| Updown Court | |
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| UPDOWN COURT HELICOPTER PICTURE 002.jpg Updown Court |
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Location within Surrey
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | neo-classic Californian |
| Location | Windlesham, Surrey, England |
| Coordinates | |
| Construction started | 2002 |
| Completed | 2006 |
| Cost | £70,000,000 |
| Technical details | |
| Size | 58 acres (230,000 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John B. Scholz |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | 103 rooms |
Updown Court (grid reference SU944641) is a Californian style residence situated in the village of Windlesham in Surrey, England. The 103-room mansion has 58 acres (230,000 m2) of landscaped gardens and private woodland.[1] It was, in 2006, the most expensive private home on the market anywhere in the world.[2][3] 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.[4]
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The original Updown Court, was built in 1924 and had been later acquired by Lord Parker of Burley in 1977,[5] 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". [6]
Updown Court is entered by a £2 million (3 million USD) heated marble driveway.[7] 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 pool, 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 (20,000 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.[8] 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.[8]
Updown Court is set in the centre of 58 acres (230,000 m2) of gardens and mature woodland. Neighbours include Elton John, Sarah, Duchess of York, and Queen guitarist Brian May.
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.[9] 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.[10] In October 2011, it was announced that the property had been sold for £35m.[4]
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.[1]
On Friday, 20 July 2001 the BBC 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.
Updown Court is said to have a running cost of between £250,000 and £1 million per year. Updown Court employs a work force of more than 10 people including 2 full time gardeners and numerous cleaners, not to mention the estate manager, Alan Mackinnon and security personnel.