Paul Knight, 47, won the latest Omaze Million Pound House Draw in Bath and is now the proud owner of an elegant six-bedroom property with regal heritage, dating back to the mid-1500s
A bloke was sitting on the loo at work when he found out he’d won a £4million house formerly owned by the guy who invented the flushing toilet. Paul Knight, 47, won the latest Omaze Million Pound House Draw, and is now the proud owner of a six-bedroom property in Bath with royal connections dating back to the mid-1500s, as well as £250,000.
The stunning home was once part of the estate of Sir John Harington, godson of Elizabeth I and inventor of the first flushing toilet, during Queen Anne’s reign. The house comes mortgage-free, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered.
He can choose to live in the house, rent it out for extra income, or sell it to become a cash multi-millionaire. If he keeps the property, the £250,000 could cover running costs for nearly 10 years.
If he rents it out, local estate agents reckon it could fetch between £10,000 to £12,000 per month. Paul, who bought his winning entry for just £20 as part of his Omaze subscription, has been working in bars since he was 18 and currently manages a bar in Reading.
When Omaze rang up Paul to tell him he’d hit the jackpot, he was on a loo break at work, scrolling through his phone. A chuffed Paul exclaimed: “When I got a message from Omaze, I was actually sitting on the toilet at work reading about a lost lottery ticket thinking that it would be just my luck – but how wrong was I.
“As I was at work, I had to take an early break to nip out and meet the Omaze team to find out exactly what I’d won – but it was well worth skiving off for an hour! I knew something was up when I saw all the cameras – I thought they’re not rolling this out for a £10 gift voucher, are they?
“When they revealed I’d won a £4m country house, I was just utterly gobsmacked.”
The new homeowners currently reside in a cosy 2.5-bedroom in Reading, where they share their space with two furry felines named Frida and Diego. Their newly acquired historic abode boasts untouched exterior charm since 1712, complemented by an interior drenched in history, including an operational internal well, a concealed Georgian drawer safe, and etchings dating back to 1636.
Restored meticulously in 2015, his breathtaking new residence marries height-of-fashion design with a generous dose of homely splendour. Thanks to its grand ceiling heights and expansive windows, the home revels in abundant space and light.
Steeped in tradition, this Grade II listed property features authentic details like wall panelling, ornate cornices, refined mouldings on the ceilings, elegant sash windows complete with shutters, and an imposingly beautiful staircase.
The grand entrance hall leads to four stunning reception rooms on the ground floor; a south-facing drawing room with direct access to the garden terrace, a morning room, an impressive dining room featuring a bespoke Breccia Medicea marble fireplace, and a garden room boasting a secret kitchen & bar hidden behind sliding book cabinets. The room also has full height French doors leading to the west courtyard dining area.
The custom-made kitchen is equipped with a vintage Electrikit AGA and is complemented by a pantry, larder, stone-vaulted dining room, utility room, cloakroom, cellar and plant room. The handcrafted cabinetry throughout is solid tulipwood with limed oak interiors, housing both Miele and Neff appliances.
The first floor continues the attention to detail with all rooms panelled, offering a principal bedroom with en suite bathroom, two dressing rooms, another bedroom and a dual aspect bathroom with adjoining shower room. The second floor provides stylish guest accommodation with three double bedrooms and two bathrooms (one en suite).
The coach house offers garaging and a one-bedroom annexe on the first floor. The one acre of manicured gardens and grounds have been thoughtfully designed to complement the house perfectly, featuring high dressed stone walls, courtyards, a fountain, a charming stone orangery and a south facing terrace, perfect for the winner to entertain friends and family.
The stunning village property that made Paul a millionaire features its own workshop, ice-house, log store, shed and undercroft. This eco dream house also houses tanks with 15,000L of rainwater connected to two on-site wells.
The recent Omaze Million Pound House Draw in Bath didn’t just change Paul’s fortune; it also drummed up a hefty £4.6 million for the British Heart Foundation (BHF). This impressive sum will keep The Circuit, BHF’s lifesaving national defibrillator network, powered up for two whole years.
The next Omaze Million Pound House Draw in Norfolk is up for grabs on omaze.co.uk. Bag your online entries before Sunday, February 23, 2025 or post by Tuesday, February 25, if you’re feeling lucky.
Opt for an Omaze subscription and get automatically entered into every Grand Prize Draw with four times the entries than non-subscribers – and you can cancel anytime. Check out the full spiel at www.omaze.co.uk. Strictly over 18s and UK residents only.
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