Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Stargroves


Stargroves, also known as Stargrove House, is a and estate situated in the village of East Woodhay in , . Constructed around 1848 in the style of a French château, the Grade II listed building features ornate mid-Victorian architecture characteristic of its era. It achieved prominence in history following its acquisition by lead singer in 1970 for £55,000, during which period it served as both a private residence and an informal recording venue. The estate hosted sessions for the band's mobile recording studio, contributing to albums such as , and was later used by other artists including Led Zeppelin. Jagger sold Stargroves in 1979 for £200,000, after which it passed through ownership by figures such as and team founder Frank Williams.

Location and Description

Geographical and Architectural Features

Stargroves is located in the village of East Woodhay in , , at national grid reference 41120 60990. The estate occupies a rural setting within the East End Conservation Area and the North , characterized by rolling downs and deciduous woodland. Originally spanning approximately 850 acres by , the grounds feature a wide grass terrace, extensive lawns, a lake with an island, a garden, an orchard, and a walled bounded by a 200-year-old hedge. The core structure, Stargrove House, is a Grade II listed built in the mid-19th century in Baronial chateau style, rebuilt after a in 1848 and expanded in 1879. It comprises two storeys with three-storeyed end towers and a narrow central tower under a steep slate roof, constructed primarily of cement walling. Key architectural elements include a castellated , moulded bands, hood moulds, and a plinth, evoking mid-Victorian ornate fashion. The south facade displays corner turrets, a two-storeyed bay window, and a Gothic with Tudor-style bays. In contrast, the north elevation features a massive projecting tower, emphasizing the building's asymmetrical design. Outbuildings such as stables and domestic blocks utilize slate and red brick with subtle Gothic detailing. A single-storey entrance and gate piers further define the estate's approach.

Historical Background

Pre-20th Century Origins

The manor encompassing what became known as Stargroves originated in the parish of East Woodhay, , with records tracing back to the of 1086, when the manor of East Woodhay was held by the See of . This ecclesiastical ownership was confirmed by I in 1284. By 1428, the land was divided among several holders, including John Sterregrave (or Stargrove), whose tenure likely gave rise to the estate's name; the property was formally designated a in the . From 1565 to 1667, the estate was owned by the family, prominent landowners in during the era, after which the title reverted to the Bishopric of but remained leased to the Goddards and their descendants. A notable event occurred on October 27, 1644, following the Second Battle of Newbury, when visited the estate and was hosted by John Goddard. A substantial existed by 1759, as depicted on Taylor's map. The Goddards retained control until around 1830, after which the estate passed to the in 1821. In the early 1840s, the original was destroyed by , prompting the of a new Victorian Gothic-style structure around 1848, initially acquired by Captain Ramsay and later expanded. By 1879, the property, encompassing 850 acres, was sold to Sir Frederick Walter Carden, who further developed the mansion and surrounding parkland.

20th Century Prior to 1970

In 1879, Sir Frederick Walter Carden acquired Stargrove House and the associated estate, undertaking significant expansions to the mansion and developing the parkland to encompass approximately 850 acres, which included the addition of a lake. The property, rebuilt in a mid-Victorian chateau style following a in the early , featured ornate elements such as an entrance lodge, gate piers, a , lawns, a garden, an orchard, and a fishpond, as documented on maps by 1910. The estate remained under Carden family ownership through the first half of the , functioning primarily as a private country residence amid the rural landscape of East Woodhay, . No major public events or alterations are recorded during this period, consistent with its role as a holding focused on residential and estate management activities. By the 1960s, Sir Henry Carden held ownership of Stargroves, maintaining the property until its sale in 1970. The estate's Grade II listed status underscores its architectural significance from the 19th-century rebuild, with limited documented changes in the intervening decades.

Mick Jagger Ownership (1970–1979)

Acquisition and Initial Use

In 1970, purchased Stargroves, a and estate near East Woodhay in , , from Carden for £55,000. The property, then in a state of disrepair, was acquired as Jagger's primary country residence amid the Rolling Stones' growing success following their 1969 Let It Bleed. Reports based on an unpublished memoir attributed to Jagger claim the purchase occurred while he was under the influence of during a drive through with , though this detail remains unverified beyond biographical accounts. Following the acquisition, Stargroves initially functioned as Jagger's private estate, where he embraced elements of rural life, including , despite limited prior experience. By late 1970, the property transitioned into a creative hub as began utilizing their newly acquired mobile there for sessions contributing to the 1971 album . These early recordings marked Stargroves' shift from residential use to a key venue for production, leveraging the estate's expansive grounds and isolation for extended, unstructured work. The setup allowed the band to bypass traditional studio constraints, fostering an environment of experimentation that defined the era's mobile recording trend.

