Category: OPULENCE & SPLENDOUR

Luxury and the arts From houses to cars and from Hockney to van Dyck, a profile of the best and the worst

Five of the Best – Christmas Gifts for Him

Matthew Steeples selects the perfect gifts for gents this Christmas

Fairfax & Favor ‘The Balmoral’ loafers – £145 ($184 or €173 or درهم‎‎675)

These hand stitched loafers are described as a “perfect all season shoe for the laid back dress-up, dress-down lifestyle”. They have a leather sole and are the brainchild of Marcus Fairfax Fontaine and Felix Favor Parker’s fast expanding British lifestyle brand.

My Style travel bags – From around £185 ($235 or €220 or درهم‎‎860)

Made in Milan and available in the UK at Augustus Brandt, a luxury lifestyle shop in Petworth, West Sussex, a My Style bag makes for a perfect travelling partner. These superb quality linen, cotton, nylon, suede and leather bags can be embroidered with initials, names and logos in-store.

The Noise of Ice: Antarctica by Enzo Barracco – £30 ($38 or €36 or درهم‎‎140)

Photographer Enzo Barracco has captured the spirit of Sir Ernest Shackleton in a coffee table book that illustrates his journey to the end of the world. Of it, Sir Ranulph Fiennes comments: “I know first hand what an inspiring place [Antarctica] can be, and Enzo’s work captures the magic wonderfully”. The book is available at Foyle’s and Waterstones.

MEV Hummer HX™ – £12,995 ($16,500 or €15,500 or درهم‎‎60,500)

Described as an “eco-friendly Chelsea tractor” by the Daily Mail, the electric MEV™ Hummer HX can be driven for up to 100 miles and is exempt from London’s Congestion Charge. It seats two, is exclusively available in the UK through My Electric Vehicle and turns heads wherever it ventures.

Hudson bar cabinet by Timothy Oulton – From £2,875 ($3,600 or €3,400 or درهم‎‎13,400)

Inspired by the era of the speakeasy, Timothy Oulton’s bar cabinets are crafted from the finest leather and have what they call a “luxuriously worn vintage look”. The firm’s Harrods gallery is currently offering a 25% discount on their range.

December 14, 2016
A Bachelor’s Base

Studio for rent within former “bachelor apartment hotel” in NoMad, New York

From the same agent as the minute Manhattan penthouse we featured in November comes another pint-sized property. Situated within a building known as ‘The Wilbraham’ at 282 to 284 Fifth Avenue or 1 West 30^th Street in NoMad, a studio within the building is on offer for £2,100 ($2,700 or €2,500 or درهم‎‎9,900) per month.

Constructed between 1888 and 1890 in the Romanesque revival style and described as “bachelor apartment hotel”, The Wilbraham is clad in Philadelphia brick and brownstone from quarries in Belleville, New Jersey. It originally had a dining room on its eighth floor, is considered “quite an imposing piece of architecture” and admitted women in 1929.

The studio on offer currently is listed by Eduard Zaytsev of Camelot Realty Group. Contact him at [email protected]

December 13, 2016
A Performing Peugeot

Best performing classic car in terms of value gain revealed; you’ll be surprised at the result

We’ve featured several Peugeot 205s that have sold at auctions at prices as high as £156,800 and now the latest Haggerty Classic Index has revealed that the greatest classic car value gain this year has been on the 205 GTi.

This year, Peugeot 205s have risen 28.5% to an average value of £11,275 and with an immaculate yet ordinary one we featured in July having gone for £30,938 at auction, this ‘hot hatch’ is becoming a ‘must have’ for car collectors.

As examples, we select first a red 1993 1.9-litre CTi convertible. It is for sale for £7,250 ($9,100 or €8,600 or درهم‎‎33,500) through MSP Motors in Runcorn, Cheshire and has 69,000 miles on the clock. They term it “a great example of a future classic, a great investment”.

