Rod Stewart's quiet life in leafy town with £4.6m mansion and very famous neighbours

After his electrifying legends performance at Glastonbury, Sir Rod Stewart is likely looking forward to a well-earned rest, particularly given his recent bout of flu. The severity of Sir Rod's illness resulted in the cancellation of five gigs in America - a decision that reportedly left him devastated.

Fortunately, the 80 year old chart-topper has quite the retreat to retire to for recovery.

As reported by The Guardian, he enjoys a peaceful life with his third wife, Penny Lancaster-Stewart, 53, and their two sons, Alastair and Aiden, in a 10-bedroom, Grade II-listed mansion on the Hertfordshire and Essex border, near the village of Sawbridgeworth.

READ MORE: Coronation Street's Georgia May Foote and X Factor star husband 'headed for divorce'

READ MORE: Michael Douglas, 80, announces retirement from acting in sad update

Sir Rod snapped up the property in 2013 for an estimated £4.6 million, and moved in three years later after extensive refurbishments.

The couple's home is an 18th-century property near Harlow, dating back to 1712.

It boasts 46 acres of land and woodland, complete with self-contained cottages, a walled garden, a swimming pool, a football pitch, and a croquet lawn.

The quaint town of Sawbridgeworth is steeped in history, with buildings harking back to the Tudor, Stuart, and Georgian eras, reports the Express.

The quiet, leafy parish has seen another world-renowned family move into its tranquil surroundings - local landmark Rowneybury House was purchased by Victoria and David Beckham in 1999 for £2.5 million.

The media quickly dubbed the grand 24-acre estate 'Beckingham Palace' due to its impressive size and grandeur, with the couple selling it for a whopping £11.3 million 15 years later.

For those seeking something a bit more manageable than a multi-million pound mansion on 24 acres, you'll be pleased to know that homes in Sawbridgeworth sell for a comparatively modest average of £481,288, according to Rightmove.

Over the past year, the majority of properties sold in Sawbridgeworth were detached houses, fetching an average price of £704,776.

Flats were sold for an average of £219,445, while semi-detached properties fetched £481,727.

Overall, historical sold prices in Sawbridgeworth over the past year were six per cent lower than the previous year and six per cent higher than the 2021 peak of £453,934.