Queen’s music video for “We Will Rock You” opens with a shot of the band on a makeshift stage, stamp-stamp-clapping.
They are outside, wrapped up in winter coats, with bare trees behind them and snow-covered ground.
The video, alongside that for “Spread Your Wings”, was filmed in January of 1977 in the grounds of drummer Roger Taylor’s new Surrey estate.
“We hadn’t completed the sale, so we weren’t allowed in the house. We figured we might as well shoot it here,” he told Billboard.
“It was absolutely freezing cold and we did three takes. I had on those terrible little white and black Wellington boots. I regret those boots.”
The estate, called Milhanger, was Taylor’s home for 24 years, between 1979 and 2003. And now Queen fans have a chance to own it themselves: the property is on the market with Knight Frank for £8.95 million.
Located near Godalming, Taylor’s Arts and Crafts-style mansion was built in 1907 and designed by the architect Harold Falkner, who was famous for rebuilding much of Farnham.
The vast estate, spread over 74.5 acres of land, comprises Milhanger, the Grade II-listed Cosford Mill, equestrian facilities, a garage block and numerous outbuildings.
A former water mill, Cosford Mill has been restored and converted into substantial guest accommodation, which previously appears to have been rented out.
There’s 3,589 square foot of space, with four bedrooms, a kitchen, dining room, sitting room and breakfast room.
Milhanger itself, however, is huge. Covering a whopping 19,785 square feet, there are 10 bedrooms and more reception rooms than a Cluedo set, including a billiards room, smoking room, cinema room (with bar), games room and workshop space.
The main house has three kitchens (not counting the one in Cosford Mill), the largest of which has been extended by its current owners, who rebuilt the property’s former orangery. Now, with its bi-folding doors, the room opens up straight onto the gardens.
There is a swimming pool, of course, with a suspended fireplace, as well as a gym, steam room and tennis court.
According to the floorplan, there are two separate wine cellars, as well as a gun room. And the principal bedroom suite, covering a whole floor, has its own sitting area, dressing room, ensuite and study, with dramatic countryside views.
Taylor expanded the property’s footprint during his tenure, but, under the current owners, it has been sympathetically refurbished, retaining its fireplaces and grand oak staircase while reconfiguring the space.
“The layout been re-designed to give more light and better flow throughout the house,” says Knight Frank.
“The standout addition is the re-building of the orangery off the kitchen with bi-fold doors, giving expansive living space both inside and out.”
The property is approached from a long, gravelled drive with electric gates. Outside, there are formal landscaped gardens, paddocks and woodlands, with streams and lakes.
There is also a stable block, garage for six cars and a “party barn” where Taylor streamed a private concert in 1998. This broke the record at the time for the largest-ever audience for an internet gig.
“This is where I live, deep in the heart of England,” he said in an interview at the time. “It’s a whole new concept to be able to do a world tour from your [home].”
During his time at the property, Taylor built a recording studio in the mill house, where he recorded his third and fourth solo albums.
Taylor hosted many famous musicians at Milhanger, including Eric Clapton —who was supposedly a regular guest— and Bob Geldof.
Unfortunately for hopeful fans, the property appears to have sold after less than a month on the market. The estate was listed on April 12 and is now under offer.