Our second choice is also presented in red and is a 1989 1.6-litre GTi. It has 69,119 miles on the clock, has an electric glass sunroof and is for sale through AMS Vehicles of Stokesley, North Yorkshire. They describe it as “a desirable vehicle at a sensible price” and offer it for £11,000 ($13,800 or €13,100 or درهم‎‎50,800).

Of the survey itself, Angus Forsyth, managing director of Hagerty remarked:

“We’ve seen confidence return to the classic car market in the last few months of 2016 after a summer of uncertainty, and we believe the Q3 results were a reflection on people holding back following the initial uncertainty of the Brexit vote in June”.

“However, now the financial markets have settled, people have bought into the car market albeit a few months later than they might have planned. Whether people still feel classics make good investments, or they just want to put their money into something fun, they are still definitely buying, and the values of the best classics are still on the rise”.

December 10, 2016
A Parson’s Moat

East Sussex country house for sale; it comes complete with an enormous rectangular moat allegedly dug by an eccentric parson in the 1700s

One generally associates moats with castles and manor houses – such as the one we featured last month – but an old rectory currently for sale for £5 million ($6.3 million or €5.9 million or درهم‎‎23.2 million) in East Sussex comes with an especially impressive ground water-fed, rectangular example complete with three timber footbridges.

Chailey Moat, Chailey Green, East Sussex, United Kingdom, BN8 4DA

The house in Victorian times with the Reverend Thomas Harry Lee Jellicoe outside with his servants circa 1900

This fireplace is one of the most stunning and historic features internally

It is situated within this reading room

Another view of the main house shows the size of the moat

Previously marketed for £3.5 million ($4.4 million or €4.1 million or درهم‎‎16.2 million) in 2007 but not sold at that time, Grade II listed Chailey Moat at Chailey Green, near Haywards Heath in East Sussex dates to around 1540 and was previously known as ‘The Parsonage’. It blends Tudor, Carolean, Elizabethan and Georgian elements and is centred on an original timber framed medieval structure hidden by later additions. The south-eastern façade is described by selling agents Savills as “most striking” and amongst other unusual features are a Venetian window on the first floor and a brick fireplace in a reading room with an intricately carved overmantel that allegedly came from part of a Charles I bedstead.

Aside from a 6,146 square foot main house with 5 reception rooms and upto 8 bedrooms over three floors, there is a 398 square foot 1 bedroom cottage and a 4 bedroomed, 17^th century barn conversion that extends to 807 square foot and also provides a substantial games room.

Gardens and grounds extend to 43.76 acres and aside from the moat – which was allegedly singlehandedly dug by the Reverend Richard Porter, rector from 1713 to 1753 – there is also a enclosed tennis court, an outdoor swimming pool, a stream fed lake, a productive orchard and rolling pastureland.

Chailey Moat is offered by Savills and was described by Country Life’s Penny Churchill as a “mansion of peace” in June this year. In October, the medieval property’s current owner, businessman Andrew Colin, described its idyllic setting to The Times. “It’s like sitting in the middle of a nature reserve”, he said.

The dining hall

The drawing room

The staircase dates from the 18th century

The kitchen has a four-oven AGA

This barn conversion provides ideal staff or guest accommodation and beyond it is a full-sized tennis court

A lake is situated within the grounds

Whilst extensive lawned gardens extend out across the moat

Another view of the gardens

A floor plan of the main house

Floor plans of the barn conversion, cottage and outbuildings

December 9, 2016
Living on a Prayer

Converted Methodist chapel in Wiltshire for sale

Currently used as a “highly successful” holiday let, The Old Chapel at Lacock, near Chippenham in Wiltshire is for sale for £600,0000 ($755,000 or €703,000 or درهم‎‎2.8 million).

A former Methodist chapel, the 2,725 square foot property includes accommodation over three floors and currently features 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. It is dominated by a vast double height, open plan living space with kitchen. Above, in the former choir gallery, is a sitting room with Gothic style arched mullioned windows, and beyond one finds a roof deck with two rooms with planning permission for development to provide two further rooms and a bathroom.

To the front is a small lawned garden and parking is available on the nearby High Street.

