Albury House

King George III held his coronation banquet in here. The rooms have 64 mantelpieces by Robert Adams. The gothic tower on the right, the facade and the  63 chimneys, each of which is unique, are all the work of Augustus Pugin, better known for his interiors in Westminster Place and the Houses of Parliament.

Albury mansion is mentioned in the Domesday Book but, the house has changed greatly over the centuries and will have no similarity to the original dwelling. Although the mansion sits in the Albury Park, it's no longer part of the estate.

The Country Houses Association bought it in 1955 and converted into apartments for retired people.  It was featured in a Channel 4 program, about 5 years ago, called Country House Rescue and was one of their failures.  The owners went bust for a number of millions of pounds! 

There was an incredible house sale where they sold everything from the candles to the chandeliers.  If it was screwed to a wall but you were prepared to give a little something for it, the screwdriver appeared from a pocket. People were even digging up plants from the garden! 

Now, once again in the hands of the builders, it is being converted into flats. I hope to get in soon for a sneak preview!