifford is the custodian, houses weddings and corporate retreats
Meanwhile Sally says she is ‘almost scared to sleep’ in the four-poster bed in the country manor, calling the view from the window of the front lawn ‘breathtaking.’
In another moment, Sally is amazed to discover a ‘proper chapel’ hidden away behind a bookcase entrance in the lounge.
Speaking of taking over the country estate, Alex explained: ‘Living in is basically socialising with a lot of people, they’re much older.
‘There are people in their seventies waiting for their eighty or ninety year old parents to park it to move in.’
The house, which is located in the parish of Chudleigh, has existed for the past 900 years and is even mentioned in the Domesday Book
Alexander was just 28 when he took over the 80-room house, which has been the seat of the Clifford family for over 400 years, and has spent £500,000 putting his own stamp on his incredible home (pictured with Lindsay)
Speaking of the decision to take over the country estate, he explains: ‘I took over when I was 28. I was in Melbourne having a great time, I was just Alex.’
Meanwhile his partner Augusta adds: ‘It is incredibly beautiful when you come here but ultimately it is still a family home.’
The house, which is located in the parish of Chudleigh, has existed for the past 900 years and is even mentioned in the Domesday Book.
Before the Reformation the land belonged to the Church and the house was occupied by Precentors to the Bishop of Exeter.
One of the Ugbrooke house drawing room, with pistachio sofas and lavish period paintings. The house was remodelled in the 18th century, but has existed for the past 900 years
It has been in the Clifford family for over 400 years, and was remodelled in the second part of the 18th century by Robert Adams.
The 9th Baron of Clifford of Chudleigh was an aide-de-camp to Edward VII and entertained both him and King Geroge V at the stately home.
Alexander is the current custodian of the stately home, which now accommodates weddings as well as corporate retreats.
He spent £500,000 renovating the property after he took it over from his father five years ago, telling Sally that in one room, the wallpaper alone cost over £30,000.
During the documentary, Alexander jokes he was left having ‘panic attacks’ while trying to make decisions about decorating the stately home (pictured, in the dining room William Hough, Sally Lindsay, Alexander Clifford, Augusta Mackay and Eliza Hough in the dining room)
Meanwhile he also jokes he was left having ‘panic attacks’ over trying to pick curtains for each grand room in the house.
He explains trying to pick which £10,000 tassel for the curtains ‘sent him over the edge’, saying: ‘I went absolutely nuts.’
The home comprises 12 luxury bedroom suites, with period furnishings, as well as woods, four gardens, a private lake and farm lands.
Each room comes with its own theme but is furnished with exquisite period items such as goose down duvets and decorated with beautiful paintings. Four come with poster beds, and all have larger bathrooms.
The whole home was completely restored ‘using traditional materials including French velvet gaufrage and hand-dyed silk tapestries,’ according to Ugbrooke’s website.
An in-house butler looks after the guests and friends and a private chef is there to meet all dietary requirements.
A 3,000 acres estate surrounds the home, and includes a parkland following the design of 18th century landscaper Capability Brown.
The garden got a new lease of life thanks to a recent replanting on the advice of Michael Hickson, former head gardener at Knightshayes.
Sally Lindsay’s Posh Sleepover concludes tonight at 7pm on Channel 5.