It may have been his black padded jacket, but he was looking slightly portlier than when he left for the United States. He has also grown his hair back into a quiff.

Williams's sister Sally recently revealed he was moving back to Britain because he was homesick.

But insiders suggest he is back to revive his pop career by rejoining his Take That bandmates, who are enjoying a spectacular comeback.

Robbie is thought to be moving into the 18th-century property with his girlfriend, American actress Ayda Field, in the next few weeks. It comes with tennis court, sauna, swimming pool, eight bathrooms, gym, two staff flats and a helicopter hangar.

But the pair may not get much peace - yesterday he was mobbed at a Swindon bike shop by fans, to whom he said shyly: "Hello everybody."
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz....icle.do

These are just some of the features of Compton Bassett House, the extensively restored 18th century mansion near Calne in Wiltshire recently bought by the singer Robbie Williams. The house first made the headlines in a Bricks&Mortar cover story a year ago. Subsequently the country house market succumbed to the general decline in the property market.

However, Williams seems to have paid close to the guide price of £8.5 million, not £7 million as reported, highlighting the relative resilience of the top-notch rural pile with easy access to London. Compton Bassett House - which was offered for sale jointly by Knight Fr‘ank and Savills - is just 13 miles from the M4. The drive to London takes about two hours.

Previous owners attest to the house's impeccable architectural credentials. It was for a while the place in the country of Lord Foster of Thames Bank, the architect of 30 St Mary Axe, otherwise known as The Gherkin, a man who would not be able to abide a displeasing design.

Other aspects of the 71-acre estate that could appeal to Williams include its proximity to Cley Hill in Warminster, a location associated with UFO sightings. Williams developed a passion for UFOs during his five-year stay in Los Angeles, which means that he might also have been drawn to Compton Bassett House by reports that the estate is criss-crossed by ley lines. For the uninitiated these are the “mystical energy routes” that guide UFOs towards close encounters with earthlings. Another reputed motivation for Williams's purchase of the house is his desire for a closer relationship with the members of Take That. Williams could rejoin Gary Barlow and the others after a rapprochement.

But Williams - a man who likes a laugh - could just be amused by the idea that he will be living in the former stables of the original Compton Bassett House. This stately pile, built in 1674, was pulled down in 1929 by some owner who seems to have become suddenly envious of his steeds' imposing 150ft-long accommodation. He converted the block into a residence, giving it the name Compton Bassett House. The property's most recent makeover was masterminded by Paul and Selene Cripps, who employed Michael Phillips, the architect who devised the design of the swishly elegant Malmaison hotels. The renovation, begun in 1998, was so extensive that Mr Cripps was forced to install a new electricity substation at the cost of £350,000 as the property was using so much energy.

Other highlights of this revamp are the master suite's “his” and “hers” bathrooms, with their flooring, Jerusalem limestone and African red granite, respectively. The “hers” bathroom has an island theme, with bridges leading to the shower. The room was tanked so that fish could swim round the island, but the Cripps decided that such an aquarium would pose problems when they went on holiday. The Cripps sold up because they wished to downsize; Mr Cripps also told The Times that he was “fed up of having to get into the car for a paper or a pint of milk”.

The distance from the shops has already sent Williams into nearby Swindon in search of a new bicycle: he wore a ski mask for the foray. This disguise may have been prompted by the desire for anonymity. But there is also a considerable whiff from the landfill site close to his new domain - and the rubbish tip could be extended in the next few years.
http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol....911.ece

According to Chartattack.com, former GUNS N' ROSES and current VELVET REVOLVER guitarist SLASH has reportedly bought ROBBIE WILLIAMS' former Los Angeles home and is set to move in shortly with his wife, Perla Hudson.

Williams left the estate, which includes a soccer field that you can see here, earlier this year to move back to England.

"Slash was keen on the house because it's also big enough to entertain lots of guests," a source told Britain's Daily Mirror tabloid.

That's good for the Hudsons, who are suing real estate agent Gregory Holcomb and Sotheby's International Realty over a house they said wasn't a suitable party pad. Slash also shouldn't be able to have any trouble storing his more than 100 guitars at his new home.
http://www.bravewords.com/news/108152

FORMULA One champ Jenson Button is entering the superhome straight - with a Ј6million bid for Robbie Williams' mansion.

The Sun last month revealed that Robbie is selling his country pile in Wiltshire - less than a year after buying it.

The singer paid nearly Ј8.5million for 18th-century Compton Bassett House, but is ready to accept a Ј1million loss on the sale.

An insider revealed yesterday that Jenson, 29, has now joined the race for the property with his starting bid.

