A £6.9 million home in “Britain’s Monte Carlo”
Whilst London has “Billionaires Row” in the form of Kensington Palace Gardens, the coastal county of Dorset has an equivalent in the form of the Sandbanks Peninsula – known locally as “Millionaires Row”. Property prices here are said to be the fourth highest on the planet (more…)
Small, unmodernised former home of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh for sale for the extraordinary figure of £7.5 million
Built in 1850, Durham Cottage in Christchurch Street, Chelsea is a house “hidden behind a high dusty brick wall” that was the love nest of Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh between 1937 and 1956. Now, in totally unmodernised condition, the house is for sale after failing to sell at auction (despite a bid of £6,980,000). (more…)
Norah Docker’s yacht, Shemara, has found a saviour in Charles Dunstone
When spendaholics Sir Bernard and Lady Docker took ownership of a 65-metre yacht, the Shemara, in the 1950s, little did they know that it would ultimately become part of their nemesis. The very same boat – after languishing for many years – has now been fully restored and is now in the ownership of the telecommunications titan Sir Charles Dunstone. (more…)
Chelsea revealed to be London’s most popular residential address and not just “a place where servants live”
Whilst in March, estate agents Beauchamp Estates announced that Chelsea is “a place where servants live”; a more recent analysis by local firm Russell Simpson has found quite to the contrary and provides proof that it is “London’s most popular residential address”. (more…)
House where items lay untouched for 100 years remains on the market for over a year
The Hermitage in Hexham, Northumberland is a “small stately home” that truly is a time warp. Rented by the Morant family for nearly 100 years, this Grade II* listed, 14 bedroomed mansion was barely touched during that period. (more…)
Two episodes of the Inspector Morse sequel, Lewis, were filmed at Thatched Cottage at Mile End Reach, Henley-on-Thames. The cottage – last sold in 2000 for £1,075,000 – is now on the market for £3,600,000 through Knight Frank.
A true “chocolate box” of a property, Thatched Cottage was built in 1897 and was at one point home to the Queen Mother’s cousin, Elizabeth Bowes Lyons. It currently comprises of 3,938 square foot of accommodation and has planning permission for a substantial extension that would take it to a grand total of 6,580 square foot.
The highlight of the property, however, is its 1-acre plot as it comes complete with 99 foot of frontage to the River Thames and “unspoilt views over the river and water meadows beyond”. The current owners moor two boats on the property’s private moorings.
In The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame famously wrote:
“Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing – absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats”.
For anyone with such a passion, 5-6 bedroomed Thatched Cottage would be just the perfect spot.
Update: 21st February 2016: According to The Sun, the cottage has been sold to the comedian Russell Brand for circa £3.3 million.
As well known buy-to-let tycoons Fergus and Judith Wilson sell up, we ask: “Has the British property market peaked?”
Known as “Baron and Baroness Buy-to-Let”, Fergus and Judith Wilson were the kind of role models those who watch daytime shows such as Homes Under the Hammer aspired to be. With this week’s announcement that they’re selling their 900-house portfolio, could this be indication that the property market has reached its peak? (more…)
A Cumbrian mansion built by opium traders and more recently used by cannabis growers comes to the market for just £1.5 million
Built by the well-known Dent family, who made their fortune trading both tea and opium, Flass is a vast 23,000 square foot Palladian mansion on the outskirts of the village of Maulds Meaburn in Cumbria. Ironically it was also the setting for one of the country’s biggest drug raids in May 2012. (more…)
Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman once owed by Communist Party commander Chen Yi goes to auction
Communist and dictators are amongst the well-known to have purchased Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman limousines and one fine example is about to go to auction with Bonhams on 12th July (more…)
Painting of Sir Stirling Moss for sale at Masterpiece
As Masterpiece 2014 comes towards it conclusion on the 2nd July, we feature another fine work on display there – an oil on canvas painting of Sir Stirling Moss with an Aston Martin DBR1 and a CC100 concept car (more…)