17th century Oswaldkirk Hall for sale for £4 million
Described by Candida Lycett Green as “a fine and architecturally distinguished house, built in the reign of William and Mary” in her 1994 book The Perfect English Country House, Oswaldkirk Hall in the North Riding of Yorkshire is at the heart of the setting of Julian Fellowes’s fictional Downton Abbey. It was “built to impress” and could indeed have been a perfect starter home for Lady Mary Crawley and her late husband Matthew. (more…)
62,000 square foot apartment at New York’s The River House comes to the market for £80.5 million
Apartments don’t normally come with indoor tennis courts but if the proposed conversion of the former River Club within New York’s River House co-operative goes ahead, what will surely be one of the world’s most ludicrous properties will indeed be created. (more…)
This “ebullient” American’s name is most apt. A former Barclays bank executive who likes to wear sunglasses come rain or shine, Ricci retired to a Kentish mansion at 49 and supposedly travels by private jet to Dublin every weekend as he “just love[s] Irish racing”. With 40 horses in training and a take home total of £44 million in 2010 alone, he needn’t and doesn’t do things by half and even once named a horse Fatcatinahat in honour of an article The Independent ran on him. Whilst Bob may have had the Diamond position during their days at the bank, it is Ricci who remains truly Rich.
21st century gauche replaces 20th century elegance
A hidden enclave opposite the V&A museum in South Kensington was home to two of the twentieth century’s most fascinating individuals. London club owner and arbiter of good taste Mark Birley lived at Thurloe Lodge for nearly thirty years until his death in 2007 and for a time, the British ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn resided next door at Amberwood House. (more…)
Anmer Hall in Norfolk all but confirmed as future home of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
For months now there has been speculation as to whether Anmer Hall, a Georgian property on The Queen’s Sandringham estate, will become a future country home for The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their son, Prince George. Today, such a move has all but been confirmed. (more…)
Robbie Williams’ Wiltshire estate for sale again for £2.6 million less than he paid for it
Singer Robbie Williams paid £8,100,000 for Compton Bassett House, near Calne in Wiltshire in 2008. In the years since he’s tried to sell it several times but even now that it has been relaunched for just £5,500,000, will it sell?
Living on a small scale in Central London
Space is at a premium in Central London, so here we share five of the best one bedroom apartments currently on the market. Prices range from £725,000 to an astounding £6,950,000.
B.03.3, One Hyde Park, Knightsbridge, SW1X – £6,950,000
The highest priced apartment in this Candy & Candy landmark building sold for £136,000,000 so naturally even what agents Strutt & Parker described as a “the ultimate London pied-a-terre” was bound to be expensive. 989 square foot in size, there is a 26ft by 12ft reception room with a champagne bar, an 18ft by 10ft bedroom and even a car parking space. The service charge for the apartment is a not so insignificant £16,750 per annum but for that you get access to a 60 man Mandarin Oriental concierge team, a private spa and swimming pool, a squash court, an entertaining suite with spaces for canapé receptions for 100 guests and a private screening room with seating for 18 guests.
Cranley Gardens, South Kensington, SW7 – £725,000
Converting a single high ceilinged room into a one bedroom flat wouldn’t normally work but the transformation of this 453 square foot ground floor apartment has produced spectacular results. As well as a bright 15ft by 13ft sitting room, there is a mezzanine kitchen with a dining area, a small internal double bedroom and what agents Marsh & Parsons call a “stylish” shower room.
Upper Grosvenor Street, Mayfair, W1 – £6,000,000
If you’re a bachelor who enjoys entertaining on a grand scale, the star attraction of this 2,047 square foot first floor apartment, which is for sale through Knight Frank, will be the 100 square foot paneled reception room with four floor to ceiling windows. For the dandy, there is a dressing room kitted out with burr walnut fittings and if you’re a studious sort, there’s a compact study/library.
Queen’s Gate Mews, South Kensington, SW7 – £775,000
With a private entrance and 732 square foot of accommodation, this lower ground floor flat is surprisingly light. For sale through Marsh & Parsons and in need of a decorative makeover, it includes a 17ft by 13ft reception room, a dining room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and a small private courtyard garden.
Shelley Court, Tite Street, Chelsea, SW3 – £1,895,000
Within a purpose built portered Victorian mansion block, Aylesford are selling a 1,050 square foot ground floor apartment that has the look and feel of a smart boutique hotel. As well as a 20ft by 13ft reception room with double doors into a 27ft by 13ft bedroom, this stylish abode also features a large dining kitchen and is just moments from the Kings Road.
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What has become of the former entertainer Michael Barrymore?
Shamed television personality Michael Barrymore has reinvented himself. In Prince Charles like fashion, the former Strike it Lucky star has begun a new career talking to plants at a garden centre in Brentwood, Essex.
The story of “fallen tycoon” Brian O’Donnell, the differences between bankruptcy in the UK and Ireland and an £11 million mansion
In these straightened times, the media in general and the Daily Mail in particular quickly latch on to stories about benefit scroungers living in luxury homes. They’re less quick, however, with the exception of the case of Grant Bovey (“Mr Anthea Turner”), to make reference to stories of bankrupt individuals remaining in multi-million pound mansions.
A most newsworthy example, though, has to be that of Irish property investor Brian O’Donnell and his psychiatrist wife Dr Mary Patricia “Pat” O’Donnell. Mr O’Donnell, who bought the Sanctuary Buildings in London for £170 million and paid $172.5 million for a 199,000 square foot property on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington in 2008, started his career as a solicitor and eventually founded his own firm, Brian O’Donnell & Partners, in 1999. In time, he and his wife diversified into property investment and at the height of his success, Mr O’Donnell was described as “the Celtic Tiger poster child”. With the recession, however, came problems and by 2011, they owed Morgan Stanley €457 million, Aareal €235 million, and the Bank of Ireland circa €75 million.
The sale of a $100 million Californian estate with a catch
If you were to spend $100,000,000 on a house, you’d expect something impressive. I imagine you’d want acreage, vast amounts of space and something luxurious. Stunning views and a prime location would be a must but at the bottom of your list, no doubt, would be something that someone purchasing a place for even a $1 would expect – that being that you’d be able to actually move in.