17th-century farmhouse in Almodington with links to James Bond and the royal family

A cosy West Sussex farmhouse in Almodington not only comes complete with a traditional inglenook fireplace, a ravishing country garden within just under two acres of land and a thriving holiday let business, but was once the home of one of Chichester’s most charismatic couples.

Dating back to the 17th century, Poplars Farmhouse is both a four to seven-bedroom family home and a ten-year-old rental business.

Together, the farmhouse and cluster of pretty outbuildings can house groups of up to 18 people, mostly family gatherings, celebrations and companies on teambuilding trips.

However, according to owner Annabelle White, over the years some visitors to the bucolic farmhouse have been very famous indeed, thanks to a particularly glamorous previous owner.

Beautiful Bond girl and actress Alexandra Bastedo lived at Poplars Farmhouse for 22 years with her equally successful husband, long-term Chichester Festival Theatre director Patrick Garland.

Annabelle said: “When we arrived, the gardener, who had been with the house for many years, told us loads of amusing stories.

“Alexandra hosted all sorts of people, such as Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh.

“There were rumours Prince Charles and Camilla stayed here, too – which is why we’ve got a room which the previous owners called the Camilla Room!”

The cottage garden still blooms with flowers that were gifts from film and theatre celebrities, including the camellias outside the back of the dairy cottage, which purportedly came from star of screen and stage Richard Burton.

Alexandra Bastedo also ran an animal sanctuary from the property, hence the name of her autobiography, Beware Dobermans, Donkeys and Ducks, which wittily chronicles the lives of her many animals and their encounters with the endless celebrities who came to stay.

“There were loads of donkeys and about 40 cats at the cattery round the back, plus geese, ducks and two Dobermans.”

Today, the White family are back from overseas and reluctantly moving on.

Annabelle said: “It was perfect for us to gather together our family who are dotted around the world … and other people have been able to do the same while we were away.

“The lovely thing about the house is that it’s right in the middle of the grounds: you feel you’re in your own little haven.

“Andy the gardener does a wonderful job keeping it looking really nice, so we spend all our time in the garden.

“The kids love the greenery and the nature and we don’t see them all day – we ring a bell when it’s time to come back and have their food.”

Annabelle said she would miss the ancient barn in particular: “You walk in and you feel you’ve stepped back in time, apart from the ping pong table and the markings on the wall by all the people who have played in there for years.

“It’s the sort of house that needs people who love tinkering and pottering and enjoying the garden.

“And it’s the perfect home for a family with older children or elderly parents, who would like the annexe and the space to have people around and who love animals and the outdoors.”

For more information contact Henry Adams, Rowan House, Baffins Lane, Chichester. Call 01243 533377.

Poplars Farmhouse, Batchmere Road, Almodington

Stunning Grade II listed farmhouse with large annexe set in a private plotLarge Sussex barn and single garageApproximately 1.75-acre plotFlexible accommodationPretty gardensNo forward chainThree miles from the beachSemi-rural locationGuide Price £1,350,000