The Steeple Times

Tag: controversial

  • Wealthy Wilton

    Wealthy Wilton

    Six-storey Belgravia residence with controversial business connections goes on sale for 22% less than it was marketed for in 2015 and 3,497% more than it sold for in 1997

     

    A 6,961 square foot freehold terraced townhouse in Belgravia has gone on sale for £25 million or 3,497% more than it was sold for in 1997.

     

    4 Wilton Crescent – which sold in 1997 for what now seems like the paltry sum of just £695,000 – was marketed two years ago for £32 million and provides 5 reception rooms, 9 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms and 2 garages in an adjoining mews house.

     

    Featuring traditional interior design by Robert Kime – decorator to the Prince of Wales – the property featured in court papers in December 2015 in the context of a dispute between a lawyer turned secretive property speculator named Glenn Maud and his former associate Robert Tchenguiz. Said to be at one-time worth £4.5 billion at the height of his success and originally from Sheffield, this businessman and his wife reportedly spent some £6 million renovating the house but was ordered to live on £500 per week in 2012 by a Guernsey court.

     

    4 Wilton Crescent is now offered by Knight Frank.

     

    4 Wilton Crescent – The Numbers

     

    October 2017 – On the market for £25 million ($32.8 million, €27.9 million or درهم120.5 million) through Knight Frank.

     

    March 2016 – On the market for £30 million ($39.4 million, €33.5 million or درهم144.6 million) through Beauchamp Estates.

     

    December 2015 – On the market for £32 million ($42 million, €35.7 million or درهم154.2 million) according to court documents. Owner Glenn Maud reportedly spent £6 million ($7.9 million, €6.7 million or درهم28.9 million) on “improvements” to the property.

     

    September 1997 – Sold for £695,000 ($912,000, €775,000 or درهم3.3 million).

     

    Wealthy Wilton – 4 Wilton Crescent, Belgravia, London, SW1X 8RN, United Kingdom – Six-storey Belgravia residence goes on sale for 22% less than it was marketed for in 2015 and 3,497% more than it sold for in 1997 – For sale for £25 million ($32.8 million, €27.9 million or درهم120.5 million) through Knight Frank.Wealthy Wilton – 4 Wilton Crescent, Belgravia, London, SW1X 8RN, United Kingdom – Six-storey Belgravia residence goes on sale for 22% less than it was marketed for in 2015 and 3,497% more than it sold for in 1997 – For sale for £25 million ($32.8 million, €27.9 million or درهم120.5 million) through Knight Frank. Wealthy Wilton – 4 Wilton Crescent, Belgravia, London, SW1X 8RN, United Kingdom – Six-storey Belgravia residence goes on sale for 22% less than it was marketed for in 2015 and 3,497% more than it sold for in 1997 – For sale for £25 million ($32.8 million, €27.9 million or درهم120.5 million) through Knight Frank. Wealthy Wilton – 4 Wilton Crescent, Belgravia, London, SW1X 8RN, United Kingdom – Six-storey Belgravia residence goes on sale for 22% less than it was marketed for in 2015 and 3,497% more than it sold for in 1997 – For sale for £25 million ($32.8 million, €27.9 million or درهم120.5 million) through Knight Frank. Wealthy Wilton – 4 Wilton Crescent, Belgravia, London, SW1X 8RN, United Kingdom – Six-storey Belgravia residence goes on sale for 22% less than it was marketed for in 2015 and 3,497% more than it sold for in 1997 – For sale for £25 million ($32.8 million, €27.9 million or درهم120.5 million) through Knight Frank. Wealthy Wilton – 4 Wilton Crescent, Belgravia, London, SW1X 8RN, United Kingdom – Six-storey Belgravia residence goes on sale for 22% less than it was marketed for in 2015 and 3,497% more than it sold for in 1997 – For sale for £25 million ($32.8 million, €27.9 million or درهم120.5 million) through Knight Frank.Wealthy Wilton – 4 Wilton Crescent, Belgravia, London, SW1X 8RN, United Kingdom – Six-storey Belgravia residence goes on sale for 22% less than it was marketed for in 2015 and 3,497% more than it sold for in 1997 – For sale for £25 million ($32.8 million, €27.9 million or درهم120.5 million) through Knight Frank.Wealthy Wilton – 4 Wilton Crescent, Belgravia, London, SW1X 8RN, United Kingdom – Six-storey Belgravia residence goes on sale for 22% less than it was marketed for in 2015 and 3,497% more than it sold for in 1997 – For sale for £25 million ($32.8 million, €27.9 million or درهم120.5 million) through Knight Frank.Wealthy Wilton – 4 Wilton Crescent, Belgravia, London, SW1X 8RN, United Kingdom – Six-storey Belgravia residence goes on sale for 22% less than it was marketed for in 2015 and 3,497% more than it sold for in 1997 – For sale for £25 million ($32.8 million, €27.9 million or درهم120.5 million) through Knight Frank. Wealthy Wilton – 4 Wilton Crescent, Belgravia, London, SW1X 8RN, United Kingdom – Six-storey Belgravia residence goes on sale for 22% less than it was marketed for in 2015 and 3,497% more than it sold for in 1997 – For sale for £25 million ($32.8 million, €27.9 million or درهم120.5 million) through Knight Frank.Wealthy Wilton – 4 Wilton Crescent, Belgravia, London, SW1X 8RN, United Kingdom – Six-storey Belgravia residence goes on sale for 22% less than it was marketed for in 2015 and 3,497% more than it sold for in 1997 – For sale for £25 million ($32.8 million, €27.9 million or درهم120.5 million) through Knight Frank.Wealthy Wilton – 4 Wilton Crescent, Belgravia, London, SW1X 8RN, United Kingdom – Six-storey Belgravia residence goes on sale for 22% less than it was marketed for in 2015 and 3,497% more than it sold for in 1997 – For sale for £25 million ($32.8 million, €27.9 million or درهم120.5 million) through Knight Frank. Wealthy Wilton – 4 Wilton Crescent, Belgravia, London, SW1X 8RN, United Kingdom – Six-storey Belgravia residence goes on sale for 22% less than it was marketed for in 2015 and 3,497% more than it sold for in 1997 – For sale for £25 million ($32.8 million, €27.9 million or درهم120.5 million) through Knight Frank.Wealthy Wilton – 4 Wilton Crescent, Belgravia, London, SW1X 8RN, United Kingdom – Six-storey Belgravia residence goes on sale for 22% less than it was marketed for in 2015 and 3,497% more than it sold for in 1997 – For sale for £25 million ($32.8 million, €27.9 million or درهم120.5 million) through Knight Frank.