Selling agents Hamptons offer The Old Chapel either as a shell or with the existing furniture and fittings.

December 7, 2016
Exciting a Royal

Jaguar E-Type originally owned by Prince Michael of Kent for sale

A 1965 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 4.2-litre FHC originally owned by His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent is for sale with an Essex vintage car specialist.

Described as having “matching numbers, in impeccable order throughout and being close to conours”, Prince Michael first tried out the Jaguar at Goodwood with a then eight year old Lord March before taking it to Germany where he was serving in the army. The royal recalls driving the car at 150 miles per hour on autobahns and in the years since, he has been united with the vehicle on several occasions at Goodwood and Kensington Palace.

His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent with the Earl of March and Kinrara, Charles Gordon-Lennox in the car

Lady Gabriella Windsor, Prince Michael’s daughter, with the vehicle

In 1984, Prince Michael wrote about the opalescent dark green with light tan hide interior and Webasto sunroof car in Road & Car Magazine. He stated:

“This was a beautiful motor car, immensely quick, and probably the most enjoyable car I have ever owned. I believe that every man has a special place in his heart for one woman above all others, and also for one car. In my case I think probably my E-Type Jaguar was the most satisfying and exciting car in my life – so far”.

In December 2015, the sixth owner of the E-Type, James Phillips, 67, from Newbury, Berkshire, told The Times:

“I am nearing retirement and it has been our pension fund for many years. We’ve done everything in it and we don’t go out in the rain and snow any more. We just want to pass it on to someone who is going to look after it”.

Vintage & Prestige Classic Cars seek £245,000 ($309,000 or €288,000 or درهم‎‎1.1 million) for the car complete with a whole raft of accompanying correspondence and photographs.

December 7, 2016
Reader Offer – 20% Discount at Pickett

20% discount at luxury goods retailer Pickett this Christmas

Readers of The Steeple Times can get 20% discount off full-priced items at luxury good retailer Pickett until 24^th December.

To redeem the offer online or in-store, quote ‘PI16’.

Pickett, 10 – 12 Burlington Gardens, London, W1S 3EY.

Pickett, 149 Sloane Street, SW1X 9BZ.

December 5, 2016
Reducing a Kennedy

Former home of Jacqueline Kennedy in Georgetown, Washington reduced in price by £600,000; she lived there in 1964 before moving to Manhattan

Reduced from £7.677 million ($9.750 million or €9.109 million or درهم‎‎35.811 million) to £7.075 million ($8.995 million or €8.403 million or درهم‎‎33.038 million) and the first home of Jacqueline Kennedy post the assassination of her husband, 3017 N St NW in Georgetown, Washington first went on the market in June 2016.

Jacqueline Kennedy leaving the house in 1964

Offered by Washington Fine Property, the 6 bedroom, 5.5 bathroom, 7,000 square foot residence dates to 1794 and features “extraordinary proportions and entertaining spaces”. It was home to Secretary of War, Newton D. Baker, during the First World War and was owned by a former Miss America, Yolande Betbeze Fox, from the 1970s until her death in February this year.

Now in need of some renovation, Mrs Kennedy bought the house in late 1963, moved in in February 1964 and moved out later that year. According to <em>The Wall Street Journal, she is said to have left because the property was “too exposed to tourists and the press, with tour buses stopping outside the house throughout the day and sightseers peering into the windows”.

Also featuring an elevator to link its five floors, Kennedy sold to her stepsister Nina Auchincloss Steers and her husband, Michael Straight.

From the front

The drawing room

The dining room

The staircase

From the rear

Yolande Betbeze Fox

December 5, 2016
A £10m Doer-Upper

Oxfordshire country house that has appeared in many films for sale for £10 million in spite of needing some renovation

Launched to the market in June for £10 million ($12.7 million or €11.9 million or درهم46.7‎‎ million) in June 2016 as a while or £7.75 million ($9.9 million or €9.2 million or درهم‎‎36.2 million) for the main house alone, Harpsden Court to the south of Henley-on-Thames at Harpsden is a house that many will recognize from its appearances in films and television series.

