A luxury apartment once renovated by Alexander McQueen in a historic building where renowned comedic author P.G. Wodehouse penned his famous tales has gone on the market for £6.95million.
The spectacular penthouse in London‘s Mayfair was bought by the late fashion designer in 2009, a year before he tragically took his own life, and while he never got to live in the property, it’s certainly still a home for the truly well-heeled.
Built in 1897, the fully refurbished property on Dunraven Street boasts a stunning roof garden for entertaining, a vast dining room opening on to a terrace, and a dramatic spiral staircase leading to two VIP bedroom suites – complete with black walnut wood flooring, lavish chandeliers and walk in dressing rooms.
The penthouse lies in a Grade II-listed house formerly belonging to HRH Alexander, a grandson of Queen Victoria and relative of Lord Louis Mountbatten and Prince Philip, in 1920, and once home to famed author P. G. Wodehouse, where he wrote his much-loved Jeeves and Wooster stories.
A luxury apartment (pictured is the living room) once renovated by Alexander McQueen and where renowned comedic author P.G. Wodehouse penned his famous tales has gone on the market for £6.95million
The spectacular penthouse in London’s Mayfair was bought by the late fashion designer in 2009, a year before he tragically took his own life, and while he never got to live in the property, it’s certainly still a home for the truly well-heeled. Pictured, the master bedroom
Built in 1897, the fully refurbished property on Dunraven Street boasts a stunning roof garden for entertaining, a vast dining room opening on to a terrace, and a dramatic spiral staircase leading to two VIP bedroom suites – complete with black walnut wood flooring, lavish chandeliers (pictured) and walk in dressing rooms
The penthouse lies in a Grade II-listed house (pictured left) formerly belonging to HRH Alexander (pictured right), a grandson of Queen Victoria and relative of Lord Louis Mountbatten and Prince Philip, in 1920, and once home to famed author P. G. Wodehouse, where he wrote his much-loved Jeeves and Wooster stories
A grand, blue plaque sits above the first window of the townhouse to recognise it as Wodehouse’s home from 1927 and 1934, with the author’s nephew Patrick describing the place as ‘homely and warm, with a dotty Edwardian flavour just like the books Uncle Plum spent all his time writing’.
The plaque was unveiled by The Queen Mother in 1988, who commented: ‘I think that Wodehouse’s greatest gift is that 50 or 60 years after many of his books were written they still make us all laugh, and I am sure that generations to come will continue to laugh at them just as much as we have done.’
Also available to rent for £3,000 per week through Wetherell, the penthouse boasts two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a reception and a spectacular roof terrace.
McQueen paid a reported £2.525 million for the Dunraven Street home and rented a flat in nearby Green Street while he oversaw the redevelopment of the property, but tragically died the following year.
A grand, blue plaque sits above the first window of the townhouse to recognise it as Wodehouse’s home from 1927 and 1934, with the author’s nephew Patrick describing the place as ‘homely and warm, with a dotty Edwardian flavour just like the books Uncle Plum spent all his time writing’. Pictured, one of two bathrooms in the penthouse
Also available to rent for £3,000 per week through Wetherell, the penthouse boasts two bedrooms (pictured), two bathrooms, a reception and a spectacular roof terrace
McQueen paid a reported £2.525 million for the Dunraven Street home (pictured is one of the living spaces) and rented a flat in nearby Green Street while he oversaw the redevelopment of the property, but tragically died the following year
Meanwhile, Alexander Mountbatten moved into 17 Dunraven Street in 1917, when he married Lady Irene Denison, who became the Marchioness of Carisbrooke. Pictured, the dining room in the penthouse
After McQueen’s death, the lower floors of 17 Dunraven Street were acquired by an investor, repackaged and sold in late 2013 as a maisonette.
Who was author P. G. Wodehouse?
Pelham Grenville (‘Plum’) Wodehouse (1881-1975) lived at the house with his wife Ethel and stepdaughter Leonora.
They were looked after 11 servants and during his time at number 17 Wodehouse wrote ten books.
Pelham Grenville Wodehouse (above) lived at the house with his wife Ethel and stepdaughter Leonora
Wodehouse’s most famous creations are the foolish English gentleman Bertie Wooster and his valet Jeeves, whose quick wits constantly rescued his unwitting master from tight situations of his own making.
Wodehouse became Britain’s best-selling author in the 1920s and continued to publish new Jeeves and Wooster stories until his death in 1975.
In his last interview before he died, McQueen spoke enthusiastically about the place, with Harper’s Bazaar’s Godfrey Deeny writing: ‘One can tell he’s desperately keen to move into his new home, anxious to get the art he’s bought installed, keen to walk his dogs in Hyde Park and determined to do lots of cooking.’
