​David Gilmour bought Hook End Manor near Checkendon in 1980, at the height of the band’s fame, and used the on‑site studio for work linked to the band. The 16th‑century property in rural South Oxfordshire is set in about 25 acres of parkland just south of Checkendon and close to Gallowstree Common. Originally built in 1580 for the Bishop of Reading, the Elizabethan house was later extended and remodelled. David Gilmour. Several oak‑panelled reception rooms and a distinctive dining room were added, turning it into a sprawling 11‑bedroom manor. Mr Gilmour and his family are understood to have moved out in 1987, and according to a new report in the Daily Express, the property is now “abandoned”. However, the estate team behind the property have shunned these national reports and clarified that the manor is privately owned and actively maintained, currently undergoing restorations. A statement from the team said: “Hook End Manor has for several years been undergoing a careful, phased restoration programme. “The manor is intended to be used as a commercial space moving forward, in connection with the music studio. The Pink Floyd star moved out of the Oxfordshire manor in the 1990s. “Historically, Hook End Manor was also used to accommodate artists recording on site, and its future use will remain aligned with the estate’s creative and commercial activities rather than as a private residence.” No one currently resides inside Hook End Manor itself, but the wider Hook End Estate includes several other residential properties which are occupied. The estate team also strongly discouraged any urban explorers from trying to enter the site, outlining the legal and safety risks. “Urban explorers unlawfully enter the estate, break windows, cut locks, steal things, film content on the premises and encourage others to do the same,” said a spokesperson. “We have repeatedly encountered trespassers on site. The Pink Floyd star used to live at the Oxfordshire mansion. (Image: PA) “This behaviour causes financial damage, significant disruption and, importantly, serious safety risks. It is also a clear violation of private property rights.” Since the Pink Floyd star moved out, the manor has changed hands several times, passing through the ownership of producers and music figures including Clive Langer, Alan Winstanley and Trevor Horn. The studio complex, developed originally by Ten Years After guitarist Alvin Lee and later upgraded by subsequent owners, became one of the country’s best‑known residential recording retreats. Acts including Rod Stewart, Tom Jones, The Cure, Marillion, Manic Street Preachers, Spandau Ballet, Jamiroquai, and the Kaiser Chiefs all recorded at Hook End, living on site while they worked.