A party house that was the centre of a groovy 60s scene that scandalised quiet village life is up for sale.

Orchard House, near Wallingford, played host to countless rock stars including George Harrison and hellraisers such as Jimi Hendrix and Rolling Stone Brian Jones.

However, creativity also flourished there with Steve Winwood writing songs for his first album while staying there and Cat Stevens composing the iconic Lady D'Arbanville after he met the then model Patty D'Arbanville at one of the infamous parties.

The family house and coach house set in nearly two acres in the village of Aston Upthorpe was built in the 1920s and was previously the country estate of notorious playboy aristocrat, Sir William Pigott-Brown, third baronet.

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Pigott-Brown was a National Hunt jockey and twice won the amateur championship before retiring at 21 when he inherited a large fortune of £750,000 – equivalent to approximately £16million today.

He used some of this to buy Orchard House along with 1,000 acres of farmland, which became Aston Upthorpe Stud and home to several very successful racehorses.

It was under his ownership during the 1960s and early 1970s that the house got its reputation for swinging 60s partying.

Steve Winwood and his band Traffic were living on the estate when they wrote their first album and dedicated ‘House for Everyone’ and ‘Berkshire Poppies’ to their host.

Orchard House has been lived in by the same owner since 1981 and "would benefit from some updating", said the agents.

As well as six bedrooms it has a sauna/shower room and wine store, tennis court, swimming pool and coach house which had planning permission to convert to a four bedroom house and garage that has now lapsed but could be investigated.

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There is also a large garage with space for four cars.

Estate agent Charles Elsmore-Wickens, of Savills Oxford, said: “It’s still easy to appreciate the property’s appeal as a countryside residence to impress. Elaborate wrought iron gates give a sense of grandeur and the house, which takes centre stage within private landscaped gardens, is as handsome as it is substantial.

"With modernisation and some reconfiguration it can be brought back to life as a wonderful family home, with plenty of space for entertaining… although I’m sure local residents would prefer this to be of a more civilised affair than in decades gone by!”

For further information about the property contact cewickens@savills.com or 01865 339 702.