A double house on “the most politically significant rat-run in Britain” is for sale for £6.25 million
Described as “solid Tory” and “the most politically significant rat-run in Britain” in a 1995 article by Chris Blackhurst, Lord North Street in London’s Westminster was built between 1720 and 1725 and consists of thirteen properties that have been home to everyone from Prime Ministers Anthony Eden and Harold Wilson to controversial Conservative MPs Jonathan Aitken and Teresa Gorman. With the sale of one of the street’s most significant properties, it could once again become a “centre of power”.
The Institute of Economic Affairs is based at number 2 and it was at number 11, the home of Lord Lucan’s one-time associate Greville Howard (now Lord Howard of Rising), that Michael Portillo began and aborted his campaign to become leader of the Conservative Party during John Major’s premiership. Society hostess Sibyl, Lady Colefax – co-founder of Colefax and Fowler – also lived in the street at one time and another notable resident at number eight prior to Jonathan Aitken’s tenure was the newspaper proprietor and Churchill’s minister of information Brendan Bracken, 1st Viscount Bracken.
Owned by Adam Wethered, the co-founder of the Lord North Street private investment office, since 1992, 3,587 square foot 3-4 Lord North Street is one of the largest Georgian terraced houses in the street. It was merged into a single dwelling in the early 20th century and features 3 reception rooms, a large kitchen with an AGA, a study, 6 bedrooms and a bathroom. Unusually for the area, it has “one of the largest private gardens in Westminster” and though requiring some updating, maintains “an abundance of period features”.
Prices of houses in the street have rocketed in recent years. In 1995, Chris Blackhurst quotes a typical prices as about £750,000 and in 2000, number 10 sold for £1,400,000. Jonathan Aitken’s “rather faded and chintzy” house was sold by his trustee in bankruptcy, Baker Tilly, in 2001 on a guide price of “offers in excess of £2,000,000”.
3-4 Lord North Street, itself, was the home to the inventor of the Anderson bomb shelter, John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley, between 1936 and 1970. It is for sale through agents Hathaways for £6,250,000.
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Plainly Chris Kelly MP’s dad won’t be bidding for this one!!!
A fine street but this price seems very high given it needs thoroughly updating.
I should have paid a visit to those air raid shelters.