27-05-2025
So much for the gothic vibes! Tim Burton puts mansion on sale for £4.5m...but shocks fans with quintessentially English decor
Film director Tim Burton has shocked fans after his 'quintessentially English' Oxfordshire country home was put on the market for £4.5million.
Burton bought the 5,900 square feet home in January 2006 when he and Actress Helena Bonham Carter were together.
The 'enchanting' Grade II-listed Mill House, which sits on 17 acres of gardens and lies next to the River Thames in Abingdon, has now been put up for sale.
At the time it was bought for £2.9million but has now surged in price and any keen buyer will have to fork out £4.5million for the country home.
The 66-year-old is famous for his unique and dark film style, having been behind a string of iconic films including Beetlejuice, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Edward Scissorhands.
But he has surprised fans at how 'normal' his choice of decor is for his Oxfordshire pad.
'Fantastic home, but I am shocked by how simple it is. I had envisioned Tim Burton's home to have a gothic vibe,' one said.
The listing for the home, which is now open for anyone interested, says: 'This graceful and quintessentially English 18th century country house sits gently within its exquisite landscape.
'Lovely 19th-century cast iron window boxes beneath 16-pane sash windows and hipped dormers to the second floor, all make for a delightful entrance to the front of the house.
'Built in showcases the stunning classic design and symmetry of the Georgian period.
'Original architectural and design details abound throughout the house.'
The property showcases a wealth of period features, including ornate plaster cornices, full-height sash windows, dado rails, substantial skirting boards, panelled doors, original wooden shutters, and intricately carved fireplaces.
There is a drawing room, library, study, sitting room, kitchen, utility room, boot room, eight bedrooms, and four bathrooms.
The landscaped grounds span 17 acres and feature winding miniature waterways, small islands, a summerhouse, and a rose courtyard.
However, some were left open-mouthed at how normal the property is compared to the style of film the director is known for.
One said: 'I'm disappointed by how ordinary it is.'
Another speculated that 'when you've got all that stuff in your head, maybe you want your environment to be calm and neutral'.
The house gained national prominence between 1697 and 1724, when the Bank of England chose its original paper mill to manufacture specialised paper for banknotes.
Paper production continued successfully even after the contract ended, and the house, built in 1741, served as the residence for the mill's foreman.
In 1913, Prime Minister H. H. Asquith and his wife Margot moved to a nearby estate. It was there that Asquith signed the declaration marking Britain's entry into the First World War.
In 1917, the couple acquired this house to offer additional accommodation for their guests.
In 2020, while Burton lived there, he put up a new fence to stop anti-social behaviour including littering on his land.
Locals claimed the fence cut off a route they had used for years to get to pools and weirs alongside the river.
Some were even said to have fly-tipped Burton's home to show their anger at what they said had cut the heart out of their village.
It is understood that the fence, at the time, was on land belonging to Mr Burton but blocks a route locals have used for years.
Locals have threatened to tear it down if it's not removed and said the structure was 'selfish and heartless'.
Resident Chris Dalton previously posted: 'I live in the village and believe there are a few things we can do to organise and fight the fence.
'I have opened a planning dispute against the fence [...] This is based on it being a listed building and being next to a footpath. They should have put in planning.
'If everyone would email [the council] to add to the complaint, the would be appreciated. I believe that ultimately money wins planning disputes, but this is worth a try.'