Meanwhile, Alexander Mountbatten moved into 17 Dunraven Street in 1917, when he married Lady Irene Denison, who became the Marchioness of Carisbrooke.
They lived there until 1920 when, after the birth of their daughter Lady Iris, they moved into a grace-and-favour residence at Kensington Palace.
Mountbatten, who died in 1960 aged 73 in Kensington Palace, was the very first member of the Royal family to take a job as a director of Lazard Brothers bank.
After the Second World War, the house was divided into apartments and in the last decade the top two floors and roof terrace have been converted into this lavish penthouse.
Following a full refurbishment, the lowest floor is home to an open plan kitchen and dining room with top of the range appliances, chandelier and French doors leading on to a balcony running the width of the building.
Walking upstairs offers a stylish monochrome principal bedroom with built in storage and en suite bathroom, leading on to the second bedroom with its own extravagant dressing room and en suite.
The rooms are ultra-modern in design, with sleek surfaces, a sophisticated decor involving grey and cream colours, and chandeliers throughout the space.
The second floor also gives access to the roof deck, via a grand chrome spiral staircase.
Peter Wetherell, Chairman of Wetherell told FEMAIL: ‘This stylish penthouse on Duraven Street, in P. G. Wodehouse’s former Mayfair mansion was last on the market back in 2016 when it had a fashion designer inspired interior.
‘Since then the interiors have been updated to provide a contemporary yet classic look at this perfect for 21st Century Mayfair living. As per current COVID-19 trends the private rooftop garden will really add to the interest and appeal of this superb penthouse.
‘It is a lovely address, located just off Park Lane and Hyde Park. Its an ideal pad for a singleton or couple working in media or IT, it’s got that Los Angeles feel that appeals to the international market.’
After the Second World War, the house was divided into apartments and in the last decade the top two floors and roof terrace have been converted into this lavish penthouse (pictured)
The rooms are ultra-modern in design, with sleek surfaces, a sophisticated decor involving grey and cream colours, and chandeliers throughout the space. The second floor also gives access to the roof deck (pictured above), via a grand chrome spiral staircase
Following a full refurbishment, the lowest floor is home to an open plan kitchen and dining room with top of the range appliances, chandelier and French doors leading on to a balcony running the width of the building. Pictured, the living room
Walking upstairs offers a stylish monochrome principal bedroom with built in storage and en suite bathroom, leading on to the second bedroom with its own extravagant dressing room and en suite. Pictured, the kitchen in the penthouse
Alexander McQueen’s successful career: How the late designer stunned the fashion world with his creative and eye-catching pieces
At the turn of the 21st century, Alexander McQueen (pictured in 2005) was the most feted and controversial designer of his generation
At the turn of the 21st century, Alexander McQueen was the most feted and controversial designer of his generation.
In 2003 alone, he was made British Designer of the Year (an award he won four times), International Designer of the Year and — in a remarkable show of acceptance by the establishment — a Commander of the British Empire.
His achievement was all the more remarkable because he’d shown little promise at his East London comprehensive school, where he was dismissed by his teachers as just another ‘East End oik’, going nowhere fast. His father, a taxi driver, expected him to take up a trade at 16, such as plumbing.
It was his mother, Joyce, who saw a programme on TV one day that mentioned there was a shortage of apprentices in Savile Row. He later went to work at neighbouring Gieves and Hawkes.
It was while here that he developed his deftly cut tailored look and in less than 10 years he was to become one of the most respected fashion designers in the world.
Following stints working for Koji Tatsuno, then Romeo Gigli in Milan, he returned to London where he completed a masters degree in Fashion Design at Central St Martins.
When he displayed his portfolio in 1992, it was snapped up in its entirety by Isabella Blow, fashion editor of Tatler magazine. But it was in 1996 that McQueen got arguably the biggest break he would ever have when he was appointed chief designer at the French fashion house Givenchy.
One of his career highlights came in 1996 when he was asked by pop legend David Bowie to design his wardrobe for his forthcoming tours. He also designed the Union Jack jacket worn by Bowie on the cover of his drum and bass album, Earthling.
In 1997 McQueen collaborated with Icelandic popstar Bjork, design the cover for her Homogenic album and directing the video for the single Alarm Call.
In 2009 – the year before he died – he ventured back into the world of pop music again when he was asked by Lady Gaga to design some of the clothes for her Bad Romance video.
Yet by the age of 40, it was all over. On the morning of February 11, 2010, McQueen’s housekeeper arrived at his home in London’s Mayfair to find the designer had hanged himself. A post mortem later revealed that he had also taken a cocktail of drugs, including cocaine, sleeping pills and tranquilizers.