Updown Court
Encyclopedia
Updown Court is a Californian style residence situated in the village of Windlesham
in Surrey
, England
. The 103-room mansion has 58 acres (234,717.9 m²) of landscaped gardens and private woodland. It was, in 2006, the most expensive private home on the market anywhere in the world. It was listed with Savills and Hamptons International (estate agencies), in 2005 for £70 million (138 million USD). In October 2011, it was announced that the property had been sold for £35m.
in 1977, however it was severely damaged by a fire, as a result of a ruptured gas main during the Great Storm of 1987
.
A developer, Leslie Allen-Vercoe of Surrey
based Rhymer Investments Limited purchased the burnt-out shell of the property, for the approximate 2009 equivalent of £20 million (38.4 million USD) in early 2001/02, through receivership. Allen-Vercoe invested a further £38.5 million (60 million USD), of which £10 million was his own money, to re-build and re-design the property as it stands today. The new development was designed by John B. Scholz Inc, an Arizona
architect company specializing in custom luxury home designs and luxury house plans. Construction began in 2002 and the building was completed in 2006/07, therefore taking around five years in total. As a homage to 'bling', the house is a departure from more refined English and European styles of architecture and includes a double staircase that is allegedly modeled on the one that fashion designer Gianni Versace
had in his mansion in Miami, Florida
. Updown Court has been described as "a house of horrors” and one Daily Telegraph journalist wrote: "I’d been expecting to find it tacky, over-the-top and full of bling. I hadn’t expected to find a cross between an abandoned Dubai hotel and a cruise ship".
, a squash court, a floodlit tennis court, a wine cellar with a capacity for 3,000 bottles and a panic room. There are 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) of more than 30 different types of imported Italian marble, expansive terraces, and a customizable cinema with a 50 seat capacity. It also features an underground garage, with granite flooring, that has enough room for eight luxury cars or limousines. The first floor is the main residential area, featuring eight generous bedroom suites, all en-suite. The penthouse floor contains two separate penthouse apartments, each with two bedrooms, reception area, bathroom, kitchen and occupies an entire wing of the property.
Updown Court is set in the centre of 58 acres (234,717.9 m²) of gardens and mature woodland. Neighbours include Elton John
, Sarah, Duchess of York
, and Queen
guitarist Brian May.
Originally put up for sale in 2005, as of July 2011 the estate had not been sold and was still on the market at the original price of £70m. In October 2011, the property was placed into receivership
by the Irish state 'bad bank', the National Asset Management Agency
(NAMA). NAMA had paid £20million to the nationalized Irish Nationwide
bank for the asset, taking over loans with an original value of £63m. In October 2011, it was announced that the property had been sold for £35m.
His mother (born 1917), was briefly a model working for Vogue and his father worked as a bricklayer. Allen-Vercoe never met his father as he died of pneumonia shortly before his birth.
Although not featured on any rich lists, Allen-Vercoe states his wealth to be "safely in excess of £50 million" and likes to lead a private life, one not in the public eye extensively.
Allen-Vercoe has married twice and has three children, Justine, Emma and Hayden all in their late thirties with first wife, Sue. He currently lives in Surrey with second wife Jenny at their £3 million country home.http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=398600&in_page_id=2
reported of an incident that took place at Updown Court, involving two thieves with crimes relating to money laundering at the property. It is unclear whether or not any charges were brought to the two British men involved.
Windlesham
Windlesham is a village in the Surrey Heath district of Surrey in South East England. It is also the name of the parish that covers Bagshot and Lightwater, in addition to Windlesham...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The 103-room mansion has 58 acres (234,717.9 m²) of landscaped gardens and private woodland. It was, in 2006, the most expensive private home on the market anywhere in the world. It was listed with Savills and Hamptons International (estate agencies), in 2005 for £70 million (138 million USD). In October 2011, it was announced that the property had been sold for £35m.
History of Updown Court
The original Updown Court, was built in 1924 and had been later acquired by Lord Parker of BurleyBurley
- Place names :* Places in England:** Burley, Hampshire** Burley, Leeds** Burley, Rutland** Burley, Shropshire** Burley in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire, England* Places in the United States:** Burley, Idaho** Burley Manor, listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
in 1977, however it was severely damaged by a fire, as a result of a ruptured gas main during the Great Storm of 1987
Great Storm of 1987
The Great Storm of 1987 occurred on the night of 15/16 October 1987, when an unusually strong weather system caused winds to hit much of southern England and northern France...
.
