Witanhurst, a 90-room Queen Anne mansion in Highgate, which has featured in many TV series and dramas, was bought last year by a property developer. It has now been sold to Elena Baturina, the wife of the Mayor of Moscow for a reported £50m.
The Grade II-listed house, which has been advertised for sale for several months on Countrylife.co.uk boasts 90 rooms including 25 bedrooms. It is set within five and a half acres in a conservation area on Highgate Hill.
The house was restored in the early 1920s by the soap magnate Sir Arthur Crosfield and since then it has hosted both royalty and musical virtuosos. The most lavish room is undoubtedly the ballroom. This spectacular space, some 70 feet long with a height of 20 feet, is panelled throughout in walnut, with carved cornices embellished with gold leaf.
In total, Sir Arthur is reported to have spent £1 million on building his dream home, a consierable amount for the time which is equivalent to more than £20 million today.
It was valued for £32m in 2002.
See the advert for Witanhurst here
