Grand ‘set’ in one of London’s most quirky residential buildings – Albany – offered for sale for £6.95 million
Albany – never ‘The Albany’ – off Piccadilly in Mayfair is perhaps one of the most secret and special residential buildings in London. Divided into sixty-nine ‘sets’, one of the finest is currently on the market and it undoubtedly will appeal to someone with a preference for security and stylish living.
Featured in detail in The Steeple Times in November 2012, Albany has variously housed everyone from Lord Byron to Margaret Thatcher. It only allowed female occupancy in the twentieth century and on one occasion, an applicant to the committee that decides if potential ‘proprietors’ are “suitable” was rejected on the basis: “He’s a foreigner. Don’t like him. Don’t trust him”.
Two stories to keep beside you
The attics of Albany
An opportunity to rent a ‘set’ in the ‘Paradise of Piccadilly’ Albany is a little known building off London’s Piccadilly that is akin to Manhattan’s smartest co-operative buildings in the way it is run. So exclusive is this block that its residents are called ‘proprietors’ and its flats are known as ‘sets’.
A Cockney Paradise in Chelsea
Art deco mansion block apartment in Chelsea that was once home to the “cheeky Cockney” actor Harry Fowler for sale “Cheeky Cockney” actor Harry Fowler MBE (1926 – 2012) appeared in everything from Minder to Lawrence of Arabia. He was first discovered as “a near illiterate newspaper boy” making eight shillings a week and invited […]
Whilst the majority of sets belong to Peterhouse College, Cambridge, some of the most spectacular are held on long leases. A11/A12 on the second and third floor of the building is a case in point and is now available with a lease that has approximately 125 years remaining. It totals 2,680 square foot and consists of three reception rooms, two kitchens, two bedrooms and two bathrooms and was previously the home of the Thatcherite political and moral philosopher Lord Quinton (1925 – 2010).
A11/A12 Albany is offered with a guide price of £6.95 million ($9.8 million or €8.6 million) by Knight Frank.
Subscribe to our free once daily email newsletter here:[contact-form-7 id=”225″ title=”Contact form 1″]
Readers have their say
10 comments
Yes, that’s what I like to see, keep the Riff Raff out.
Your publication makes me beyond angry. You have not featured the story, real positive news, about Find Madeleine being deservedly awarded another £95,000 by Theresa May. Dear Gerry and Kate McCann are still suffering and their beloved daughter Madeline’s plight should take precedence over these stories of rich folk and the buildings they live in. The owners should do the decent thing and donate a proportion of the profit to the cause and The Steeple Times should suggest this also. FIND MADELEINE, FIND HER NOW.
This is just the kind of thing I need in my life. Mrs Trott is plainly on drugs as I love reading these kind of stories. Keep them coming please.
Your previous article on the building was quite enlightening. Who is the current owner of A11/A12?
Another one for the wrecking ball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It has a terrible layout and it is crazily expensive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’d rather have a new apartment at Battersea Power Station myself!!!!!!!!!! The Frank Gehry designs look very cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rod:
Too wise you are, too wise you be
I see you are too wise for me
You are such a bore
Rod, I don’t to be cruel, but looking at your pic here https://www.facebook.com/rocket100 the last thing I would describe you as is ‘looking cool’. I mean, you look like some from a ’70’s time warp and with your curious bottom like looking face it must have been very difficult finding girlfriends. An Aussie surfing dude you clearly never were. Is your life so tragically lonely that you sit in your squalid little room imagining that you are in hip London? You need some clinical help….
The UK is supposedly doing all in its power to prevent economic migrants entering this country. The idiot Jones should be denied entry at all costs. Battersea Power Station indeed. The cheek of this twerp. They have flush lavatories there. Not an outside dunny.
I suspect Rod has never left his slum. Can’t think why he would interested in a country he has never visited