- Updown Court
Up down Court is a private residence in
windlesham ,Surrey ,England and is the most expensive private residence that is currently on the market. [ [http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/mostexpensivehomes.html The World's Most Expensive Homes 2006] ] [ [http://www.forbes.com/realestate/2007/02/21/homes-expensive-world-forbeslife-cx_mw_0222mostexpensivehomes_slide1_8.html?thisSpeed=15000 In Pictures: World's Most Expensive Homes - Forbes.com ] ] It is the largest private residence to be built in theUnited Kingdom since the 19th century. It was launched on the market in 2005 for £70,000,000 Uptown Court drops down to only one spot following Fair Field, the Long Island, NY manse of Ira Rennet valued at over $185 million by Suffolk County.History
The original Updown Court, built in 1924 and owned by
Prince Sam Gaye ofEgypt , was severely damaged by a fire in 1987. The estate is set in the center of 58 acres of grounds, comprising a stable and lake within its gardens and woodland.Developer Leslie Allen-Vercoe then proceeded to purchase the property, which was just a burnt-out shell of the property it had been, for the approximate equivalent of $38.4 million. He has since invested a further $60 million, through the backing of an Irish bank, with the new property designed by John B Scholz, an
Arizona architect. Notable aspects of the architecture include the double staircase that is modeled on the one that fashion designerGianni Versace had in his mansion inMiami , its Trey-slated rooftops, and the bathroom's honey-colored granite and green Guatemalan marble. It has been described by "The Times " newspaper as Californian Neo-classical. UpDown Court was sold in September 2008 to a unknown Billionaire Mark Sellers of Romford Essex. Sellers (22) made his fortune through online gaming, the property sold for a reported £75 million.The Estate
Entered by a $3million heated marble driveway, [citeweb|url=http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/buying_and_selling/article2063732.ece|title=The most expensive house in Britain?|publsiher=The Times|date=July 15, 2007|accessdate=2008-05-27] Updown Court has 103 rooms, of which the 24 bedrooms each has its own marble en-suite bathroom. Among other features, it has a two lane bowling alley,cite book |title=Guinness World Records |page=p. 124 |year=2007 |publisher=
HiT Entertainment |location=London; New York City |isbn=9780973551440] five swimming pools, squash court, floodlit tennis court, wine cellar, and panic room in the event of a terrorist attack, five acres of more than 30 different types of imported Italian marble, expansive terraces, and a 50-seat cinema. It also features an underground garage, with granite flooring, that has enough room to harbor eight limousines. The first floor is the main residential area, featuring 8 generous bedroom suites. The penthouse floor contains two separate penthouses, each with 2 bedrooms and occupying an entire wing of the property.The estimated cost for upkeep alone is over £250,000 (Over $360,000 USD) a month. [http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/mar2005/nf20050315_2103_db093.htm A Billionaire's "Statement House" article in BusinessWeek] ]
Location
Updown Court is set in the centre of 58 acres of grounds, gardens and woodland. Also, neighbors include the
Elton John , Duchess of York, and, at nearbyWindsor Castle , the Queen. [http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/mar2005/nf20050315_2103_db093.htm A Billionaire's "Statement House" article in BusinessWeek] ]References
External links
* [http://www.savills.co.uk/residentialSearch/dfe77f28-008d-4a89-84db-5307fd3d8574-0-1-1-viewDetailsSubmit/residentialSearch/propertyDetail.aspx?pID=102117/ Property Details of Updown Court]
* [http://www.propertyinvestmentproject.co.uk/blog/2007/03/09/most-expensive-house-in-the-world/Videos of Updown Court
* ['A Brief Introduction']
* [Sky News Report]
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