Buyers are being offered the ultimate in Churchill memorabilia with the opportunity to purchase the first bachelor pad of iconic British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.
Listed for sale for the first time in 10 years, the elegant apartment at 105 Mount Street became the London pied-à-terre of Winston Churchill (1874-1965) in August 1900 when Winston, then aged 25, leased the property from his cousin Charles ‘Sunny’ Spencer-Churchill, the 9th Duke of Marlborough.
Churchill had previously been living at his mother’s (Lady Randolph Churchill) house at 35A Great Cumberland Place in Marble Arch, so 105 Mount Street became his first independent home.
Situated on the doorstep of the famous 5-star Connaught Hotel, the Mayfair apartment is located in a grand pinkish-buff terracotta mansion block designed in 1888 by architect Sir Ernest George in an Early Renaissance style.
BASE FOR POLITICAL CAREER
Picture credit: Yousuf Karsh
The Mayfair apartment provided a base for Winston Churchill when, after making his name as a soldier and war correspondent, he launched his political career, being elected to the Houses of Parliament as the Conservative candidate for Oldham in October 1900. Churchill eventually went on to become British Prime Minister in 1940 during the Second World War and he served as an MP for more than 60 years until 1964.
Winston Churchill lived at 105 Mount Street from 1900 until 1905, before moving to Bolton Street.
During this period, he entertained political associates, family members and various friends at the apartment, with the interiors furnished by his maternal aunt Leonie Blanche Jerome.
MEALS ON WHEELS
Photo Credit: Wetherell
The adjacent hotel The Connaught, then known as The Coburg, would deliver meals to nearby Mayfair residences including to Churchill’s apartment building at 105 Mount Street.
It is believed that the hotel’s ultra-posh “take away service” helped give the young Winston his lifelong love of Pol Roger champagne, Hine rare cognac, oysters, steak and kidney pie and roast beef and Yorkshire pudding.
In October 1900, whilst living at 105 Mount Street, Churchill published Ian Hamilton’s March, a book about his experiences in South Africa during the Second Boer War. In February 1901 Churchill took his seat in the House of Commons where his maiden speech criticising the Boer War gained widespread coverage.
DOOMED AFFAIRS
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Whilst at 105 Mount Street Churchill pursued a string of doomed affairs including with the society beauty Pamela Lowden, then in 1903 American actress Ethel Barrymore, and finally, when he was 30, heiress Muriel Wilson.
In May 1904 Churchill opposed the Government’s proposed Alien’s Bill, designed to curb Jewish immigaration. This marked the first steps in Churchill’s lifelong political support of the Jewish people and his belief in the importance of the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
The year 1904 was also significant because the 29 year old Churchill met the 19 year old Clementine Hozier (his future wife) at a Mayfair ball held at Crewe House on Curzon Street (now the Saudi Embassy) hosted by the Marquess of Crewe, though they did not meet again for four years. In March 1908 they met again at a Mayfair dinner party hosted by Lady St Helier and in the September of that year they married.
LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL
In 1905 Churchill published his two-volume biography of his father, Lord Randolph Churchill, for which he received an advance payment of £8,000 (equivalent to the sum of almost £826,000 today). The advance payment and the royalties from the books enabled Churchill to purchase a house at 12 Bolton Street in Mayfair, the first home he owned in his own right.
Now the bachelor pad of Winston Churchill at 105 Mount Street, is available for sale for the first time in 10 years. Beautifully modernished with a luxurious specification the second floor apartment is immaculately presented and has high ceilings throughout.
DOUBLE HEIGHT WINDOWS
The apartment has nine double height windows overlooking Mount Street, with views towards Mayfair’s prestigious Connaught Hotel, from which Churchill used to enjoy takeaways (the hotel still provides takeaways such as pizzas to local residents).
Photo Credit: Wetherell
The apartment’s bright and elegant reception room sits in the middle of the lateral apartment and has a corner bay window and a feature fireplace. It is here that the young Churchill once entertained guests such as Lord George Hamilton, Secretary of State for India, Lord Percy MP and Sir Arthur Stanley MP.
Photo Credit: Wetherell
The large principal bedroom suite, which was formerly Churchill’s bedroom, has a bay window, ample built-in bespoke mirrored wardrobes and an ensuite shower room. In Churchill’s day the ensuite had a small bathtub.
When Churchill lived at 105 Mount Street the second double bedroom was used as his breakfast room and dining room. It now provides an ample bedroom suite with built-in wardrobes and an ensuite.
Photo Credit: Wetherell
There is also a separate kitchen, located off the entrance hall, with white built-in cupboards, white stone worktops and flooring, integrated Miele appliances and glass fronted display cabinets.
When Churchill lived in the apartment the kitchen was the domain of Georgina Landemare, who was his cook from the early 1900s up until 1954 when she retired.
Churchill was particularly fond of Georgina’s roast beef and Yorkshire pudding and consommé soup and he once said to her “it is well to remember that the stomach governs the world.”
The apartment building at 105 Mount Street is complete with a passenger lift and caretaker/porter.
Photo Credit: Wetherell
The ground floor of the building is home to the famous Sautter cigar shop which displays some of Churchill’s favourite cigar brands and other memorabilia in homage to Sir Winston Churchill who once lived above the shop.
The 1,087 sq.ft. two bedroom Mayfair apartment is available for sale through joint sole selling agents Wetherell and Clifton Property Partners.
ULTIMATE IN MEMORABILIA
Peter Wetherell, Founder & Executive Chairman of Wetherell, says: “Buyers are being offered the ultimate in Churchill memorabilia with the opportunity to purchase the first bachelor pad of iconic British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill located on Mount Street in the heart of Mayfair.
“Homes lived in by Sir Winston Churchill always generate significant interest and we anticipate this elegant apartment in the heart of Mayfair will attract many discerning potential buyers from around the world.”
EXCLUSIVE URBAN VILLAGE
Hugo Miller, Associate – Sales & Residential Development at Clifton Property Partners, adds: “The former Mayfair pied-à-terre of Sir Winston Churchill is a charming and beautifully presented lateral apartment located in central Mayfair on Mount Street.
“Mount Street and its surrounding streets and gardens make up the most exclusive urban village in London where international luxury brands sit alongside heritage craftspeople and Michelin star dining.
“The fashion boutiques of Bond Street are just a short walk away across Berkeley Square and the green expanses of Hyde Park and Green Park are also within close walking distance.”
105 Mount Street is listed for sale priced at £3,750,000 (long leasehold, approximately 110 years unexpired).
