How the bottom fell out of the prime country market (again)

As trophy homes go, the Grade II*-listed Glen Usk is hard to top. Set on the west bank of the River Usk in Wales, it is a white rendered neoclassical fairy-tale of a Georgian country house and its current owners have thoroughly renovated the eight-bedroom home, set in 35 acres. 

At the tail end of 2021 it went on the market with estate agent Fine & Country for £6.5 million. In November the Monmouthshire property’s price was dropped by £2 million after failing to find a buyer (and also to reflect a decision to reduce the amount of land to be sold with it from 75 acres to 35). Three months later, it is still on the market.

In the post-pandemic property market prime country homes, great and small, were a hot ticket as buyers raced for space, mobbing the West Country, Wales and the Cotswolds on the hunt for picturesque getaway cottages and new-life-in-the-country houses.