Popes Villa

Twickenham, Middlesex, TW1

KnightFrank.co.uk

Popes Villa

Cross Deep, Twickenham TW1 4QG

On the instructions of The Independent Educational Association Limited Grade II* listed former school building located in a stunning position on the bank of the River Thames, with wonderful views towards Richmond Park Potential for continued educational uses, or alternative uses subject to the necessary consents
N Central N M3

London (Marble Arch) 11 miles (Junction 1) 5 miles N M25 (Junction 12) 10 miles N Twickenham Rail Station (London Waterloo 23 minutes) N Distances and times are approximate only
N N

Buildings: 34,108 sq ft / 3168.7 sq m (GIA) Total Site Area: 1.192 acres / 0.483 ha

Freehold for sale with vacant possession, as a whole or in three lots: Lot 1 - Main School building. In all 0.575 acres Lot 2 - Car park. In all 0.227 acres N Lot 3 - Land. In all 0.390 acres
N N

020 7861 5426

55 Baker Street, London. W1U 8AN institutional@knightfrank.com

Knight Frank

A View of Alexander Pope's Villa, Twickenham, on the Banks of the Thames by Samuel Scott, 1759.

Location
N

The school building sits in an excellent location on the west bank of the River Thames, as it flows through the London Borough of Richmond on Thames between Kingston and Richmond. It is accessed from Cross Deep, a road which parallels the river. Pope's Villa sits between the river and the road.

Twickenham is an attractive and highly sought after residential location with shops, bars and restaurants located in the town centre. There are a number of private schools in the vicinity, and also the shopping centre of Richmond located less than 2 miles away. The character of the immediate area is largely residential and the property benefits from its proximity to large open spaces with Ham Fields, Richmond Park and Kew Royal Botanic Gardens all located close by. Central London is just 11 miles distant and easily accessible via the A361 and the A4. The M3 (Junction 1) is 5 miles distant, and the M25 (Junction 12) is 10 miles distant, providing fast access to the rest of the national motorway network. In terms of public transport, communications are good with Twickenham Rail Station less than 1 mile away and Richmond Underground Station (District Line) less than 2 miles away, both providing a frequent service to London Waterloo with a fastest journey time of approximately 20 minutes. Heathrow is the nearest airport, approximately 5 miles away.
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Auditorium

History
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Alexander Pope (1688 1744) was a famous eighteenth century English poet and satirist, best known for his translation of Homer. Pope chose this location in Twickenham to construct his Palladian-style riverside mansion (Popes Villa) in 1719, where he also created his famous grotto and gardens.

In 1807 the property was demolished and a new house built on the site of the villa. Following its use as private residences, the property was subsequently known as St Catherines Convent. Much of the grotto still survives beneath the current building, which was purchased by the current owner for use as a School in 1996. The original Pope's Villa has featured in a number of famous paintings such as JMW Turners painting entitled Pope's Villa at Twickenham. The School currently provides an education for boys between the ages of 11 and 18. In 2010 it had 302 pupils, 17 of whom were boarders.

Popes Villa was separated from his main garden by the road (Cross Deep) and in October 1720 Pope obtained a licence to construct a tunnel under the road to connect the two. The tunnel led out of the basement of the villa where, in the central section, Pope made his first grotto. He decorated the grotto lavishly with alabaster, marbles and crystals.

Popes Villa Lot 1 (0.575 acres)

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Popes Villa comprises a four and part-five storey building of largely nineteenth century origin, in an Arts and Crafts style. The property has been extended over the years, however it has retained a wealth of period features. The property is roughly split into three sections: the southern part of the property comprises the boarding house with offices and classrooms, and the Chapel built in a Gothic style; the central section is a neo-Tudor former convent building comprising classrooms, kitchen and refectory, housemasters flat and a clocktower; and the northern section is of an Arts and Crafts style and comprises a gymnasium and further classroom accommodation and science laboratories.
Floor Lower Ground Ground First Description Classrooms, refectory, kitchen, art studio, WCs Classrooms, Chapel, gymnasium, oces, WCs Classrooms, library, pupil accommodation, WCs and showers Second Classrooms, science laboratories, pupil accommodation, house masters accommodation, WCs and showers Third Pupil accommodation, sta room Total 110.9 3168.7 1,194 34,108 647.3 6,967 634.7 6,832 1074.4 11,565 701.4 7,550 Sq M Sq Ft

Chapel

Town Planning
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Land on Grotto Road Lot 2 (0.227 acres) & Lot 3 (0.390 acres)
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The property operates primarily as a day school (Class D1 of the Use Classes Order) with an element of residential accommodation. Residential schools fall within Class C2 of the Use Classes Order. It is therefore a mix of these two uses. Any prospective school operator operating with the same broad parameters of the current school could do so without resort to the planning system. The School land lies within a Conservation Area, both elements of the site contain Grade II* Listed Structures and the main School buildings are curtilage listed. The land forms part of a Grade II Historic Park and Garden. The School buildings have the local Building of Townscape Merit designation.

