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Double power

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”.

 

Grade II* listed 4 Lord North Street would be an ideal base in Westminster for the current Mayor of London and wannabe Conservative MP Boris Johnson or even, perhaps, for UKIP leader Nigel Farage
Lord North Street is situated at the heart of Westminster and close to the former headquarters of the Tory Party in Smith Square

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”.

 

The panelled entrance hall doubles as a dining room and could certainly be an appropriate place to host power dinners
4 Lord North Street has one of the largest gardens in Westminster – perfect, indeed, for all manner of fundraising soirées
The kitchen is definitely more country than city and thus could appeal to an MP with a rural constituency
The master bedroom is decorated in neutral colours and is a blank canvas for a politician of any persuasion
The house even enjoys roof top views towards Parliament’s Victoria Tower

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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