• Burrough Court breathing new life into historic royal hunting lodge
  • Country home where King Edward VIII (then the Price of Wales) met Wallis Simpson
  • Stunning rural setting now paired with ultra-modern work facilities

Prince Harry may be the most recent royal to step aside from his regal duties for the sake of the woman he loves, but he is certainly not the first. Back in 1936, King Edward VIII famously abdicated after less than a year on a throne in order to marry the love of his life, American socialite and divorcée Wallis Simpson. Now, business owners and remote workers can play their own part in this infamous royal story, by working at the very place where Edward (then the Prince of Wales) met his future wife: Burrough Court in rural Leicestershire.

A thriving business hub, the 22-acre Burrough Court site provides office and industrial space to more than 350 people. While it has been delivering office space and meeting rooms for almost 20 years, the site has a much longer history.

The original house was built in 1906 and was a popular hunting lodge for the royal family and gentry. It was home to Lord and Lady Furness for many years and Edward, Prince of Wales, would often visit. It was on one of these visits that he met Lady Furness’ close friend, Wallis Simpson.

At the end of World War II, in an alleged effort to get into a sealed wine cellar using explosives, the 10th Battalion, Parachute Regiment sadly burned the house to the ground, with only the courtyard and grooms’ quarters surviving.

It was in 2001 that these buildings were finally given a new lease of life, when they were restored as office and meeting rooms.

“It is always a pleasure to breathe new life into buildings with such a rich history. Since those initial offices opened in 2001, Burrough Court has expanded rapidly and is now a key commercial hub, strategically connecting businesses with customers around the UK, thanks to its central location and proximity to the A1 and M1.”

Fred Wilson, Director, Burrough Court

Additions to the site over the years have included further meeting rooms and office space in 2002 and 2003, a gym in 2004 and the installation of biomass heating for the warehouses in 2005.

This early nod to eco-awareness has been built on over the years. At the same time as more office accommodation and industrial units have been added, so too has the Windsor Wood, which was planted in 2012 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee. The site is also home to a 1,200 acre working farm, which has been a member of the countryside stewardship scheme since 2016. Meanwhile, in 2018, a further 8,000 trees were planted in the Centenary Wood, in memory of World War I.

Burrough Court has tied modern working methods in with these eco-friendly developments. In 2016, the site launched virtual offices, followed by hotdesking facilities in 2017. 2019 saw the addition of a coffee shop, as well as designated woodland walking and running routes, to enable clients to look after their health as well as their businesses. A Yoga and Pilates studio followed suit in early 2020 along with the adoption of COVID-19 secure practices and new Zoom Rooms.

“We strive to deliver the best of both worlds at Burrough Court – modern working environments with the latest facilities, alongside a stunning natural environment and rich history. At the start of the 20th century, the local area was teeming with enough wildlife to make Burrough Court an popular hunting lodge. Now, it is our clients who are able to benefit from the wealth of nature that surrounds the site – as well as its ultra-modern workplaces!”

Fred Wilson, Director, Burrough Court

For more information, call 01664 454 690, email info@burroughcourt.com or visit www.burroughcourt.com