A developer, Leslie Allen-Vercoe of Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
based Rhymer Investments Limited purchased the burnt-out shell of the property, for the approximate 2009 equivalent of £20 million (38.4 million USD) in early 2001/02, through receivership. Allen-Vercoe invested a further £38.5 million (60 million USD), of which £10 million was his own money, to re-build and re-design the property as it stands today. The new development was designed by John B. Scholz Inc, an Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
architect company specializing in custom luxury home designs and luxury house plans. Construction began in 2002 and the building was completed in 2006/07, therefore taking around five years in total. As a homage to 'bling', the house is a departure from more refined English and European styles of architecture and includes a double staircase that is allegedly modeled on the one that fashion designer Gianni Versace
Gianni Versace
Gianni Versace was an Italian fashion designer and founder of Gianni Versace S.p.A., an international fashion house, which produces accessories, fragrances, makeup and home furnishings as well as clothes. He also designed costumes for the theatre and films, and was a friend of Madonna, Elton John,...
had in his mansion in Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Updown Court has been described as "a house of horrors” and one Daily Telegraph journalist wrote: "I’d been expecting to find it tacky, over-the-top and full of bling. I hadn’t expected to find a cross between an abandoned Dubai hotel and a cruise ship".
The Estate
Updown Court is entered by a £2 million (3 million USD) heated marble driveway. Updown Court has 103 rooms, of which 24 are bedrooms, each with its own marble en-suite bathroom. Among other features, it has a fully automated two-lane bowling alley, five swimming pools including an Infinity poolInfinity pool
An infinity edge pool is a swimming or reflecting pool which produces a visual effect of water extending to the horizon, vanishing, or extending to "infinity"...
, a squash court, a floodlit tennis court, a wine cellar with a capacity for 3,000 bottles and a panic room. There are 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) of more than 30 different types of imported Italian marble, expansive terraces, and a customizable cinema with a 50 seat capacity. It also features an underground garage, with granite flooring, that has enough room for eight luxury cars or limousines. The first floor is the main residential area, featuring eight generous bedroom suites, all en-suite. The penthouse floor contains two separate penthouse apartments, each with two bedrooms, reception area, bathroom, kitchen and occupies an entire wing of the property.
Updown Court is set in the centre of 58 acres (234,717.9 m²) of gardens and mature woodland. Neighbours include Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, Sarah, Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York is a British charity patron, spokesperson, writer, film producer, television personality and former member of the British Royal Family. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, whom she married from 1986 to 1996...
, and Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
guitarist Brian May.
Current State of Ownership
Despite the extravagant nature of the property it was viewed by local residents as somewhat of a 'white elephant' given the length of time the property had been for sale without finding a buyer.Originally put up for sale in 2005, as of July 2011 the estate had not been sold and was still on the market at the original price of £70m. In October 2011, the property was placed into receivership
Receivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
by the Irish state 'bad bank', the National Asset Management Agency
National Asset Management Agency
The National Asset Management Agency is a body created by the Government of Ireland in late 2009. It is in response to the Irish financial crisis and the deflation of the Irish property bubble....
(NAMA). NAMA had paid £20million to the nationalized Irish Nationwide
Irish Nationwide
Irish Nationwide Building Society was a financial institution in Ireland from 1873 to 2011. One of the country's oldest financial institutions, it was originally called the Irish Industrial Building Society; it changed its name in 1975 when it had just five staff...
bank for the asset, taking over loans with an original value of £63m. In October 2011, it was announced that the property had been sold for £35m.
Leslie Allen-Vercoe
Leslie Allen-Vercoe was born in 1944 in Ashford, Middlesex and attended Sandown Grammar School on the Isle of Wight until he was 17, when he left without A-Levels. He worked as a projectionist at the local cinema and an estate agent. At 20, with a £2,000 bank loan he bought the cinema where he had worked when his boss died, as his first major venture.His mother (born 1917), was briefly a model working for Vogue and his father worked as a bricklayer. Allen-Vercoe never met his father as he died of pneumonia shortly before his birth.
Although not featured on any rich lists, Allen-Vercoe states his wealth to be "safely in excess of £50 million" and likes to lead a private life, one not in the public eye extensively.
Allen-Vercoe has married twice and has three children, Justine, Emma and Hayden all in their late thirties with first wife, Sue. He currently lives in Surrey with second wife Jenny at their £3 million country home.http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=398600&in_page_id=2
2001 Raid
On Friday, 20 July 2001 the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
reported of an incident that took place at Updown Court, involving two thieves with crimes relating to money laundering at the property. It is unclear whether or not any charges were brought to the two British men involved.