Keith Richards House: Inside the Legendary Redlands Estate

The legendary Keith Richards house is Redlands, a historic 13th-to-16th-century thatched-roof estate located in the quiet coastal village of West Wittering, West Sussex.

Purchased by The Rolling Stones guitarist in 1966 for just £20,000, this Grade II listed moated manor remains one of the most culturally significant properties in rock ‘n’ roll history. It is famous for its architectural charm, devastating fires, creative musical sessions, and the notorious 1967 police drug raid that altered the course of youth culture.

Where is Keith Richards’ house Redlands located?

Keith Richards’ famous house, Redlands, is located in the quiet coastal village of West Wittering in West Sussex, England, situated near the shores of West Wittering beach.

As detailed in his autobiography Life, Keith Richards acquired the estate entirely by chance. In early 1966, while driving through the Sussex countryside, Richards made a wrong turn on a narrow road leading toward Fishbourne. He pulled into an unassuming driveway to ask for directions and met the owner, a retired Royal Navy commodore. Before directing him, the commodore asked if Richards was looking to purchase a home.

Smitten by its isolation, ancient character, and stubborn individuality, Richards bought the property almost immediately. He moved in shortly thereafter accompanied by his dog, Ratbag.

What is the history of Keith Richards’ Redlands estate?

The history of Redlands dates back to the 13th to 16th centuries, originating as a medieval timber-framed moated manor before becoming the historic home of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards in 1966.

Long before it became a counter-culture sanctuary, Redlands was a peaceful country estate with deep structural roots.

According to the architectural guide Pevsner Architectural Guides, the property is defined as a large, moated manor featuring a timber-framed 16th-century centre with subsequent brick and flint wings, all resting under a massive thatched roof.

• Medieval Foundations: The earliest parts of the timber structure trace back to the 13th century. Local lore suggests that Anne Boleyn once visited the property during its early history.
• The Thatching and Timber Infill: The exterior is visually defined by a massive, sweeping traditional thatched roof contrasted against red brick infilling inside the exposed timber frame.
• The Functional Moat: A medieval water moat encompasses the entire house, giving the property a defensive, isolated layout that offered Richards privacy from the public.
• The Grounds and Extension: The estate features expansive, secluded gardens situated near the pristine shoreline of West Wittering beach. To expand the retreat, Richards purchased an adjacent guest cottage for an additional £5,000 shortly after moving in.

Quick Facts: Redlands Estate Profile

What happened during the 1967 Redlands drug raid?

During the 1967 Redlands drug raid, Sussex police swarmed Keith Richards’ home, arresting Richards for permitting drug use on his premises and Mick Jagger for illegal possession of amphetamine tablets.

In February 1967, Redlands became the epicenter of a national scandal when Sussex police executed a massive drug raid during a weekend party. The event solidified the “bad boy” image of The Rolling Stones and marked a major clash between the British establishment and the rising 1960s youth culture.

The police, acting on an anonymous tip-off engineered by the tabloid newspaper News of the World, descended on the property. Inside, they discovered Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, singer Marianne Faithfull, and a small group of friends coming down from an all-day acid trip. While the authorities pushed forward with a highly publicized trial at the Chichester Magistrates Court to make an example of the rock stars, the exact charges differed between the musicians.

Both musicians were initially handed severe prison sentences. However, public backlash was swift. William Rees-Mogg, the traditionally conservative editor of The Times, broke ranks with the establishment by publishing a famous op-ed titled “Who Breaks a Butterfly on a Wheel?” The editorial heavily criticized the severity of the prosecution, creating a massive wave of public support that eventually led to the convictions being overturned on appeal.

Did The Rolling Stones record music at Redlands?

Yes, The Rolling Stones used Redlands as a creative incubation and rehearsal space in 1968, where they worked on early arrangements for songs like “Still a Fool” and “Hold On, I’m Coming”.

Beyond the legal drama, Redlands served as a crucial, low-key creative incubation zone for The Rolling Stones. In 1968, the band transformed the old stone walls into an intimate rehearsal space.

Utilizing early multi-track recording setups before the formal assembly of their famous mobile studio, the band collaborated at the estate with legendary producer Jimmy Miller and sound engineer Glyn Johns. During these rustic, blues-infused run-throughs, they ironed out early arrangements for unreleased tracks and covers, including Muddy Waters’ “Still a Fool”, “Hold On, I’m Coming”, and “Rock Me Baby”. These initial structural experiments contributed heavily to the raw, rootsy musical direction the band pursued on later masterpieces like Beggars Banquet and Let It Bleed.

How many fires occurred at Keith Richards’ house?

Keith Richards’ thatched-roof house survived two devastating fires, one in 1973 and a second in 1982, both of which severely damaged the estate’s traditional thatched roof.

• The 1973 Blaze: The first major fire gutted the top floor and completely destroyed the original thatched roof. While Richards’ girlfriend Anita Pallenberg and his children escaped safely, the cause was officially blamed on a mouse chewing through electrical wires—though rumors swirled that a stray cigarette was the true culprit.
• The 1982 Fire: Exactly nine years later, on September 2, 1982, another massive fire broke out while Richards was away. It required 65 firefighters working for six hours to bring the flames under control. The blaze consumed three-quarters of the thatched roof and half of the building’s contents. Because Redlands is a Grade II listed structure, a meticulous, historically accurate rebuild was executed to restore its medieval framework.

Does Keith Richards still own Redlands today?

Yes, Keith Richards still retains full ownership of Redlands, using the historic Sussex cottage as his primary, peaceful English sanctuary when visiting the United Kingdom.

While Keith Richards splits much of his time between his primary residence in Weston, Connecticut, and his private island retreat in Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos, he still retains full ownership of Redlands. Decades after the chaotic parties of the 1960s, the estate has evolved into his peaceful English sanctuary where he goes when he wants quiet.

Richards remains a well-liked figure in the local Sussex community. Over the years, he has quietly supported the neighborhood, notably donating £20,000 to repair the village hall roof and funding structural repairs for the local 12th-century parish church, St Peter & St Paul’s, in 2001.

While the house remains a strictly private residence hidden behind its gates and moat, the public can still experience its history from afar. Tourism resources like The Great Sussex Way outline local walking paths that route from the village of West Wittering out to East Head, allowing fans to enjoy the coastal beauty that drew the Stones to Sussex and catch a glimpse of this legendary rock landmark.

For more historic music properties and rock royalty homes, check out the comprehensive listings and guides on Wikipedia.