Property of the month: A Belgravia mega-mansion that has it all
Some people like their home to tell a story, others just want the best of the best. Some want both, which is where this property comes in. But ticking all the boxes doesn’t come cheap…
There are a few criteria that go into selecting a Property of the Month. It might have an interesting history, or famous former residents. It may have undergone a particularly extensive or remarkable renovation. Or it may be that it is simply so luxurious (and with a price point so astronomical) that it demands coverage. It is rare, however, that we come across something that is all three of the above. Enter this Lygon Place property: a mega-mansion in Belgravia clocking in at £45 million.
The Grade-II listed home was built in 1900-1901 in the Arts and Crafts style (a decorative movement that employs traditional craftsmanship and medieval, romantic or folk motifs) under the auspices of the Grosvenor Estate. The building’s façade is an attractive red-brick, with Portland stone bay windows and a multi-gabled roofline.
Its first owner was shipping tycoon Sir Fenwick Shadforth-Watts, who also served as President of the Chamber of Shipping. In 1935, the mansion was purchased by Thomas Anson, the 4th Earl of Lichfield – he was the grandfather of society photographer Patrick Anson, whose mother, Princess Anne of Denmark, was a first cousin of The Queen. During the Blitz, Lygon Place became a City solicitor HQ, until it was converted back to residential in 1965.
The current owners bought this Edwardian gem in 2011, embarking on the renovation project that transformed the home into what it is today. It was the work of Irish architect David Collins of David Collins Studio, who also worked on Madonna’s London and Manhattan homes, the restaurants of Marcus Wareing, Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White, and retail interiors for Jimmy Choo, Alexander McQueen and Harrods. Collins spent two years reconfiguring the six-storey main house and three-storey mews house – it was his final, and allegedly favourite, commission; he died two years later.
The 13,935 sq ft mansion extends over lower ground, ground and four upper floors, with a passenger lift. A stone porch heralds the entrance to a marble-floored hall, leading into two interconnecting reception rooms, a sitting room and a dining room that seats 12. This floor is also home to a Boffi-designed kitchen with a black marble island. The kitchen opens onto the garden terrace, where glass skylights allow light to cascade into the health spa below (more on that later).
Ascending to the first floor, discover a dual-aspect reception room, an office with joinery inspired by Coco Chanel, and a cinema/media room. The second floor, meanwhile, is dedicated entirely to the principal bedroom suite, which rivals any five-star hotel with its twin walk-in dressing rooms and Art Deco-style bathrooms (which are actually inspired by Claridges Hotel). On the third floor are three further bedroom suites; all are generously proportioned with Regency-style fireplaces, high ceilings and intricate coving.
At the top of the Lygon Place property resides a spectacular penthouse suite, complete with a vaulted-ceiling entertaining room/office, a separate kitchenette and a roof terrace with its own feature fireplace. The mews house also provides standalone accommodation, boasting a reception room (opening onto yet another terrace), a bedroom suite with ensuite, and a kitchen and living area. That health and leisure complex, finally, features a centrepiece swimming pool bordered by leisure decks, along with a gym, sauna, steam room and games/billiard room.
So there you have it: luxury and backstory rolled into one. You can roam hallways frequented by earls and tycoons, and designed by one of the greatest architectural minds of the century. And it goes without saying that the Lygon Place property is sumptuous. Outrageous. Next-level luxurious, with its gorgeous moulding and bespoke parquet. All of this considered, we can say with considerable certainty that this is one of the finest residences currently on the market in Belgravia.
The Lygon Place property is on the market for £45 million. For more information, visit beauchamp.com
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