The exterior of the main residence. Roman Caprano/Sky Blue Media An 1,100-acre equestrian estate in Upperville, Virginia, is on the market for $27. 5 million.
Known as Llangollen, the property dates back to 1795 and originally had a 320-square-foot house. In the 1930s, Llangollen was used to host horse-racing competitions that drew 20,000 spectators. Llangollen, a historic estate in Upperville, Virginia, that dates back to 1795, is on the market for $27.
5 million. The exterior of the main residence. Roman Caprano/Sky Blue MediaListed in the National Register of Historic Places, or NRHP, in August 2017, the 1,100-acre estate is located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
In addition to the main 12,500-square-foot manor, there are 17 other buildings on the grounds. The house is owned by Donald Brennan, the former head of Morgan Stanley Capital Partners, Bloomberg reported in 2019. He bought the residence in 2006 for $22 million.
“When I first saw Llangollen, it struck me as just magical. Never before had I seen a structure which was so comfortable in its setting,” Brennan told Insider via the listing agent, Peter Leonard-Morgan with Sotheby’s International Realty. Brennan first put the house up for sale in August 2019 for $34 million, listing records show.
Over the next two years, its price was incrementally cut down by $6. 5 million, bringing it to its current price of $27. 5 million.
The median listing home price in Upperville, Virginia, is $1. 7 million, per Realtor. com.
There are currently nine single-family homes for sale, and Llangollen is the most expensive listing in the area. In the 1930s, the estate was used as a horse-breeding and racing facility. An old image showing famous historical figures at the Llangollen estate in the 1930s, including Alben Barkley and Bing Crosby.
Provided by Sotheby’s International RealtyAt the time, Llangollen was owned by multimillionaire John Hay Whitney, who bought the estate for his then-wife, champion horse rider Liz Tippett, per the NRHP. Whitney served as the president of the Museum of Modern Art and was the US ambassador to the UK from 1956 to 1961. “The Whitneys had a copy of the English Grand National course, Aintree, built at Llangollen,” Leonard-Morgan told Insider.
“It was where they would host the Llangollen Cup, when upwards of 20,000 spectators attended and entrants competed for a $5,000 prize. ” Under the Whitneys, the estate was transformed into a place where high society would gather. The estate has hosted some rich and famous faces, including singer Bing Crosby and former vice president of the US, Alben Barkley.
The main residence has undergone four major renovations since 1795. One of the living areas in the residence. Roman Caprano/Sky Blue MediaInitially a one-and-a-half-story patent house that was “built to establish title to the land,” the manor has been expanded over the years by different owners, per the NRHP.
“The immediate impression when visiting Llangollen was of a significant historic house which has been brought back to its former glory,” Leonard-Morgan said. “The sheer size of the property, at 1,100 acres, just 50 miles west of the nation’s capital, is impressive in itself. ” Most of the home’s original elements have been retained and restored.
The original patent house is now the breakfast room. The original 1795 patent house. Roman Caprano/Sky Blue MediaThe patent house was built at the intersection of the four land parcels, which became Llangollen, Leonard-Morgan said.
It was referred to as a patent house because it was built to formalize ownership of the property. The kitchen has been updated with modern appliances and features a U-shaped island counter. The kitchen.
Roman Caprano/Sky Blue MediaBrennan previously told Bloomberg that he spent an estimated $10 million updating the home, which included modernizing the kitchen. Outside, he added three polo fields and a polo arena. The staircase was designed for the previous owners using wood from walnut trees on the property, Leonard-Morgan said.
The grand staircase leads from the entrance of the main residence. Roman Caprano/Sky Blue Media”Rumor has it that the previous staircase was the inspiration for the 1939 film, ‘Gone With The Wind,’ due to the fact that the owner between 1930 and 1940 — John Hay Whitney — was also a major financier of that movie,” he added. Whitney was the cofounder of Selznick International Pictures, which bought the movie rights to ”Gone With the Wind” and produced the film, per Whitney’s New York Times obituary.
The future owners can use the property for certain types of commercial activities, including a bed-and-breakfast, although it is subject to regulation. The dining room. Roman Caprano/Sky Blue MediaThe property is under a conservation easement, which limits the use of the land, Leonard-Morgan said.
However, some activities are still permissible as long as they don’t break the terms of the easement — such as subdividing the property into lots of less than 100 acres each. “A B&B would likely be acceptable as long as no billboards and advertising signs are erected and that the existing house and tenant houses only are used for such a purpose,” he added. The nine bedrooms in the house are all decorated with different carpets and drapes.
One of the bedrooms in the house. Roman Caprano/Sky Blue MediaSeven permanent staff members are required to maintain the house and its grounds, Brennan told Bloomberg in 2019. There are eight full bathrooms in the house.
One of the bathrooms in the house. Roman Caprano/Sky Blue MediaSource: Sotheby’s International RealtyThe wood-paneled library comes with built-in shelves and a fireplace. The library.
Roman Caprano/Sky Blue MediaSource: Sotheby’s International RealtyThe owners are planning to sell Llangollen because they own multiple other properties. The office. Roman Caprano/Sky Blue Media”The owners were splitting their time between Llangollen and their New York and Florida homes, hence the decision to search for its next stewards,” Leonard-Morgan said.
Outside, there’s a horseshoe-shaped stable as well as numerous outbuildings that were once staff quarters. The Horseshoe Stable. Roman Caprano/Sky Blue Media”There is still a 5/8-mile training track and some 90 horses on the estate, however it is primarily polo which has been the focus since the current owners moved in in 2007,” Leonard-Morgan said.
The estate was also home to the Virginia International Polo Club, which was founded by Brennan’s daughter, Maureen. Read the original article on Insider.
From: insider
URL: https://www.insider.com/historical-equestrian-estate-llangollen-virginia-listed-photos-2022-8