The planning history would seem to impose two significant restrictions on the school, first the limit of 320 pupils on the school roll and secondly, the limit on the Grotto Road car park to 16 vehicles. The property is offered for sale freehold with vacant possession. The freehold title is registered at the Land Registry under title number TGL88288. There are restrictive covenants on the freehold title. Please refer to the Land Registry documentation on the dedicated website.

Tenure
N

A short distance (200m) from the main school site is a rectangular shaped plot of land which is used for staff car parking. The eastern part is hard-surfaced and used for parking, whilst the remainder is grass and scrubland with some small trees.

GROUND FLOOR

POPES VILLA
APPROXIMATE GROSS INTERNAL FLOOR AREA 3168.7 m (34,108 ft)

Popes Grotto

LOWER GROUND FLOOR

THIRD FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR

These plans are for guidance only and must not be relied upon as a statement of fact. Attention is drawn to the Important Notice.

Library

Grotto Road car park Lot 2

Science Laboratory

Classroom

Charities Act
N

The sale of the property is subject to the provisions of the Charities Act.

Lotting
N N N

Services
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Lot 1 - Main School building. In all 0.575 acres. Lot 2 - Car park. In all 0.227 acres. Lot 3 - Land. In all 0.390 acres.

Further information
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Further information on the property is available including

N Bid Procedure Title Information N Planning Statement N This Brochure N Floorplans N EPC This information is available from the dedicated website: www.inst.knightfrank.com/view/villa The password is: pope

It is understood that mains water, electricity, gas and drainage are available to the property, although it will be the responsibility of the purchaser to ensure they are available and adequate for any future use of the site.

Statutary authority
N

London Borough of Richmond, Civic Centre, 44 York Street, Twickenham, Middlesex, TW1 3BZ. Tel. 08456 122 660.

Method of sale
N

VAT
N

Contact

The freehold of the property is available for sale. Please see the dedicated website for the bid procedure document. The property is available for sale as a whole or in a combination of three lots, as per the Lotting Plan.

We are advised that the property is not elected for the purposes of VAT. However, the vendors reserve the right to deselect the property for VAT purposes at any stage.

Should you wish to discuss the property in further detail or to arrange a viewing, please contact: Morgan Allen BSc (Hons) MRICS, Surveyor, Knight Frank LLP 55 Baker Street, LONDON, W1U 8AN, United Kingdom. Tel +44 (0)20 7861 5426 morgan.allen@knightfrank.com Emma Cleugh BSc (Hons) MRICS, Partner, Knight Frank LLP 55 Baker Street, LONDON, W1U 8AN, United Kingdom. Tel +44 (0)20 7861 5427 emma.cleugh@knightfrank.com Luke Ellwood, Partner, Knight Frank LLP 5 Duke Street, Richmond, TW9 1HP. United Kingdom. Tel +44 (0)20 8939 2801 luke.ellwood@knightfrank.com

Lotting Plan

Important notice

1. Particulars: These particulars are not an oer or contract, nor part of one. You should not rely on statements by Knight Frank LLP in the particulars or by word of mouth or in writing (information) as being factually accurate about the property, its condition or its value. Neither Knight Frank LLP nor any joint agent has any authority to make any representations about the property, and accordingly any information given is entirely without responsibility on the part of the agents, seller(s) or lessor(s). 2. Photos etc: The photographs show only certain parts of the property as they appeared at the time they were taken. Areas, measurements and distances given are approximate only. 3. Regulations etc: Any reference to alterations to, or use of, any part of the property does not mean that any necessary planning, building regulations or other consent has been obtained. A buyer or lessee must nd out by inspection or in other ways that these matters have been properly dealt with and that all information is correct. 4. VAT: The VAT position relating to the property may change without notice. Photographs Dated: April 2010. Particulars Dated: April 2010. Knight Frank LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England with registered number OC305934. Our registered oce is 55 Baker Street, London, W1U 8AN, where you may look at a list of members names.

Knight Frank