Role as Recording Venue

During Mick Jagger's ownership from 1970 to 1979, Stargroves primarily functioned as a residential recording venue, leveraging the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio to host sessions for the Rolling Stones and other prominent rock acts. The estate's rural setting in Hampshire, England, provided an alternative to urban studios, enabling more immersive and less constrained creative processes. The mobile studio, a converted truck equipped with professional recording equipment, was first extensively used at Stargroves in 1970, marking a shift toward location-based recording that influenced the era's production techniques. The recorded significant portions of their 1971 album at Stargroves, including tracks such as "" and "," with sessions commencing in using the mobile unit parked on the grounds. Additional work contributing to Exile on Main St. (1972) took place there, with preliminary recordings of songs like "" and "" captured amid the estate's relaxed environment before the band relocated to France for primary sessions. These efforts capitalized on Stargroves' acoustics and ambiance, fostering the raw, eclectic sound characteristic of the band's early 1970s output. Beyond , Stargroves hosted sessions for other artists renting the mobile studio, notably Led Zeppelin in 1972, where tracks for (1973), (1975), and later compilations like (1982) were laid down, including outdoor experiments by and . Engineer documented these innovative approaches, such as open-air recording, which exemplified the venue's versatility for production. The estate's role extended to facilitating rentals that offset costs while establishing it as a hub for British rock innovation, though specific sessions for albums like (1973) remain less documented at the site. This period solidified Stargroves' reputation in music history, with the mobile studio's deployment there pioneering portable high-fidelity recording and influencing subsequent location-based sessions by acts seeking similar freedoms. The venue's use declined toward the late as the band pursued international tax strategies and diverse locations, but its contributions to landmark albums underscored Jagger's vision for integrating domestic space with professional artistry.

Post-1979 Ownership

1980s–1990s Owners

In 1979, Stargroves was purchased from by John Varley, a businessman based in Boxford. Varley held the estate until 1984, when he sold it to businessman Claus Bourghardt for £500,000. Bourghardt's ownership was brief, with the property soon transferring to Paul Dupee Jr., an American businessman and then-owner of the Boston Celtics basketball team, who acquired it later in 1984 and retained it until 1988. During Dupee's tenure, extensive renovations were undertaken to restore and modernize the manor house. Following Dupee's sale, Stargroves was bought by Frank Williams, founder and longtime principal of the Williams Formula One racing team. Williams owned the estate for the remainder of the and throughout the , during which period it served primarily as a private residence without the recording activities of prior decades. In 1998, Williams sold the property to singer for £2.5 million.

2000s to Present

In 1998, acquired Stargroves for £2.5 million from team principal Frank Williams, though he never occupied the property amid his separation from . The estate underwent restoration during this period, earning the Basingstoke & Deane Conservation Award for large houses in 2005 for its preservation efforts. Stewart sold Stargroves in 2012 for more than its £15 million asking price to a member of the , whose wealth derives from the pharmaceutical firm . Under Sackler ownership, the manor has functioned primarily as a private family residence, with no public recording or event usage reported. The 400-acre estate, including its woodlands and lake, remains intact, though access is restricted. As of 2023, the property continues in Sackler hands without further sales documented.

Cultural and Musical Legacy

Key Recordings and Artists

Stargroves served as a primary recording location for the Rolling Stones during Mick Jagger's ownership, utilizing the band's Rolling Stones Mobile Studio parked at the estate. Substantial portions of Sticky Fingers (1971) were captured there during sessions in the summer and autumn of 1970, marking an early major use of the mobile unit at the property. Sessions for Exile on Main St. (1972) began at Stargroves as early as 1969, with additional tracking contributing to the album's raw, multi-layered sound before the band relocated to France in 1971. Tracks for It's Only Rock 'n Roll (1974), including elements finalized between November 1973 and March 1974, were also recorded on-site, blending studio work with the estate's residential atmosphere. Led Zeppelin rented Stargroves in spring 1972, employing Mobile Studio under engineer to record material for multiple releases. These sessions produced tracks for (1973), including experimental open-air recordings to achieve a neutral acoustic environment free from room reverb. Further work in 1974 yielded "The Rover" and "Black Country Woman" for (1975), with the latter famously interrupted by an airplane flyover captured in the intro. Select outtakes from these periods appeared on (1982), underscoring the estate's role in preserving raw, improvisational takes. Other acts, including the Rolling Stones' contemporaries, occasionally used Stargroves for sessions, though documentation is sparser. Bob Marley and the Wailers tracked elements there amid their early 1970s UK visits, contributing to the property's reputation as a hub for rock and reggae experimentation during the mobile studio era.

