Mansion which appeared in hit films Batman Begins and Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut is captured by urban explorer’s pictures in a heartbreaking state of decay as it languishes on English Heritage’s ‘At Risk’ register
- Mentmore Towers built between 1852 and 1854 in Mentmore, Buckinghamshire
- Originally created as display case for Baron Meyer de Rothschild’s art collection
- Family sold it in 1970s and plan to turn it into a hotel by latest owner fell through
A once glorious mansion used as the backdrop for Hollywood blockbusters – including Batman Begins and Eyes Wide Shut – has been captured in a sad state of decay in a series of photographs taken by an urban explorer.
Mentmore Towers, built between 1852 and 1854 for the Rothschild family in the village of Mentmore, in Buckinghamshire, is seen practically derelict and with a collapsing roof in a series of photos taken by the Instagram account @places_forgotten.
The sprawling home features a revival of late 16th and early 17th century Elizabethan and Jacobean styles and was originally created as a display case for Baron Meyer de Rothschild’s huge fine art collection.
Its grandiose furnishings and lavish architectural details made it the perfect filming location for films, including the Mummy Returns, starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz.
Mentmore Towers (pictured) was built between 1852 and 1854 for the Rothschild family in the village of Mentmore, in Buckinghamshire
Actor Christian Bale walks down the steps of Mentmore Towers in Batman Begins
It is now seen practically derelict and with a collapsing roof in a series of photos taken by the Instagram account @places_forgotten (Pictured: The vaulted hall used in Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut)
An iconic scene from Eyes Wide Shut was filmed in the vaulted hall of Mentmore Towers
The sprawling home features a revival of late 16th and early 17th century Elizabethan and Jacobean styles (Pictured: Vaulted room used in Eyes Wide Shut)
The mansion’s grandiose furnishings and lavish architectural details made it the perfect filming location for flicks (Pictured: A living room adorned with gold leaf detailing)
Others may recognise parts of the property as Wayne Manor, the home of Bruce Wayne in the 2005 film Batman Begins, starring Christian Bale (Pictured: Library with secret rooms behind the bookcases, which featured in the film)
The pad also provided the backdrop to Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, Philip Kaufman’s Marquis de Sade biographical film Quills and as the PM’s residence Chequers in Ali G Indahouse in 2002
Mentmore Towers was bought by Syrian-born property tycoon Simon Halabi, 63, in 1997.
He had plans to turn the £25million estate into Britain’s first ever six-star luxury hotel.
It would have featured 171 suites, including 122 in a new wing on the slope below the house.
But the plans were delayed after a local resident pushed for a judicial review of the planning permission.
The challenge was defeated but the global financial crash of 2008 saw the project stall.
Mr Halabi – once worth £3 billion and once Britain’s richest man – then declared bankruptcy in 2010 and the property has fallen into decay ever since.
In 2007, Halabi appeared on the Sunday Times Rich List and owned the city headquarters of JP Morgan, Aviva and Old Mutual.
His property portfolio included a £3million house in Mayfair, the Naval and Military Club in Piccadilly and a chateaux in France.
He also owned a fleet of Bentleys and Rolls Royce Phantoms, a 130-ft yacht and a vineyard in France.
He was also one of the original developers of the Shard, but pulled out after a disagreement with business partners.
However, the tycoon fell on hard times during the credit crunch before he was declared bankrupt in 2010.
He failed to pay back a £56million bank loan and was later sued for divorce by his Lithuanian born wife Urte.
The vaulted hall used in Stanley Kubrick’s 1999 epic Eyes Wide Shut starring Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise can also be clearly seen in the images.
Others may recognise parts of the property as Wayne Manor, the home of Bruce Wayne in the 2005 film Batman Begins, starring Christian Bale.
The pad also provided the backdrop to Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, Philip Kaufman’s Marquis de Sade biographical film Quills and as the PM’s residence Chequers in Ali G Indahouse in 2002.
And even the Spice Girls visited in 1998 to film the music video for Goodbye, following in the footsteps of other artists, including Roxy Music, Mike Oldfield and Enya.
However after a deal to turn the site into a hotel fell through, it now lies derelict and crumbling, with water pouring through the roof, some of which has now collapsed.
In fact, it is now languishing on English Heritage’s ‘At Risk’ register, with its condition described as poor and there being ‘immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric.’
Much of the house’s parkland was sold off in 1944 but the house remained in the family until the mid 1970s when the contents were auctioned and it was sold to the Maharishi Foundation, which plugs meditation.
But in 1999 it was purchased by investor Simon Halabi who planned to turn it into a hotel, however the plans fell through and it has been empty ever since.
The hotel would have featured 171 suites, including 122 in a new wing on the slope below the house.
But the plans were delayed after a local resident pushed for a judicial review of the planning permission.
The challenge was defeated but the global financial crash of 2008 saw the project stall.
Mr Halabi – once worth £3 billion and once Britain’s richest man – then declared bankruptcy in 2010 and the property has fallen into decay ever since.
Pictures of the manor house taken by an urban explorer and photographer show the heartbreaking state of its decline.
Water has come through ceilings in the kitchen quarters while wallpaper has shrivelled and is falling from walls and tapestries are still clinging on in some rooms.
However, grand furniture still remains in the main hall – seen in an iconic scene in Eyes Wide Shut – and huge entertaining rooms are covered in gold leaf.
After a deal to turn the site into a hotel fell through, it now lies derelict and crumbling, with water pouring through the roof, some of which has now collapsed (pictured)
The home is now languishing on English Heritage’s ‘At Risk’ register, with its condition described as poor and there being ‘immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric’
In 1999 it was purchased by investor Simon Halabi who planned to turn it into a hotel, however the plans fell through and it has been empty ever since (Pictured: Grandiose hallway which has featured in several blockbuster films)
Pictures of the manor house taken by an urban explorer and photographer show the heartbreaking state of its decline
A red carpet runs through a stone-walled hallway of the once glorious Mentmore Towers
Clothes and old furniture can be seen stuffed inside one of the rooms and the now derelict Mentmore Towers
The photographer who snapped the scenes inside the house and runs the Instagram account @places-forgotten, said: ‘Sadly now most of it is falling apart and needs gutting, which is such a shame.
‘Ceilings are falling down. It’s hard to see how anyone will be able to do anything with it because it would cost too much money.
‘There is a library with secret rooms behind bookcases. I recognised it from the Batman film.
‘It’s sad when you think of its history and what has been filmed there as it is such a beautiful house.’
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