Luxford house was constructed in the early 16th century as a smoke bay house.[3] During the 1930s it was bought by Sir Hugh Beaver, former Ministry of Works director general and founder of the Guinness Book of Records, who renovated and extended it.[4][5] It was Grade II listed on 26 November 1953.[1]
Following Beaver's death in 1967, ownership of the house passed to his daughter Cerise and son-in-law, Rev Christopher Lawson-Tancred.[6] It was let to rock music manager Tony Stratton Smith who lived there through the early 1970s.[4] He encouraged groups signed to his label, Charisma Records, including Genesis and Van der Graaf Generator, to rehearse there.[4]
Genesis wrote their 1971 album Nursery Cryme at Luxford House that summer.[4] A picture of Van der Graaf Generator taken at the house appeared on the inner gatefold sleeve of their 1971 album Pawn Hearts,[7][8][9] and the cover of Neil Diamond's album Stones also uses a picture taken on the property—of a stone wall—as its cover.[4] Bert Jansch recorded his 1974 album L.A. Turnaround at Luxford House, using the library as the live room, and made a promotional video featuring the premises.[6]
In December 2017, the property and estate was put up for sale.[6]