  • Marples Must Go

    Marples Must Go

    1964 Mini Cooper S hatchback designed to carry the golf clubs of the much-loathed Postmaster General, Minister of Transport and alleged tax fraudster Ernest Marples for sale

     

    Twice married and born in Levenshulme, Manchester, Ernest Marples – later Lord Marples – makes the very worst of modern politicians look like relative babes in arms. He can, however, be credited with commissioning a rare thing – the first ever Mini hatchback. Two were made in total and one, which was eventually transferred to the ownership of the politician in 1968, is to be auctioned in July.

     

    Marples Must Go – 1964 Austin Mini Cooper S 1071 originally owned by much-loathed Postmaster General, Minister of Transport and alleged tax fraudster The Rt. Hon. The Lord Marples, PC – Alfred Ernest Marples (1907 – 1978) to be auctioned by H&H Classics on 26th July 2017 – Estimate of £70,000 to £80,000 ($89,500 to $102,300, €79,100 to €90,400 or درهم328,800 to درهم375,900)
    Pictured left: (Alfred) Ernest Marples (1907 – 1978) with his secretary turned second wife, Ruth Dobson. They married in 1956 and he became The Rt. Hon. The Lord Marples, PC in 1974. Pictured right: Lord Marples in his ‘Marples Mini’ (date unknown).

     

    Marples, whose upbringing was within the Labour Party and whose love of eccentric orange-brown shoes and blue suits was well known, worked as a miner, postman, chef and accountant before a stint in the Royal Artillery between 1941 and 1944. He then joined the Conservative Party, was elected Member of Parliament for Wallasey in 1945 and took his first ministerial post in 1951. Promoted by Churchill, Macmillan and Douglas-Home, he rose to become Postmaster General and Minister of Transport and introduced the STD telephone code, the Premium Bond scheme, the first postcodes, the MOT test, roadside single yellow and double yellow lines and possibly, in his most unpopular move of all, traffic wardens.

     

    Aside from his public appointments, controversially, Marples became a director of various companies in the 1940s. Without considering any potential conflicts of interest, he involved himself in firms that built the first motorways and several power stations also and attracted much attention after protestors spray painted a motorway bridge near Luton that his firm, Marples Ridgway and Partners, constructed with the caption: “Marples Must Go!”

