Crowning glory for Americans is a 'mini-castle' in Hampstead

Old Conduit House in Hampstead Village, a beautifully restored Gothic Grade II* Listed 5,054 sqft (470 sqm), six bedroom home, built in 1864–1865 in the style of a ‘mini-castle’ with gothic interiors, turrets, arched windows, stained-glass and battlement pediment located on Lyndhurst Terrace has been let by Aston Chase to an American family for £247,000 per annum (£4,750 per week).

The new tenants signed a two-year lettings agreement on the property

 and have paid the first year of the rent up front in order to secure it.

And according to Aaron Bart, Lettings Director at Aston Chase, American interest in property, especially in the St John’s Wood and Hampstead areas, has been boosted by the recent coronation of King Charles.

He said: “Without a doubt all the global publicity around the Royal family and King Charles III’s Coronation has helped to shine a spotlight on this magnificent mini-castle property, the Coronation has generated publicity about the UK and London around the world and showcased Windsor Castle which was the design inspiration for Old Conduit House.”

Inspired by Windsor Castle, Old Conduit House was originally built in 1864–1865 to the designs of architect John Burlison (Sir Gilbert Scott’s chief assistant) aided by Alfred Bell, one of the Victorian era’s pre-eminent makers of coloured stained-glass windows. 

Series of deals

The home was owned by the Bell family up until 1931 when it was purchased by artist and author, Ernest Goodwin who lived there until his death in 1944. His widow remained in the house until 1994 and the novelist Fay Weldon was a frequent visitor and wrote about the house in her 1995 novel Splitting.

Lyndhurst Terrace was built in the 1860’s and was originally called Windsor Terrace, chosen because Windsor Castle (the inspiration for the house) was visible from across the then undeveloped acres of the Conduit fields.

Mark Pollack, Co-Founding Director at Aston Chase says: “This is the latest in a series of deals that we’ve concluded with American clients. Hampstead and St John’s Wood have always been popular addresses with Americans due to the supply of beautiful family homes and the green leafy ambience and sense of community. The two neighbourhoods are particularly appealing to American families wishing to keep their children’s curriculum as consistent as possible which they are able to do thanks to The ASL in St John’s Wood. We have recently seen an influx of American families into London encouraged by the strength of the US dollar against the Sterling.”

In addition to the Old Conduit House lettings deal, Aston Chase has recently transacted circa £50 million worth of sales deals to American families and professionals buying homes in St John’s Wood. In quick succession, six family homes were purchased in St John’s Wood by American buyers.