The Spencer Estate was an old castle belonging to the aristocratic Spencer family, located in Europe. It was built on top a large rocky cliff, overlooking an ocean and surrounded by woodland. It was located close to a harbor, as well as harbor warehouses to which it was connected to through underground passageways. After the destruction of the Umbrella Corporation, its founder and leader Oswell E. Spencer disappeared and fled to the castle where he remained in total seclusion and secrecy. He remained hidden from the outside world as the FBI and Russian FSB initiated a worldwide manhunt for him.
History
The Spencer Estate belonged to the European Spencer family. Oswell E. Spencer, CEO of the Umbrella Corporation, was last to own the estate. Initially the estate operated as a villa open to only the most prestigious amongst Western nobility and aristocracy. It served as Spencer's family home and one of his many residences, though its early history and construction details are unknown. The estate contained several underground passageways, including a prison dungeon of some sort. The estate shared many of its designs and rooms with the Arklay Mansion, which was built in the 1960s as a cover for Umbrella's first research lab, designed by George Trevor. These same designs were also utilized by Alexander Ashford in the construction of the Antarctic Laboratory beneath the Umbrella Antarctic Base.
Following Umbrella's destruction in 2003, Spencer went into hiding in the estate. He disappeared and fled from authorities who began a worldwide manhunt for the former leader. Spencer stayed alone in the estate accompanied only by his security staff and butler, Patrick, making sure to keep little contact with the outside world. Following the betrayal of Alex Wesker, Spencer leaked information on his location to Albert Wesker in order to indirectly manipulate him to continue his plan for a new advanced human race. At some point, Wesker obtained the information Spencer leaked to him and infiltrated the castle in August 2006.
Some time after Wesker entered the estate, Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine of the BSAA also arrived. Before they got to the entrance of the castle, Wesker entered and killed Spencer's bodyguards. Making his way to Spencer's study, Wesker broke the mechanical lock to the door in the main hall, leaving the primary route inaccessible. The agents then got through the front door thanks to Jill's lock-picking skills. While there, Chris and Jill experienced the many traps and obstacles Spencer had in the castle and were reminded of the Spencer Mansion.
As they fought the "Blob" creatures in the basement and solved different puzzles, Wesker paid his final visit to Spencer in the study tower. Moments later Chris and Jill burst into the room. Surprised to find their nemesis having killed Spencer, they engaged him in a brief, one-sided battle which ended with Chris disarmed and Wesker preparing to deliver a finishing blow. Jill sacrificed herself and tackled Wesker, crashing through the tower window and sending them both plummeting down the steep cliff. The BSAA spent months searching for the bodies at the bottom of the cliff with no success, and both Jill and Wesker were presumed dead. It is unknown what became of the Spencer Estate following the confrontation.