Influence on Mobile Recording Technology

The acquisition of Stargroves by Mick Jagger in 1970 directly prompted the Rolling Stones to utilize their newly commissioned mobile recording studio for album sessions, marking a shift from fixed studio constraints to on-location recording in residential environments. The band's dissatisfaction with traditional studio schedules and acoustics led to the deployment of the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio (RSM), a custom-built truck equipped with an eight-track recorder, mixing console, and amplifiers, at the estate for the recording of Sticky Fingers during the summer and autumn of that year. This setup allowed for extended, immersive sessions in the house's drawing room and gardens, producing tracks like "Brown Sugar" and "Wild Horses" under controlled yet flexible conditions. The success of , which reached number one in the UK and charts, validated the mobile studio's capability for professional-grade outside conventional facilities, influencing subsequent industry practices by demonstrating that high-fidelity results could be achieved in non-studio locations without compromising technical standards. The RSM, initially conceived around but first extensively applied for studio-quality work at Stargroves, featured innovations like remote-controlled tape machines and echo chambers, enabling bands to capture live room ambience and spontaneous performances. This approach reduced logistical dependencies on urban studios like or , paving the way for a "golden age" of mobile recording in during the , where similar rigs were rented for sessions at remote venues. Stargroves further amplified the RSM's impact when it hosted recordings by other artists, such as Led Zeppelin's Houses of the Holy in 1972–1973, where outdoor and indoor spaces were miked directly into the mobile unit, contributing to tracks like "The Ocean." These sessions highlighted the technology's portability and adaptability, encouraging competitors like the Who Mobile and Island Mobile to emerge, and inspiring broader adoption for capturing authentic, environment-specific sounds. By the mid-1970s, the RSM had been used by over 50 acts, underscoring how Stargroves' role as an early proving ground helped transition recording from rigid studio paradigms to mobile, artist-driven workflows that prioritized creative freedom over infrastructure limitations.

