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Actress Penelope Keith's Secret Garden Life
29 Jun
Summary
- Penelope Keith lived in a 17th-century manor in Surrey since 1978.
- She considered herself a gardener and found joy in homemade marmalade.
- Keith met her husband, Rodney, a former policeman, in 1976.
Dame Penelope Keith, celebrated for her iconic roles in British sitcoms like The Good Life, lived a largely private life outside of her acting career. For over five decades, she called Mousehill Manor, a 17th-century residence in Milford, Surrey, her home. Keith shared this peaceful countryside abode with her husband, Rodney Timpson, a former detective who later became her manager, and their two adopted sons.
Keith often described herself as 'a gardener who acts,' finding deep relaxation and passion in her green-thumbed activities. She took cuttings from friends' gardens and even had a rose named in her honor. Her love for gardening extended to making homemade marmalade, which she credited as a secret to her happy marriage with Rodney.
The couple met in 1976 when Rodney was working security at a Chichester theatre where Penelope was performing. They married within six months and later adopted two young brothers. Keith found contentment in her family life, noting in 2010 that her marriage had lasted 33 years, with Rodney enjoying looking after her.
