Poundland founder’s mansion is on the market for almost £8m – see inside

A stunning mansion bought by the founder of Poundland has gone on the market for almost £8 million. Ludstone Hall was bought by the late Keith Smith, who set up the discount store empire in the 1990s with his son Steve.

Steve is now selling the sprawling, quaint property, which is set in the picturesque Shropshire countryside of Claverley and sits on 177 acres. The 8,000 sq ft property, which is listed for £7.75 million, comes with a moat and even a museum dedicated to Poundland.

It has nine bedrooms, real estate offices and a modern leisure complex with an indoor swimming pool, which includes a function room, bar and dining area. The mansion also has four bedrooms and separately comprises a 19th-century cottage and a two-bedroom cottage.

Steve said he and his siblings are selling Ludstone Hall in the hope that another family will treasure this historic property as they did.

He said: “When my parents came back to the UK they wanted to find a house they would never want to move out of and they certainly found that at Ludstone. in the amount of money they have invested in the property – it really is the house that Poundland has built.

“One particular investment they made was the installation of the swimming pool. They wanted to throw a big party for the millennium, so they installed one with a retractable floor so that the hall could also be used to host events. We also organize charity events and open the museum to visitors and raise thousands of pounds for local good causes over the years.

“The property has so much historical significance and has only had a handful of owners since it was built. We are now keen to see the property pass to a new family who can make memories here.

“While the Ludstone Hall Estate section of the museum will remain at the property, we will also be donating all Poundland memorabilia so it can preserve the company’s history.”

Keith initially ran a market stall and then founded the Hooty’s Cash and Carry business. When Keith sold the business and moved to Mallorca in 1990, Steve remained in the UK and he and his wife Tracy attempted to launch a similar retail operation.

Inspired by his father’s stories of the ’10p box’ in the market, he set out to sell items for just £1 and with a £50,000 loan from his father, Steve launched Poundland in 1990. The first Poundland has opened in Octagon Shopping. Centre, in Burton Upon Trent, Staffs., in December 1990 and took in more than £13,000 on the first day. But it was the family’s second store at Sheffield’s prestigious Meadowhall shopping center that catapulted Poundland’s success.

This led to the opening of stores in England with great success. Steve sold Poundland for £50m in 2002. His father Keith returned from Spain to the UK in 1997 and bought Ludstone Hall for £2.5m. Their passion for the property has led to extensive renovations, and the property grounds feature a carriage house, two-bedroom cottage and a unique museum.

While the Ludstone section of the museum displays notes of historical significance and artefacts found on the property, the Poundland area offers a look at the retailer’s history, including the inspiration behind the brand and how it grew from a single store to a national chain. with over 850 stores in the UK.

Ludstone Hall dates back to medieval times, but the current building was built around 1607 by the Whitmore family on the original moated site.

The house remained in the possession of the Whitmores for two and a half centuries and was sold in 1867.

Keith, who died in 2022 after a short battle with lung cancer, used to regularly open the doors of the mansion and the ‘Poundland Museum’ to raise money for his local church and history group.

Estate agents Peter James Property will sell the property by private treaty.