Fame
Academy - the building, Witanhurst House
The
大象传媒 and Endemol UK have chosen London's second largest privately
owned stately home to be the much talked about Fame Academy where
a group of students will be living, studying, sweating and singing
their hearts out over the coming weeks.
Standing
atop Highgate Hill, the spectacular Witanhurst House has hosted
both royalty and musical virtuosos since it was completed in the
early 1920s and several houses of distinction and importance have
occupied its site since at least the turn of the 17th century.
Queen
Elizabeth II has danced in the ornate ballroom, Yehudi Menuhin has
played when he was a house guest and the unique dwelling currently
has neighbours including Sting, Boy George and George Michael.
Previous
neighbours have included Samuel Taylor Coleridge and J.B. Priestley.
The
vast and impressive Grade 2 listed building is set in its own 5.5
acre grounds, and has a tranquillity unlike anywhere else in London
- a perfect location for the Fame Academy and the eager students.
In
the 15th century the area of London known today as Highgate was
little more than fields, owned by a few members of London's elite
classes.
However,
over the next 200 years a village grew and Highgate assumed a character
that remained until the mid 19th century: a picturesque village
with clean air and few neighbours, but near enough to London for
well to do merchants and gentry to set up a second home.
The
house and grounds that we know today as Witanhurst were originally
part of a large estate called Parkfield owned by Sir Robert Payne.
Sir
Robert sold Parkfield in 1663 and over a period of 200 years, the
house passed hands many times between goldsmiths, stockbrokers and
other wealthy London merchants.
At
the end of 1912 the house was bought by Sir Arthur Crosfield, a
soap manufacturer and former Liberal MP for Warrington in Cheshire.
Sir
Arthur employed an architect, George Hubbard, and set to work completing
his mansion. Between the years of 1913 and 1920, the house took
shape.
Most
of the original building was demolished, although the new house
incorporated part of the facade of the early 18th century building,
and this still remains.
Sourcing
materials became difficult during the First World War, especially
for some of the more lavish touches, such as the ceramic bathroom
fittings, which had to be imported from Switzerland.
Sir
Arthur placed such importance on the aesthetics of the exterior
of the house that much of living accommodation on the top story
of the house is severely restricted.
The
grandiose roof and windows dictated that many of the rooms on the
top floor would be tiny.
With
the construction completed, Sir Arthur began work on the furnishings
and decoration.
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 拢1 million on
building his dream home, a mammoth amount for the 1920 - equivalent
to more than 拢20 million today.
The
Parkfield estate was now a thing of the past and Sir Arthur renamed
the house, Witanhurst - apparently derived from the Anglo-Saxon
words for parliament, witan and the word for a wooded hill, a hirst.
Sir
Arthur and his wife, Domini, threw themselves into the social scene
of the day.
The
Greek Prime Minister held his wedding reception at Witanhurst and
Lady Domini organised music evenings featuring many world famous
virtuosos such as Yehudi Menuhin, who stayed in the house with his
family for a while.
Many
of the royal families of Europe attended these parties including
our own Queen, when Princess Elizabeth, along with Princess Margaret.
When
Sir Arthur died in tragic circumstances in 1938 the house was left
as it is seen today.
It
is being leased to the 大象传媒 and Endemol UK by a developer who has
been granted permission to convert it into a conference centre.
Its
current market value is approximately 拢35 million.
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