References

  1. [1]
    Stargroves - The Swinging Sixties
    It was while it was in the ownership of musician Mick Jagger that it gained its place in rock 'n' roll history. He bought it for the bargain sum of £55,000 ...
  2. [2]
    Stargrove - Newbury - Parks & Gardens UK
    Stargrove House is a a Grade II listed building; Its ornate, chateau-like appearance is very characteristic of mid-Victorian fashion. The single-storey entrance ...Missing: facts | Show results with:facts<|control11|><|separator|>
  3. [3]
    Obvious History: Mick Jagger bought a mansion while high on LSD
    Feb 9, 2018 · An unpublished 75,000-word memoir written by Jagger in 1981 details the story of how he bought the crumbling estate, Stargroves, for £55,000 ...
  4. [4]
    Stargroves House, Newbury - Flickr
    Mick Jagger purchased the estate in 1970 for £55,000. • The Rolling Stones recorded there before their move to France in the spring of 1971. These recordings ...
  5. [5]
    A Look Back at the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio
    Oct 23, 2014 · In 1970, the mobile studio was driven to Stargroves, Mick Jagger's English country estate, to record much of the classic 'Sticky Fingers.' Other ...
  6. [6]
    Stargroves: The Hampshire millionaire mansion previously owned ...
    May 14, 2022 · Jagger sold Stargroves for £200,000 in 1979, making a handsome profit on his investment. Ownership transferred to Boxford businessman John ...
  7. [7]
    STARGROVE, East Woodhay - 1339802 - Historic England
    List entry 1339802. Grade II Listed Building: Stargrove. May include summary, reasons for designation and history.
  8. [8]
    Stargrove - Hampshire Garden Trust Research
    The Estate is associated with Oliver Cromwell. More recently Stargrove has been the home of internationally known 'Rock Stars' and a venue for TV Dramas. The ...Missing: facts | Show results with:facts
  9. [9]
    Mick Jagger once bought a giant mansion while tripping on LSD
    Apr 17, 2020 · Mick Jagger once bought the Hampshire property, Stargroves for £55000 whilst high on LSD where the Rolling Stones would go on to use as a ...Missing: history | Show results with:history<|separator|>
  10. [10]
    Mick Jagger 'bought country estate while high on LSD' - The Telegraph
    Feb 16, 2017 · Sir Mick Jagger bought a multi-million pound country pile while high on acid and had a near-death horse-riding experience, according to what is claimed to be a ...
  11. [11]
    Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger 'bought Rod Stewart's mansion high on ...
    Feb 16, 2017 · 'Mick tells of buying a historic mansion, Stargroves, while high on acid and of trying out the life of horse-riding country squire,' he said.Missing: initial | Show results with:initial
  12. [12]
    https://iorr.org/talk/read.php?1,2122777,2122777
  13. [13]
    The Rolling Stones and the Most Important Music Studio on Wheels
    Feb 17, 2023 · Did you know that The Rolling Stones owned the world's first independent recording studio on wheels? The Rolling Stones Mobile Studio, ...
  14. [14]
    Chronicle 1970 - Time Is On Our Side
    Stargroves in Newbury, working on Bitch, Tumbling Dice, Sweet Black Angel, Hide Your Love, Moonlight Mile and Sway, among others. Mick Jagger: Recording with ...
  15. [15]
    'Exile On Main St': The Stones' Decadent LP, In Their Own Words
    The Stones began sessions for songs that finished on the album at Mick Jagger's Stargroves estate as early as 1969. They continued at Olympic Studios in London.
  16. [16]
    In 1972, I was asked by Jimmy Page to come over to England and ...
    Jul 12, 2020 · The group had considered Mick Jagger's home, Stargroves as a recording location, but decided it was too expensive. They subsequently moved the ...Missing: venue | Show results with:venue
  17. [17]
    Step inside The Rolling Stones' mobile recording studio, the iconic ...
    Feb 20, 2023 · The story goes that, back in the early '70s, Mick Jagger decided that he wanted to use his recently-purchased Stargroves Estate in Hampshire as ...
  18. [18]
    Grumbles over work at East End mansion - Newbury Today
    Feb 18, 2014 · ... John Varley. It was then said to have been bought in 1984 by Swedish businessman, Claus Bourghardt, for £500,000. An architectural gem, it ...
  19. [19]
    Area Resident's Stylus Counsel | Mansion Sweet Mansion - Tinnitist
    May 17, 2025 · ... John Varley • changed hands several times, including to Boston Celtics owner Paul Dupree Jr. in 1984 and Rod Stewart, who bought it in 1998 ...
  20. [20]
    Stargroves East Woodhay 1914 - Facebook
    Nov 28, 2022 · Stargroves East Woodhay 1914** **Stargroves East Woodhay 2002 (HE)** Home of the Stars Throughout much of its history the manor house was ...<|separator|>
  21. [21]
    Stargroves - Mick Jagger And Rod Stewart's Former House
    In 1998, Rod Stewart bought Stargroves for £2.5 million from Frank Williams but never moved in. He split with his wife Rachel Hunter soon after exchanging ...
  22. [22]
    Sackler Family House: East Woodhay Estate - Urban Splatter
    Feb 21, 2023 · The house has more than two bedrooms and two bathrooms with over 2000 square feet of space. Check out the Sackler Family house here.
  23. [23]
    Led Zep liner notes state all PG tracks were recorded in 1974, is this ...
    Jun 14, 2007 · BLACK COUNTRY WOMAN - Recorded in 1974 at Stargroves, England, with The Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. THE ROVER - Recorded in 1974 at Stargroves ...<|separator|>
  24. [24]
    Stargroves, England 1972. That's the Stones mobile studio ... - Reddit
    Apr 10, 2020 · Stargroves, England 1972. That's the Stones mobile studio on the left. The house was owned by Mick Jagger. The tracks Zep recorded appeared ...
  25. [25]
    Britain's Golden Age of Mobile Studio Recording: 5 of | Reverb News
    Nov 21, 2018 · In 1970, Mick Jagger bought Stargroves, a country house in Hampshire. The band's pianist and tour manager, Ian Stewart, suggested that in order ...Missing: development | Show results with:development
  26. [26]
    Mix Blog: Go Inside the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio - Mixonline
    Feb 22, 2023 · A new mini-documentary sheds light on the history of the pioneering Rolling Stones Mobile Recording Studio, built in the early 1970s.
  27. [27]
    Rolling Stones Mobile Page 2 | Hi-Fi News
    As usage increased and recording techniques advanced, the Mobile updated consistently. Originally it supported a maximum of 20 inputs and had an eight-track ...Missing: influence | Show results with:influence
  28. [28]
    Remembering the Rolling Stones' Farm Truck Recording Studio
    Dec 18, 2024 · In the late Sixties, the Rolling Stones built a mobile recording studio on the back of a farm truck and changed music forever.