Stanley Kubrick's former $13.5 million estate home hits market

News.com.au

4 days ago

Stanley Kubrick's former UK home has just hit the market for a blockbuster price: nearly $US9 million ($A13.9 million).
The eight-bedroom Hertfordshire estate, known as Abbots Mead, is located on Barnet Lane in Elstree, just outside London. It's being marketed by Savills, the New York Post reports.
And for serious film buffs, this isn't just any country manor — it's a shrine to cinematic history.
The late 'The Shining' director, born in New York, bought the property in 1965 and spent 14 intensely productive years there. He died in 1999.
Due to its close proximity to Elstree Studios, the reclusive auteur was able to manage everything from production and editing to pioneering special effects — all without leaving his leafy 2-acre compound.
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'We're very fortunate to have the privilege of selling many great houses that have a rich and varied history,' Steven Spencer, head of office at Savills Rickmansworth, said in a statement.
'However, it's rare for somewhere to have such a direct link to filmmaking unless it's been used as a location for shoots.'
Mr Spencer added, 'The close proximity to Elstree Studios made it the perfect base for Kubrick and his family, but he also worked a lot from home — carefully managing all aspects of four films from his extraordinary body of work from within its four walls.'
Nestled behind wrought iron gates and marked with a commemorative blue plaque, the manor exudes stately charm and old-school opulence.
It features ornate cornices, soaring ceilings, marble fireplaces, a carved staircase and a drawing room that opens to a sun-drenched conservatory.
The main suite comes complete with a bay window, a dressing room, and his-and-hers bathrooms.
There are also five more bedrooms on the top floor, plus a studio for any film buffs hoping to follow in Kubrick's footsteps.
But the estate doesn't end there: a detached lodge with its own four bedrooms and private garden sits on the grounds, along with a two-bedroom apartment perched above a separate garage.
Outside, manicured gardens give way to a wisteria-covered pergola, a pool, a pool house with a sauna and even a small orchard.
'Quite apart from its history, Abbots Mead is a handsome period house in its own right,' said Mr Spencer.
'Well-proportioned rooms provide generous family space with a sense of grandeur, while mature trees at the garden boundaries ensure plenty of privacy and are the perfect backdrop to a beautiful setting.'
And while it may feel like a world away, the property is a quick commute to London thanks to nearby Elstree and Borehamwood Station.