Gargantuan Cheshire ‘McMansion’ once owned by a BBC Sports Personality turned tax fraudster for sale; it’s a monstrosity and beyond gaudy
Somewhat generously described as “Cheshire’s most flamboyant home” by the Manchester Evening News in December 2019 and as a place where BBC Wales Sports Personality 1980 turned VAT fraudster Duncan Evans for a time “lived the life of a country squire,” Deansgreen Hall in Lymm, Cheshire has been on the market for £6 million since 2019.
Described as “architecturally unsurpassed and with a lavish interior” and an “ambassadorial style Smallbone kitchen” by selling agents Jackson-Stops, this vast English attempt at a ‘McMansion’ is quite frankly one of the most ludicrously laughable houses we’ve ever featured.
Standing on a plot of just under 11 acres where a probably perfectly charming yet subsequently bastardised residence was constructed in 1864, the ‘hall’ itself extends to about 20,000 square foot. It includes 5 reception rooms, a cinema room, a games room, a music room, an orangery and 8 en-suite bedrooms.
In addition, there is a ‘leisure suite’ with an indoor swimming pool and gym, a staff flat, a 3-bedroom lodge, a 620 square foot ‘entertaining pavilion,’ garaging for 28 cars, a helicopter hangar, kenneling and stabling.
Plainly desperate to offload this gargantuan white elephant, Jackson-Stops declare: “Our clients are looking to downsize and would consider part exchange with either another residential property or commercial property, or possibly another asset class (for instance, prestige and collectible cars, art, etc.).”
The Names & Numbers – Deansgreen Hall, Crouchley Lane, Lymm, Cheshire, WA13 0TL, United Kingdom
- March 2021 – For sale for £6 million ($8.4 million, €7 million or درهم8 million) with Jackson-Stops. Listed first with the firm circa December 2019.
- June 2018 – A former policeman named Roderick Bond, whose current correspondence address for his active company Ravenstone UK Ltd., was jailed for 2 years and 8 months as a result of his involvement in a “Formula 1 film tax scam” in June 2018.
- 2006 – Purchased by the current owner and “remodeled and presented in its current condition.”
- 2003 – Sold by Duncan Evans for £3.5 million ($4.9 million, €4.1 million or درهم18 million). “Devious and accomplished fraudster” Evans subsequently received a jail sentence of 4 years in 2009 for his part in a £21 million ($29 million, €24 million or درهم108 million) VAT fraud. He was again arrested in July 2017 after going on the run to Portugal.
- 2002 – Sold to BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year 1980 Duncan Evans for £1.2 million ($1.7 million, €1.4 million or درهم2 million) having reverted to private ownership in the 1990s.
- 1970s – Used as “commercial offices” by Fairclough Homes.
- 1864 – Original house built on the site. What remains of that, God only knows.
I used to own that dining table when we lived in Peterstow. I wonder what journey it had to get there
Ooo, I’m not sure I’d admit to that Plastic Duck!
What a absolutely brilliant write up on this monstrosity! Seriously thou, what clientele are they aiming at to try and sell this? I think even a porn king or blind person would bulk at it! I also think that they might want to think about the selling price. If it’s been on the market since 2019 at £6 million and they haven’t dropped it, might it be that they’re being rather hopefully ambitious? I have a feeling that there won’t be a bid off for it!
It’s been for sale for a while because the market for a £6m house in Cheshire (particularly outside of Alderley Edge) is almost non-existent. We’re not talking about London, Weybridge, Virginia Water or Oxshott here. There was a gorgeous 10m Georgian Hall in Antrobus that took 3.5 years to sell.
The house has had some rather tasteless additions, but it can be rectified. The portico is obviously hideous, but it can be demolished. A lot of the interior stuff can be simply gutted and redecorated. These alterations would cost a fraction of the house price and would improve it immeasurably. The tasteless neoclassical stone ornaments, the over-the-top patriotism/nationalism and the obsession with all things naval can be easily removed.
The lodge/garage block may not be aesthetically pleasing but would be very handy for someone with a large car collection.
There are far worse houses on Rightmove. Like this one: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/110944292#/?channel=RES_BUY
Video here: https://vimeo.com/575818690