A luxury stately home where the campaign to abolish Britain 's slave trade took shape has gone on the market for £12 million . Holwood House , in the village of Keston , Kent , was not only once owned by a former prime minister , it can also boast of hosting Sir Winston Churchill for regular lunches and having had Margaret Thatcher as a close neighbour . The sprawling seven-bedroom mansion is dubbed 'the original Chequers ' , and has the price tag to match its illustrious history . Its former owner , William Pitt the Younger , who became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of just 24 , paid just £8,950 for the house in 1785 despite his 'consistently unsteady finances . ' Holwood House , a luxury stately home where the campaign to abolish Britain 's slave trade took shape , has gone on the market for £12million . The entrance hall in Holwood house.The sprawling seven-bedroom mansion is dubbed 'the original Chequers ' , and has the price tag to match its illustrious history . The home in the village of Keston , Kent , can boast of being owned by a former prime minister , hosting Sir Winston Churchill for regular lunches and having had Margaret Thatcher as a close neighbour . It also features a Billiards room with a modern twist . Its former owner , William Pitt the Younger , who became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of just 24 , paid just £8,950 for the house in 1785 despite his 'consistently unsteady finances ' It is said to be where Mr Pitt and his friend and fellow politician , William Wilberforce , sat together under a large oak tree in the grounds and discussed the abolition of slavery . On 12 May 1787 , Mr Wilberforce wrote in his diary : 'At length I remember after a conversation with Mr Pitt in the open air at the root of an old tree at Holwood just above the steep descent into the vale of Keston , we resolved to give notice on a first occasion in the House of Commons of my intention to bring forward the abolition of the slave trade . ' The tree became known as the 'Wilberforce oak ' which stood for many centuries before it perished during the Second World War . It is not the property 's only claim to fame . Charles Darwin , the famous naturalist , loved the parkland and regularly had picnics with his family there , conducting experiments and observations . The story goes that Mr Pitt ( left ) and his friend and fellow politician , William Wilberforce ( right ) , sat together under a large oak tree in the grounds and discussed the abolition of slavery . The pool room in the house . Charles Darwin , the famous naturalist , loved the parkland and regularly had picnics with his family there , conducting experiments and observations . The luxurious kitchen is a mix of both old and new . The mansion is currently owned by Martin Zapico , a retired investment banker , who has had it refurbished to a high standard . In 2011 he let it out as a film set for the children 's movie Horrid Henry . Set in 45 acres of landscaped gardens and rolling parkland and surrounded by trees , the Grade I listed home is within sight of the City of London . Situated well within the M25 and 14 miles from the heart of the capital 's financial district , the historic property will provide its new owners with a relatively easy commute to work . It used to be owned by Edward Stanley , the 15th Earl of Derby and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who commuted to Westminster from there . The mansion is currently owned by Martin Zapico , a retired investment banker , who has had it refurbished to a high standard . In 2011 he let it out as a film set for the children 's movie Horrid Henry . It boasts a stately entrance and grand sweeping staircase , a library , study , newly refurbished cinema room , tennis court , walled garden and garden pavilion . The property also features a cinema as well as a stately entrance and grand sweeping staircase , a library , study , newly refurbished cinema room , tennis court , walled garden and garden pavilion . The tree under which the pivotal conversation took place , became known as the 'Wilberforce oak ' which stood for many centuries before it perished during the Second World War . Edward Rook , a partner of estate agents Knight Frank , said : ' A lot of people , especially international buyers , aspire to a fine English country house but more often than not the compromise is a two hour-plus commute or having a place in town during the working week and a country house at the weekends . 'This house allows you to have those two houses and lifestyles in one - it works both as a town and country house . 'To have a property that sits in its own country park of 45 acres and yet is just 14 miles from Canary Wharf is remarkable . Properties of this size within the M25 are usually owned by organisations like the National Trust . 'We expect a high net-worth family who are cash rich but time poor to be interested in this property . 'There are some great private schools close buy , a Michelin star restaurant and Biggin Hill airport because if you are a high net-worth family private jets are a reality . '
The seven-bedroom Holwood House in Keston , William Wilberforce , boasts 40 acres of land as well as views of Canary Wharf . Kent , Winston Churchill and Charles Darwin were all regular visitors to the property . The house was bought by Pitt the Younger for £8,950 in 1785 while the current owner spent £2.5 million in 2002 . Mr Pitt and Kent sat under an oak tree in the grounds and discussed the abolition of slavery .