The source said: "Jenson was thinking about renting but now wants to buy. It would be perfect for him."

The seven-bedroom property stands in 71 acres and boasts a helicopter hangar, temples and fountains.

Robbie, 35, has also built his very own racing track in the garden for "rage buggies". Jenson this week struck a Ј7million-a-year deal to drive for McLaren.

His main home has been a luxury apartment in Monaco. He also has a flat in London and a villa in Bahrain.

Robbie is hoping for a quick sale so he can go to Los Angeles for the winter with homesick American girlfriend Ayda Field, 30.

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol....URcbxde

Villagers reported removal vans outside the former Take That singers house yesterday morning and it is understood that Williams has already left the property.

One villager, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "We are pretty sure that Robbie has gone.

"There were lots of removal men up at the mansion yesterday, moving out the final bits of furniture."

The news comes at the same time as reports that Williams has now proposed to his girlfriend on an Australian radio show.

Appearing on the 2DayFM breakfast show, Williams said: "Ayda Field, I love you so much. Do you mind being my betrothed for the end of time?"

Field, who was in the studio, said: "I would love to be your betrothed 'til the end of time."

Williams paid around £8 million for the seven bedroom 18th century mansion in February this year.

Formula One champion Jenson Button is reported to be looking to buy the mansion for £6 million and Williams is said to be willing to accept the loss.
http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news....Bassett

But now the former Take That star is selling it at a £600,000 loss after apparently failing to spot any little green men.

Compton Bassett House, which has its own helicopter hangar, is one of Wiltshire’s grandest privately owned properties. But when Williams bought it, it was claimed that what really attracted him to the area was the reported presence of ley lines.
Compton Bassett Manor

Take that: Robbie Williams is selling Compton Bassett House at a £600,000 loss

Sci-fi enthusiasts claim these are ‘mystical energy routes’ that guide UFOs – a phenomenon in which Williams is deeply interested.

The county is also known for its mysterious crop circles, which some devotees believe are caused by aliens.

Yet the singer has now put the mansion on the market for £7.5million and plans to live full-time in Los Angeles – where he and his girlfriend, American model and actress Ayda Field, have another home.

Danny Adams, landlord of the White Horse Inn in the village of Compton Bassett, said: ‘He bought the house to be near the crop circle goings-on, thinking that to be spiritual stuff, but he’s probably realised it’s just a load of blokes stamping round the fields at night.

'To be honest, he didn’t play much of a part in village life. He never came to the pub but we would see him walking his dogs from time to time.’
Robbie Williams and Ayda Field

City of angels: Robbie Williams is planning to live full-time in LA, where he has a property with Ayda Field

The 36-year-old singer and songwriter, who was born in Stoke-on-Trent, would occasionally have a fried breakfast at the Divine Cafe in the nearby village of Cherhill.

But locals said he had not been seen there or at Compton Bassett House for weeks.

The mansion has eight bathrooms, a library, a luxury leisure complex, two staff flats, a pavilion, a tennis court and 70 acres of surrounding parkland.

Built in the 18th century, it has been extensively restored and boasts a swimming pool in the basement, decorated with Greek-style Doric pillars.

But now it appears that the lure of Ms Field has proved overwhelming.

Last year Williams stunned her by proposing on a live radio programme in Sydney, Australia.

However, his publicist said later that it had been a joke and Williams himself wrote on his blog that they were not engaged.

Williams’s impending departure has done little to disturb the equilibrium of Compton Bassett’s 250 residents.

A neighbour said: ‘He’s just another blow-in from London who’s blowing out again.

'It won’t make any difference to us and if you hadn’t mentioned it, no one would have noticed he’s gone.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowb....QnH9ARn

Because the wandering singer could soon find himself nearly Ј1million out of pocket.

Ouch.

It was little more than a year ago he bought his Wiltshire mansion for Ј8.2m and it is now being touted on the market for "just" Ј7.5m.

The palatial home sits in 71 acres and has tennis courts, swimming pools and manicured gardens.

But Rob has now decided that his long-term home with missus AYDA FIELD will be in lively LA, not sleepy Compton Bassett.

JENSON BUTTON had his eye on the house a few months ago but pulled out of the sale.

If he needs someone to stay there until it's sold, I would be happy to oblige.

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol....TgQobNd

Property features include:

* 7 bedrooms
* Indoor pool/leisure complex
* Tennis Court
* Paddocks
* Hangar
* Two staff flats and a detached cottage
* Formal gardens and approximately 71 acres

http://blog.zoopla.co.uk/2011....-market