We know rent is expensive right now, but this is on another level.
A Royal observatory in Old Deer Park in Richmond, Surrey, is available to rent… for £50,000 a month.
To be fair, it’s far more than a standard studio flat.
The 253-year-old observatory has a fully-revolving dome cupola, which is still functional and the oldest of its type in the world.
The Grade I listed property was built for King George III in 1769, so he could track the transit of Venus crossing the sun, study the skies, and educate his children.
After King George’s death, the observatory was taken on by the British Association for the Advancement of Science in the 1840s, then the National Physical Laboratory was established there in 1900.
It went on to be home to the Met Office from 1910, then in 1980 they closed the observatory and returned it to the Crown Estate.
From there, the building was refurbished and used as commercial offices, until permission to make it a residential property was granted in 2014.
That takes us up to now: the observatory is now a four-bedroom home, sitting in seven acres of parkland and overlooking a lake.
It has over 6,500 sq ft of accommodation over three floors, with an entrance foyer, a dining room, a grand drawing room, a kitchen and breakfast room, a garden foyer, four bedrooms with en suite bathrooms, and two dressing rooms.
There’s also a stunning library, which holds more than 12,000 books.
The property has plenty of the original features you’d hope for, including magnificent staircases and ornate cornicing, but it has also been given a modern update with a lift and an AV system to control heating, lighting, blinds, music, and security.
It’s available to rent on a short-term basis (so no, you couldn’t live here full-time), but it’ll cost you a pretty penny.
Harry Buchanan, director of Jackson-Stops’ Pimlico & Westminster branch, who let out the property, said: ‘Our monarchy is famous the world over, with many street and house names taking inspiration from the most popular royals such as Prince William and Queen Elizabeth.
‘A typical London mews can be instantly elevated by a prestigious name; Queen Anne’s Gate, Charles II Street, Victoria Street, and Elizabeth Close to name a few.
‘The kudos isn’t necessarily directly linked to a price premium by virtue of its name alone, however, these are usually in prime locations with smart properties to boot. The closer you are to Buckingham Palace, the smarter the property.
‘If a house has been visited by a famous face including that of the royal family, all the more compelling for a buyer.
‘International visitors especially resonate with the idea of purchasing something that is completely unique.
‘Such royal prestige can add to the romance of a quintessentially English home.’
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source https://metro.co.uk/2022/09/11/royal-observatory-in-surrey-is-available-to-rent-for-50k-a-month-17348103/
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