The main elevation of Harpsden Court, Harpsden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 4AX

Daniel Radcliffe was filmed at the house for for the chilling movie adaptation of the horror story “The Woman in Black” in 2012

Harpsden features interiors that are truly jaw-dropping

Rented out for around £2,500 ($3,200 or €3,000 or درهم‎‎11,700) per day regularly by the present owners, Laurie and Barbara Gerrard, the 16,098 square foot Grade II* listed country house dates to 1204 but was primarily developed in the 16^th century. Featuring architectural styles including Elizabethan, Medieval, Strawberry Hill Gothic Revival, Venetian, Palladian, Tudor Revival, Regency and Victorian, selling agents Savills describe it as having an interior that is “particularly atmospheric, with a rich sequence of well-preserved interiors representing the long history of the house, notable for the oak panelling and exquisite plasterwork”.

The attic is said to have been used as a studio by Humphrey Gainsborough (the brother of the better known painter Thomas) whilst the main bedroom is known as ‘Queen Mary’s Room’ – Queen Mary I supposedly slept there. During the First World War, Harpsden Court was converted to a hospital for British sick and wounded military personnel and since the 1980s, the house has been used as both a family home and film set. Amongst the programmes and films it has appeared in are The Great Fire, A Harlot’s Progress, The Invisible Woman, Jude, The Manhood of Edward Robinson, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders, Molly Moon, Parade’s End, Quantum of Solace and The Woman in Black.

The house in Victorian times

Featuring 7 reception rooms and 13 bedrooms, as well as numerous kitchens, offices and stores, the main house is complemented by a recently refurbished 3 bedroomed detached house named ‘Guildfords’ and two cottages adjoining a stable block and coach house. Gardens and grounds extend to 22 acres and include woodland, a boating lake, an orchard and a walled kitchen garden.

Of the house, which requires “some updating”, Barbara Gerrard told the Henley Standard about how she and her husband acquired it:

“It was the glorious summer of 1976 and the house needed lots of attention. We were lucky enough to be able to give it just that. I still remember that long, hot summer so clearly. The lake had dried up so we could walk straight across it. Twenty years later, I remember it was so cold that we could walk across the lake again — this time it was frozen”.

Stephen Christie-Miller of Savills added:

“It’s well looked after and perfectly liveable but needs to be brought into the 21st century. However, I can’t state enough the importance of this property — it is one of the most outstanding and important properties to come to the local market for some time, and it will appeal greatly to those who want a discreet country retreat, without being too far removed from the convenience of modern-day amenities and transportation links. This is a wonderful opportunity to bring this landmark property into 2016, while respecting its antiquity”.

Savills have recently changed the price to “Price on Application” and now offer Harpsden Court as a whole or in four lots.

December 3, 2016
Boxing Above Its Weight?

Will a Ferrari once owned by Sir Henry Cooper achieve 126% more than it did a year ago?

Last November, Silverstone Auctions sold a 1973 Ferrari 365 GT4 2+2 that was at one time owned by the legendary boxer Sir Henry Cooper OBE. After featuring in The Steeple Times, it fetched just £30,938 ($39,125 or €36,746 or درهم‎‎143,684) on an estimate of £40,000 to £45,000 ($50,600 to $56,900 or €47,500 to €53,500 or درهم‎‎185,800 to درهم‎‎209,000) but, now, just a year later, its purchaser is trying to sell it on again for a figure – if its top estimate is achieved – that is 126% higher.

Offered this time by Coys at their ‘True Greats’ auction on Monday 5^th December in London, the Rosso Corsa with complementing biscuit hide car comes with new carpets, 60,000 miles on the clock, a cherished plate ‘CCZ 365’ and a set of boxing gloves signed by the heavyweight.

Will it box above its weight and achieve £55,000 to £70,000 ($69,500 to $88,500 or €65,300 to €83,100 or درهم‎‎255,400 to درهم‎‎325,100)? We’d be surprised but stranger things have happened.

December 2, 2016