If these walls could talk! The storied country home of Lady Annabelle Goldsmith, the late English socialite, author and political activist for whom the famous Mayfair nightclub Annabel’s is named, is currently listed with UK Sotheby’s International Realty, and we are in love! Ormeley Lodge is a magnificent Grade II Queen Anne manor house nestled within 2.3 acres just ten miles southwest of central London in Ham. For more than five decades, Lady Annabelle entertained everyone from politicians to Hollywood stars to royalty, including Princess Diana who was a frequent guest along with Princes William and Harry.
Her youngest son Ben Goldsmith says, ““From the moment my mother arrived at Ormeley Lodge in 1976, the magic for her was in its location,” says Ben, 45. “Despite being so close to central London, it is set in an ocean of wild nature that is richer and more expansive than most rural countryside. The house is surrounded on three sides by Ham Common with Ham Common Woods Nature Reserve to the south and beyond that, 2,500 acres of Richmond Park. When my mother walked her dogs every day, she could go in any direction and find outstanding nature. If she saw us sitting around inside she would always urge us to go out and explore. Growing up in such a wonderful place with a mother who instilled a love of nature in us, and was immersed in it herself every day, explains why my brother Zac and I are so committed to conservation.” (source)
Dating to the early 1700s, the residence blends Queen Anne and early Georgian architecture across nearly 15,800 square feet. Embodying both English Baroque and Classical elements, the house includes 10 bedrooms and seven bathrooms, with soaring ceilings, original fireplaces, intricate moldings, and carefully preserved oversized sash windows. The interiors, decorated by the legendary Colefax & Fowler in the 1980s, remain timeless to this day and the epitome of classic English Country Style.
The ground floor has been arranged for both formal entertaining and relaxed family life. A magnificent drawing room and handsome library sit alongside an elegant dining room, while the generous kitchen is served by a pantry, breakfast room and staff room.
Extensive ancillary accommodation, including a wine cellar and substantial storage rooms, ensures the house is as practical as it is impressive, while the grand entrance hall and sweeping staircase provide an unforgettable introduction to the home.
The upper floors offer exceptional bedroom accommodation centred around a magnificent principal suite with its own private study. A second suite benefits from an adjoining dressing room, while the remaining bedrooms provide generous accommodation for family and guests. A self-contained guest apartment with its own sitting room adds further flexibility, allowing the house to accommodate multi-generational living or long-term visitors with ease.
Lady Annabelle’s bedroom is ensconced in Colefax & Fowler’s Roses & Pansies, a favorite chintz of mine. Her bedroom was featured on the cover of The Englishwoman’s Bedroom and in Colefax and Fowler: The Best in English Interior Decoration.
Designer Kathryn M. Ireland, an honorary extended member of the Goldsmith family, recently gave a tour of Ormeley Lodge, and @fenellainteriordesign graciously allowed us to share captured images from the event…
You can take a virtual tour and see additional images via Whitney Robinson @whowhatwhit.
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The estate remains intact, preserving not only the principal residence but also its historic collection of cottages, service buildings and beautifully enclosed gardens. Traditional walled gardens unfold into wide herbaceous borders, wildflower meadows, an orchard and productive fruit and vegetable gardens, while an aviary, secluded south-facing swimming pool with its pavilion and an all-weather tennis court complete this extraordinary private estate. Altogether, the grounds provide an exceptional sense of peace and privacy within one of London’s most sought-after settings.
Ormeley Lodge enjoys an exceptional position immediately beside Richmond Park and Ham Common Woods, placing more than 2,500 acres of Royal Parkland quite literally on the doorstep. Richmond town centre is just a couple of miles away, offering direct services to London Waterloo, the District line and London Overground, together with an excellent selection of independent shops, cafés and restaurants. Petersham Nurseries, The Dysart, Scott’s Richmond and The Ivy Richmond Brasserie are all within easy reach, while the area is also renowned for its outstanding schools and beautiful riverside walks.
Beyond the principal residence, the estate continues with an outstanding collection of ancillary buildings. Positioned next to the main house sits Ormeley Mews, which provides garaging and gardeners’ facilities on the ground floor and a first floor studio flat. Also accessed from the main courtyard is a guest cottage, arranged as two separate flats. Behind this sits the very pretty Ormeley Lodge Cottage which enjoys both a front and rear garden. Next to the Estate and available by separate negotiation, sits Bramlings, a detached 3 bedroom cottage with its own private garden.
Ormeley Lodge is currently listed for £25 million.
For additional information, please contact Robert Swann of UK Sotheby’s International Realty.
Photography courtesy of Sotheby’s, unless otherwise noted.
