Lord Nelson's historic Herefordshire lovenest is for sale

Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson romanced Lady Emily Hamilton at this Grade I-listed manor on the Welsh border ahead of his seminal victory at the Battle of Trafalgar – and now it’s for sale for £2.75m.

Rudhall Manor dates back to the 14th century and is located three miles from the market town of Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire. The sprawling mansion is set within 10 acres of manicured gardens, making it an ideal hideaway for the married lovers, who met while holidaying in Naples in 1799 and carried on their love affair until Nelson’s death at Trafalgar in 1805.

Today, the picturesque manor is owned by ‘a well-known artist with an illustrious catalogue,’ says listing agent Blue Book.

Architecturally, the nine-bedroom Herefordshire property is quite eclectic. Built in the 1300s, Rudhall was expanded in the 16th century, adding rooms with Jacobean carved timber details and handsome beamed ceilings. Impressive among them is the hallway, with its oak-panelled walls hung with gilded paintings and its solid timber staircase.

It was further expanded in the Georgian period when a sandstone facade was added on the south side. Five reception rooms are bursting with historic charm and features, from colossal fireplaces and Tudor woodwork to hanging chandeliers and patinaed floorboards.

The gardens and grounds include specimen trees and yew hedges that border formal lawns, leading down to Rudhall Brook and a waterfall crossed by a number of small bridges. The brook feeds two wildlife-rich lakes.

Many of the manor’s outbuildings had undergone conversion into modern amenities, including a heated indoor pool, gym, and a self-contained studio apartment. See more of the Herefordshire country home in the gallery above.