Lord Byron’s Mayfair Mansion Is Up For Sale

By Martha Davies

5 months ago

Poetry and property – what could be better?


While there’s no shortage of jaw-dropping homes in Mayfair, this one might just take the cake. Formerly owned by Lord Byron, it’s a rare gem – and we’ve got all the details.

Lord Byron’s Mayfair Home Is Up For Sale

Casa E Progetti/Tony Murray

As a famed Romantic poet and socialite, Lord Byron was known for his raucous parties, and there’s certainly no better place for a lavish soirée than 139 Piccadilly: this Grade II Listed townhouse contains seven reception rooms and up to eight bedroom suites alongside a magnificent leisure complex in the basement.

The property’s illustrious history is evident in its period features – think ornate ceiling work, original fireplaces and a cantilvered Portland stone staircase in the entrance hall – while its interiors have been designed by award-winning firm Casa E Progetti. You’ll find a courtyard garden terrace on the lower ground floor and ornamental balconies on the level above, but you can expect plenty of modern luxuries, too (perhaps the most impressive being a passenger lift, which serves every floor of this huge home).

Casa E Progetti/Tony Murray

Built in 1760, the property was first inhabited by William Douglas, the 4th Duke of Queensberry. It was extensively refurbished after the Duke’s death in 1810, and Lord Byron moved in with his wife in 1815 (though the pair divorced a year later following rumours of Byron’s infidelity, and he chose to leave London soon after). 139 Piccaddilly was then let – ostensibly to fund its owner’s hedonistic lifestyle – until his death in 1824. It was eventually purchased in 1910 by Baron Emile Beaumont d’Erlanger and his wife, who entertained an array of prominent figures including W.B Yeats and even Winston Churchill.

Casa E Progetti/Tony Murray

After World War II, however, 139 Piccadilly was adapted for commercial use and in fact served as a private members’ club. It was also previously used as office space, but the future owners now have the chance to decide what happens next, as full planning permission is in place for the property to be converted back into a private residence if required.

Fancy getting your hands on this one-of-a-kind home? It’s on the market with Wetherell  for a whopping £29.5 million…

Casa E Progetti/Tony Murray

wetherell.co.uk