     

    Subsequently, Marples brought the government into disrepute through his part in a prostitution scandal and after this was covered up in 1963, he later “cut and run” to Monaco in 1975 to avoid “a substantial tax bill” after being discovered having parked most of his assets in Monaco and Liechtenstein. He spent his final years on his 45-acre vineyard estate in Fleurie, France and died in a Monte Carlo hospital in 1978.

     

    The ex-Ernest Marples 1964 Austin Mini Cooper S 1071 will be sold by H&H Classics at their Imperial War Museum Duxford sale in Cambridgeshire on the 26th July. It has an estimate of £70,000 to £80,000 ($89,500 to $102,300, €79,100 to €90,400 or درهم328,800 to درهم375,900) – a sum that would no doubt, if he were still alive, have money obsessed Marples smiling with glee.

     

    Of the almond green car, which supposedly the hatchback boot was fitted to on the orders of Marples on the basis he wanted to be easily able to fill it with cases of wine and golf clubs, Damian Jones of H&H Classics commented:

     

    “This is not just another Mini. It is history on four wheels. Its former owner, Transport Minister Ernest Marples changed the face of Britain with housing, bridges, motorways. He was a very ‘colourful character’ to say the least. It is fascinating that he chose to buy and use this relatively modest car when going golfing or going to France on holiday. If this car could speak what tales might it tell? It is truly one of a kind.”

     

    Marples Must Go – 1964 Austin Mini Cooper S 1071 originally owned by much-loathed Postmaster General, Minister of Transport and alleged tax fraudster The Rt. Hon. The Lord Marples, PC – Alfred Ernest Marples (1907 – 1978) to be auctioned by H&H Classics on 26th July 2017 – Estimate of £70,000 to £80,000 ($89,500 to $102,300, €79,100 to €90,400 or درهم328,800 to درهم375,900)Marples Must Go – 1964 Austin Mini Cooper S 1071 originally owned by much-loathed Postmaster General, Minister of Transport and alleged tax fraudster The Rt. Hon. The Lord Marples, PC – Alfred Ernest Marples (1907 – 1978) to be auctioned by H&H Classics on 26th July 2017 – Estimate of £70,000 to £80,000 ($89,500 to $102,300, €79,100 to €90,400 or درهم328,800 to درهم375,900) Marples Must Go – 1964 Austin Mini Cooper S 1071 originally owned by much-loathed Postmaster General, Minister of Transport and alleged tax fraudster The Rt. Hon. The Lord Marples, PC – Alfred Ernest Marples (1907 – 1978) to be auctioned by H&H Classics on 26th July 2017 – Estimate of £70,000 to £80,000 ($89,500 to $102,300, €79,100 to €90,400 or درهم328,800 to درهم375,900)Marples Must Go – 1964 Austin Mini Cooper S 1071 originally owned by much-loathed Postmaster General, Minister of Transport and alleged tax fraudster The Rt. Hon. The Lord Marples, PC – Alfred Ernest Marples (1907 – 1978) to be auctioned by H&H Classics on 26th July 2017 – Estimate of £70,000 to £80,000 ($89,500 to $102,300, €79,100 to €90,400 or درهم328,800 to درهم375,900)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWymCebAl6g

  • Barbed Manors

    Barbed Manors

    Grade II* listed Kent manor house for sale for £3.95 million; the purchaser will get a controversial £107.9 million EuroMillions jackpot winner as their neighbour

     

    Sold last in 2009 for £1.9 million (the equivalent of £2.3 million, $2.8 million, €2.2 million or درهم 10.3 million today), Waystrode Manor at Cowden, near Edenbridge in Kent is a Grade II* listed manor house.

     

    For sale currently for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills, the main 4,435 square foot house dates back as far, perhaps, as 1208. The present Tudor residence includes 4 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, but aside from that there is a 3 bedroom cottage, a converted oast house providing a recreation space, a Grade II listed double vaulted timber frame barn, an orangery and a coach house.

     

    Within the 7.8 acres of formal and informal gardens and grounds of this attractive, restored property – which has been offered as a film and photo shoot location through the JJ Media agency – there is also an outdoor swimming pool, a hard tennis court, three ponds and an orchard.

