In the rock 'n' roll manor

Sunday Mirror, Jan 31, 1999 by Robert Hutton-Squire

IT'S part of the rock star myth that they all start out strumming their guitars on a bunk bed in a two-bedroomed council house.

But when their first album goes platinum, they need to find somewhere to keep all that money...so they buy a big house, preferably out in the country.

When they find themselves occupying England's finest manor houses, how do they compare to the country squire-types who lived there before?

Do today's villagers tug their forelocks as Gary Barlow strolls past, or do they cross themselves and bar the door when they hear that Noel Gallagher is riding out? Today we investigate the new squirearchy...

ROD STEWART may be found home alone these days following his bust- up with wife Rachel Hunter.

MANOR: The rock star bought 100-year-old Wood House (now worth pounds 1.5million), on the edge of Epping Forest, 10 years ago outbidding King Constantine of Greece who surely would not have laid a full-size football pitch round the back.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT: Rod supports local charities, for example, donating a platinum disc to the local St Clare Hospice whose fund- raising manager John Harding said: "He's very approachable. He gets us auto-graphed footballs to auction off." Rod mixes well with locals, sometimes inviting villagers up to the manor for a spot of footie. Paul Harmon, manager of the Half Moon pub, in Epping High Street, said: "He just seems to be one of the boys". Shop owner Brian Holland said: "He is not in England very often but I have met him in the pub. He is just a normal fellow who made good."

NOEL GALLAGHER and wife Meg, when not raucously touring with Oasis, reside in some splendour in the genteel Buckinghamshire village of Chalfont St Giles.

MANOR: Sheiling, a pounds 2 million eight-bedroom house which came complete with a self-contained flat, four bathrooms and a luxury swimming pool.

Noel's application to extend the house was turned down, as was his request for permission to build eight-metre high floodlights for a five-a-side football pitch in the back garden.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT: Auctioned off some of his gold and platinum discs in Chalfont St Giles Middle School to raise money for facilities there. But that might not cut much ice in Chalfont St Giles, home to some of Britain's wealthiest businessmen. One local said: "A lot of famous people live round here, and nobody takes any notice."

STING heavily plays up his Lord of the Manor status on album sleeves, which picture him strolling through the countryside with big dogs.

MANOR: He spent pounds 2million in 1992 on Lake House, a Tudor mansion set in 52 acres near Salisbury, Wilts. The 41 rooms include 12 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms. Also has fishing rights to a 315-yard stretch of the River Avon running through the gardens.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT: Sting is a generous contributor to the local church where he and wife Trudi not onl;y baptised their children, but also had their wedding blessed. They have everyone over for drinks at Christmas and invited villagers up to the big house on Bonfire Night last year. Building a trout lake in the grounds, angered conservationists who claimed it threatened nearby riverside meadows. But Gary Weston, landlord of The Bridge in nearby Upper Woodford, said: "He is very popular within the village."

SCARY SPICE Melanie Brown, getting ready for the birth of her first child after marrying dancer Jimmy Gulzar, is nesting in Little Marlow, Bucks.

MANOR: The 16th Century Manor House, which has played host under previous owners to both the Queen and Queen Mother. Set in seven acres, Mel paid pounds 2.5million last year for its eight bedrooms, stable block and servants' quarters, then spent pounds 250,000 converting the garage into a leisure complex, featuring swimming pool, hot tub, hydro spa, sauna, gym and bar. And there's the 33- yard tunnel that'll connect all that to the house.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT: She has been seen once in the local pharmacist. Married in the church adjoining the house after obtaining a special Archbishop's license. Villagers are wary of the new lady of the manor, who has not taken up invites to attend carol singing or the primary school's nativity play.

GARY BARLOW made his millions at a tender age with pop group Take That. Now he can take it easy.

MANOR: He spent pounds 1 million two years ago on the eight- bedroomed Delamere Manor, in Cheshire, which sits among 60 acres where there are also houses for his parents and his brother. Locals have condemned as "tacky" six floodlit green statues he has put up along the driveway. Has just applied to build a recording studio in the grounds.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT: His first act on moving in was to ban from his trout lake the local fishing club which had been using it for 40 years. He incurred more wrath from the locals when he held a huge firework party. Ethel Grantson, 56, said: "We watched at first. But it got more and more noisy and frightening with huge bangs. Our windows were rattling like there were bombs going off."

ANDREW LLOYD-WEBBER was in 1997 made Lord Lloyd-Webber of Sydmonton for services to music.