The stunning former home of the late television star Paul O’Grady has hit the market for £3.5 million.

Boasting impressive views of the Romney Marsh, the comedian, who shot to fame as Lily Savage, had lived at Knoll Hill House in Aldington, near Ashford, from 1999 until his death in March last year aged 67.

Paul O’Grady’s Knoll Hill House in Aldington, near Ashford, has gone up for sale for £3.5 million. Picture: Strutt and Parker

The wildlife pond. Picture: Strutt and Parker

Paul died suddenly in March 2023 at the age of 67 due to cardiac arrhythmia – though his husband Andre Portasio confirmed he passed away peacefully while smoking a cannabis joint.

Since then, Mr Portasio tried transforming part of the site with two bids to convert a security hut slammed by nearby residents.

Neighbours feared they would face a “constant stream” of visitors if the building was overhauled into a holiday let.

With the latest bid approved, the ballet dancer has now decided to sell the Edwardian building.

With a sprawling 20 acres, it was described as “the kind of house you’d find in one of those Enid Blyton books” by Paul’s then-partner Brendan Murphy who he lived with until the latter’s death in 2005.

The Cottage is also included in the sale. Picture: Strutt and Parker

The 20-acre plot. Picture: Strutt and Parker

Formerly owned by fellow comedian Vic Reeves, the property mixes traditional elegant characteristics like French doors with quirkier qualities such as bookcase wallpaper and a Gypsy caravan in the garden.

Estate agent Strutt and Parker said: “Knoll Hill House sits in a breathtaking position at the top of the escarpment above the Romney Marsh which affords the most sensational far-reaching views, looking across the marsh to the coast and the sea in the distance.

“Built in 1910 the house has much charm, providing a comfortable and spacious space in which to live and entertain against this stunning backdrop.”

One stairwell is covered with bookcase wallpaper. Picture: Strutt and Parker

The dining room at Knoll Hill. Picture: Strutt and Parker

Moving into Knoll Hill completed a long-held ambition of relocating to the Kentish countryside away from the hustle and bustle of London.

In his book Country Life, Paul wrote: “I couldn’t quite get it to sink in that the house was mine.

“On my first night in the house I couldn’t sleep I was so excited.

The kitchen has an Aga. Picture: Strutt and Parker

One of five bedrooms in the main house, offering views of the Romney Marsh. Picture: Strutt and Parker 

“I spent the night roaming around the rooms like a cat getting accustomed to its new surroundings (although I didn’t spray), lugging pieces of furniture from one room to another and then spending ages standing back to see if it looked right, which it inevitably didn’t.”

The kitchen is arranged around an island and benefits from an Aga with French doors which open to the terrace and the gardens beyond.

On the first floor are five bedrooms, four of which face the Romney Marsh while the main bedroom has a dressing room with French doors opening to a balcony and an en suite bathroom.

Two of the other bedrooms also enjoy access to a balcony.

As well as Knoll Hill House itself, the estate boasts a swimming pool and several outbuildings, including two self-contained cottages, a barn, stables and “Witches House” in the garden.

The impressive sitting room. Picture: Strutt and Parker

One of six bathrooms on site, spread across multiple properties. Picture: Strutt and Parker

It also benefits from a swimming pool. Picture: Strutt and Parker

The cottage, which is now a dance studio, gym and steam room with a kitchen, bedroom and living space upstairs, is the largest of the outbuildings.

A timber-clad cottage, nicknamed “the Woodland Hut”, provides additional room and has been described as a “charming and whimsical building”, with a wood burner, exposed brick walls and a galleried bedroom.

As a keen animal lover, as many as 14 sheep, three dogs, two pigs, hundreds of rescued chickens, ducks, alpacas, goats and barn owls all call Knoll Hill home thanks to Paul.

The quirky old-school Gypsy caravan. Picture: Strutt and Parker

Many animals call the area home. Picture: Strutt and Parker

He also turned the estate into a flourishing natural environment by planting a wildflower meadow, coppicing the woods, and buying a patch of land nearby to prevent it from being turned into a site for motorbike scrambling and paintball – it is now used to rear sheep.