Kensington Mansion Built for Queen Victoria's Treasurer Asks £19M

Kensington Mansion Built for Queen Victoria’s Treasurer Asks £19M

September 16, 2021

Charles Hobbs,

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A historic Kensington mansion now listed for £19 million, or approximately $26.2 million, has an intriguing tale behind its grand facade. Originally built between 1873 and 1875 for Lord de Tabley, Treasurer to the Royal Household and Queen Victoria, the London townhouse represented a fresh start for the noble and may also for a new owner.

While Lord de Tabley is known for his role as the Royal Treasurer, it didn’t end well according to Beauchamp Estates. Being treasurer was no small feat during Queen Victoria’s reign. The monarch sought to keep the Royal household’s lavish lifestyle intact but prime minister William Gladstone called for curbing the spending. Eventually, De Tabley resigned after an argument with the queen over finances and he and his wife were required to leave their quarters in Kensington Palace. A little birdy, or rather developer Sir Charles James Freake, told them he was building homes in Kensington. And here, they started their next chapter.

Located along a stretch of road called Cranley Gardens, the 7,483-square-foot townhouse was designed in the Neo-classical Italianate style by architect Charles Henry Thomas. A brick and stucco quoins façade complete with a Doric portico and first-floor balcony looks out on the communal gardens across. Eight levels sit behind this elegant entry point—a sub-basement, basement, lower ground, raised ground, and four upper floors.

Today, the restored Kensington mansion holds an indoor swimming pool, five bedrooms, and a dazzling array of living spaces. Any number of elite members of society have passed from room to room due to the De Tableys’ hosting. Namely, prime ministers, poet laureates, and subsequent Royal Treasurers.

Beauchamp Estates has brought the pricey listing steeped in history to market.