The late Dame Penelope Keith was a beloved actress and British sitcom royalty, best known for her starring role as Margo in The Good Life.
However, after shooting to stardom in the late 1970s, the To the Manor Born star typically opted to keep out of the limelight, living a quiet, wholesome family life with her husband, Rodney, and their adopted sons.
The family of four were thought to split their time between their two gorgeous homes before Penelope died from cancer aged 86.
A statement issued on 29 June on behalf of her family read: "We are deeply saddened to announce that Dame Penelope Keith died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey, where she had lived for more than 50 years. The family is grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments, and asks that their privacy be respected at this time."
Scroll down to find out everything there is to know about The Good Life star's countryside abode…
Where does Penelope Keith live?
The 70s' sitcom legend has lived in the 17th-century Mousehill Manor in Milford, Surrey, since 1978, according to a report published in The Telegraph in 2002.
Penelope has not frequently spoken about her home, but she shared it with her husband, Rodney Timpson, who is a former detective and later became the actress' manager, and their two adopted sons.
© WireImageThe family also owns a holiday home in Scotland, which they travel to and from "in a Bentley", according to a former interview she conducted with the publication.
Penelope Keith's old home she built from scratch
Penelope and Rodney built a house in the Lancashire village of Wycoller together in the early 1990s, which they initially loved so much that they did not want to let it go, preferring to rent it out rather than sell it, according to Daily Mail. At the time they built it, they had been living in a cottage next door, but wanted something bigger.
Penelope and Rodney sold the property in 2001. Beckside House, as it is called, was on the market again for £525,000 in 2016, the publication reported, and is built in a "traditional style". It's a three-bedroom house with a roomy, tiled-floored kitchen and diner with a separate dining room, also featuring extensive grounds that contain a large double garage.
Penelope Keith's hobby at home
The TV legend was quite green-fingered, having once described herself as "a gardener who acts", and she took cuttings from her friends rather than spending any money on purchasing expensive plants of her own. She even had a rose named after her!
© Getty ImagesPenelope previously told The Lady: "Margo didn't like gardening, but I get my hands dirty; very dirty. I'm desperate for rain today, because we need it. If it doesn't rain, I'll cut back the lavender. I find gardening very relaxing. It's my passion." She even insisted that making "homemade marmalade" from their produce was the secret to her happy marriage with Rodney.
Penelope's marriage to Rodney
Penelope and her husband met in 1976, while she was performing in a theatre in Chichester. At the time, Rodney was a twice-divorced policeman and was carrying out security checks for the play. Six months later, the pair had already tied the knot and soon adopted two young brothers, about whom Penelope did not speak publicly.
Of her marriage to Rodney, the The Good Life star said in 2010: "We've been married 33 years, and they all said we wouldn't last. He likes looking after me and I enjoy that."
