One Mile of the River Test For Sale: Yours For Only $18 Million
By Tom Chandler on Apr 25, 2008 in Underground Entertainment
Alert Underground Reader Rufus knows the English chalkstreams are the stuff of legend; many regard the Test and Ichen as the birthplaces of modern fly fishing.
For only 9 million Pounds (1 Pound = approx $2 US dollars), a mile of it can be yours:
Winding for 40 miles through beautiful Hampshire countryside, from the hamlet of Ashe, near Basingstoke, to Southampton Water, the River Test is known across the world for the quality of its chalk-stream fishing. Now you can have a mile of that fishing all to yourself – provided you have £9m, that is.
The stretch of river, with its weirs, glides and riffles, runs through the 173 acres of manicured lawns and lush parkland of Longparish House, one of the most expensive properties in the county, on sale for the first time in 15 years.
If I didn’t already own country estates in dozens of other countries, frankly, I’d consider it.
Still — and despite the fact the property is half the planet away — I find something familiar in the real estate manager’s pitch:
“It is a significant and important enough house to attract an international buyer, but its rural location and typical English fishing will appeal to a successful City type with his family.”
It’s pretty much what we hear about the better places up here, which are being sold by their local owners to folks who visit them infrequently — the kind of thing that changes a community.
See you at the real estate office, Tom Chandler.
Day Tripper | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
our poor dollar
Tom Chandler | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
It definitely doesn’t buy as much Historic Trout River as it used to.
ijsouth | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
One thing - if one ends up buying this property, will he have to fish it with his pinkie crooked outwards?
If the buyer is American, I wonder if the local fishermen will give them the same reception as, say, the ManUnited fans to their new American owners, the Glazers.
Gerry | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
Thats only $28 per inch. What a deal!
Tom Chandler | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
ij: I’m more interested in the afternoon tea service; would there be crumpets, or scones?
As for ManUnited, winning smooths a lot of ruffled feathers, and right now, they’re winning…
Gerry: You’re officially the Underground Head Scientist In Charge of Silly Analysis. Enjoy the perks*.
(*There aren’t any)
kbarton10 | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
TC never remembers that all dry flies must be presented upstream, and that pouting isn’t allowed.
The Test isn’t low-grade fishing,and the fellow you just called a SOB, is a Duke or an Earl..
I can be had as lead groundskeeper, perhaps for a few Quid per month - I may even tie a couple dry flies for you … yer bleeding Lordship…
ijsouth | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
True…and the thing with Manu and the Glazers was the concern that the Glazers had levereged themselves to the hilt to buy the club, and wouldn’t have any money left for signing players - that obviously isn’t the case….now, it’s a different story with that mess in Liverpool.
As for tea…gotta go with the scones - actually, I don’t know why I’m mocking this…I’d love to have stream access to 6lb browns on a 2wt.
Tom Chandler | Apr 25, 2008 | Reply
ij: We’re mocking it because we don’t have backyard access to 6lb browns…
Guido | Apr 26, 2008 | Reply
Tom,
It’s definately crumpets in the afternoon. Usually about 4:00.
Yes, I am British.
Tom Chandler | Apr 26, 2008 | Reply
“Yes, I am British.”
Excellent. What the hell’s a crumpet?
Mark Ostrom | Apr 26, 2008 | Reply
I wonder how my credit rating would hold up in the UK? I might claim to be some distant bastard relative
of the Queen.
Damn, my family left the joint 170 years ago. All we wound up with was the heyday of Dunsmuir, fishing to die for, winters to run from and the train in, around, through and present in every aspect of the town.
Hmmmmmmm.
Fair deal? Yup. Why, You’d had to turn in your WADERS during the War in the UK… simply
intolerable in the face of a mere irritant like the Blitzkrieg. My Grandpa kept his and brewed beer
in the basement during prohibition too, typical
Dunsmuir ways back then.
Silly Brits—Most irritating people in the world.
Now, where is my Tweed Fishing Jacket, Houndstooth Vest and Knickers? … and where’s that bloody Tie?!
…oh JAMES ?!