Mansion on The Bishops Avenue in Hampstead goes on sale for £15 million; it isn’t quite what you’d expect for such a price
Built on a 1.8 acre plot in 1896 in the Arts and Crafts style and featuring a mock Tudor façade, one would expect a property on The Bishops Avenue priced at £15 million to be something quite spectacular.
In the case of a mansion originally known as ‘Kenmore House’ and subsequently ‘Al-Murtaza’ (meaning: “attainder of the pleasure of God and the favourite”) however, all you’ll get is a “total wreck” but one situated on a street nicknamed ‘The Billionaires’ Boulevard.’ Near neighbours of this citadel of wealth past and present include East European arms dealers and Saudi royals and the likes of Sir Billy Butlin, Richard Desmond, Gracie Fields, Lakshmi Mittal, Asil Nadir and Sir Peter Saunders.
Previously marketed at sums as high as £25 million when in slightly better condition – and at those times with now expired planning permission for replacement with a 30,000 square foot replacement dwelling – ‘58 The Bishops Avenue’ (as it is more plainly known) was last sold for a publicly available sum of £5.2 million in 1998. It has reportedly been empty ever since and passed through the hands of unknown offshore entities and was even repossessed.
Featuring accommodation extending to 12,000 square foot and ten bedrooms, the building is likely to get a visit from a wrecking ball in due course. Its current selling agents, Aston Chase, point out that “it is situated on the favoured West side of the street” and still has “a sweeping carriage drive” and tennis court.
Kenmore House, 58 The Bishops Avenue, London, N2 0BE – The Numbers
February 2019 – For sale for £15 million ($19.7 million, €17.4 million or درهم72.4 million) through Aston Chase.
January 2016 – For sale as a “development opportunity” for £22.5 million ($29.6 million, €26.1 million or درهم108.7 million) through Mann, Smith & Partners.
February 2014 – Sold for an undisclosed sum on behalf of the receivers by Knight Frank with 1.8 acres and planning permission for a new 30,000 square foot house.
August 2012 – For sale for £25 million ($32.9 million, €28.9 million or درهم120.7 million) through Knight Frank.
July 1998 – Sold for £5.2 million ($6.8 million, €6 million or درهم25.1 million).
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