     

    Though the eventual purchaser of Waystrode Manor will of course be a multi-millionaire, they will most likely not be nearly as rich as their controversial neighbours, Neil Trotter and his partner Nikki Ottaway. Mr Trotter won £107.9 million ($131.4million, €124.6 million or درهم 482.4 million) on the EuroMillions lottery in 2014 and subsequently bought the adjoining 423-acre estate, Leighton Manor, for £5 million ($6.1 million, €5.8 million or درهم 22.4 million). In 2016, Trotter and Ottaway were “slammed” in the national press by locals after installing what was termed an “unsightly” barbed wire fence.

     

    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    Neil Trotter was a garage mechanic before he won a EuroMillions jackpot
    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW
    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    A sitting room in the main house
    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    A drawing room with an equally imposing fireplace
    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    This hallway is used as a dining space
    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    Whilst this is described as a breakfast room
    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    The kitchen is one of the few “modern” rooms in the main building
    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    The master bedroom has its own bathroom
    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    This barn is Grade II listed
    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    It features a double height, vaulted interior
    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    An oast house stands in the grounds also
    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    The interior of the building
    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    A view of the gardens
    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    This orangery is quite impressive from the outside
    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    As is its interior
    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    There is a tennis court
    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    And a swimming pool
    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    A further outbuilding
    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    The setting
    Barbed Manors – Waystrode Manor, Spode Lane, Cowden, Edenbridge, Kent, TN8 7HW – For sale for £3.95 million ($4.81 million, €4.56 million or درهم 17.65 million) through Savills – Neighboring estate to Leighton Manor, owned by EuroMillions winners Neil Trotter and Nikki Ottaway
    Another view of the main house
  • We’re Back

    We’re Back

    Apologies for our absence – but despite a hacker’s visit we’re now back

     

    A visit from a hacker is never pleasant and sadly – likely due to a few of the more controversial posts we’ve made – we experienced a few days of downtime thanks to such a nuisance.

     

    We apologise for our absence and have a backlog of stories to share with you. The Steeple Times enthusiastically welcomes you back to our world of ‘Wit and Wisdom in Equal Measure’.

     

    Follow us on Twitter @SteepleTimes and on Facebook by clicking here.

     

     

    Subscribe to our free once daily email newsletter here:[wysija_form id=”2″]

     

  • HIM and Hitler

    HIM and Hitler

    Likeness of Hitler sells for £11.9 million in New York
     (more…)

  • His Excellency Nunzio Alfredo D’Angieri and sons Stefan and Teava

    His Excellency Nunzio Alfredo D’Angieri and sons Stefan and Teava

    His Excellency Nunzio Alfredo D’Angieri and sons Stefan and TeavaThis dandy dynasty of diplomats and collectors of motoring marvels are renowned on the international jet set. Diplomat H.E. Nunzio Alfredo D’Angieri was once termed “Arafats’s banker” (more…)

  • Perez Hilton: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    Perez Hilton: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”

    ‘The Steeple Times’ asks blogger, columnist and television personality Perez Hilton: “What’s on your mantelpiece?” (more…)

  • Exit or lunch?

    Exit or lunch?

    As Julian Assange reportedly is to leave the Ecuadorian embassy in London, he also offers himself as a lunch date there for £30,000

     

    This morning, yet more police officers have gathered outside the Embassy of Ecuador in Hans Crescent after it has been reported that Julian Assange is about to hand himself in. If this rumour proves true, bidders in an online auction could be very disappointed. (more…)

  • Josie Cunningham

    Josie Cunningham

    Josie CunninghamNot so ‘Dozy Josie’ is a controversial scrounger who landed herself a £4,800 boob job on the NHS. This wannabe glamour model and escort from Leeds has 30,000 followers on Twitter and sold tickets to watch her give birth to her third child in 2014 for a total of £30,000. Makeup caked Cunningham – who is well known for her wonky cleavage –  attracted further controversy after stating she’d abort her baby to go on Big Brother and when it was revealed the taxpayer had footed £6,000 in taxi fees per year, she stated “needed them” for the school run. Her reasoning? “If the council think I’m getting a bus, they can think again”. Josie Cunningham’s view on life is simple: “Sticks and stones may break my bones but taxpayers will always fund me”. It’s no wonder The Mirror proclaimed her: “The most hated woman in Britain”.

     

  • The Hopkins Factor

    The Hopkins Factor

    Public misunderstand the true motivation of Katie Hopkins

     

    Katie Hopkins is opinionated and acerbic. She upsets virtually all who cross her path and thinks nothing of starting a controversy. Strangely, however, we actually think she’s misunderstood. (more…)