When Winston Churchill lost the general election in 1945, he bought 28 Hyde Park Gate, a quintessential London home for nearly $309,000 in today's currency. Now, the home is being sold for $24.8 million by the realty group Knight Frank.
Churchill immediately redecorated the space upon moving in. One room was called his "snob library," where he stored beautifully bound books and pictures of his aristocratic ancestors, including the Duke of Marlborough, hung. He also placed a self-portrait painted by Sir John Lavery in the room. Churchill then bought the next-door property (27 Hyde Park Gate) in 1946 and used the newer addition as an office before combining the two to create a single home.
Today, the Grade II home (an indication that the home is of historical importance) features six low-built bedrooms arranged over four floors. A rare double-height reception room leads into the west-facing garden, and the main bedroom suite opens onto the west-facing terrace with views of the garden.
"This exceptional Grade II listed property has an illustrious heritage, having been the cherished home of Sir Winston Churchill during a defining era in British history," James Pace, head of the Kensington Sales at Knight Frank, said in a release. "The standout feature of the home is certainly the double-height reception room, perfect for hosting social gatherings in grand, stately surroundings. With six bedrooms arranged over just four floors, the intelligent floor plan offers an impressive sense of lateral space seldom found in homes of this period... For discerning buyers looking for a residence rich in historical provenance, this very special property stands as an enduring monument to an iconic figure."
The property was Churchill's London base. His other home was Chartwell in Kent, which is now preserved as a historic property by the National Trust.
To learn more about the listing, please visit knightfrank.com.
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