The Plans For Britain's Next Major Country House
One ambitious developer, one crumbling mansion and the plans are set for England's next big megahouse. The Sunday Times reports that Mike Spink, a developer, has paid £42 million for the 570-acre Park Place estate on the river near Henley-on-Thames. Mike Spink plans to spend a few years and a few million pounds turning the home into a palace to tempt a Russian billionaire or other deep-pocketed person into spending anywhere from £60 million to £100 million. The property, which is in the village of Remenam, has has 30,000 sq ft of living space and spent four decades as a boarding school. The property includes a main house that dates back to the early 18th century, three large houses, ten rented cottages and another eight in need of repair, a boathouse, a stable block, two golf courses and a a four-story tower. It's an amazing property but Spink must be somewhat troubled by the specter of Updown Court, the massive mansion in Windlesham, Surrey that went on the market for £70 million in 2005 and is still waiting for a buyer.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JW-C Jun 18th 2007 1:08PM
Updown is still waiting for a buyer because it's the most hideous pile of ostentatious crap ever conceived. This however will be absolutely stunning when restored and reworked. Spink has a tendency to turn gold into platinum.
I can't wait to see what is done. It will no doubt be one of the finest homes EVER.