The Richmond home of the late socialite and author Lady Annabel Goldsmith, Ormeley Lodge, has been listed for sale at £25 million. The Grade II*-listed property, which sits on the edge of Richmond Park, was Goldsmith's residence for more than 50 years and hosted numerous A-listers, royals, and political figures.
Princess Diana, a friend of Goldsmith, was a regular visitor, and it was at Ormeley Lodge that she famously confronted Camilla Parker-Bowles about her affair with then-Prince Charles. The estate is being marketed by Knight Frank and UK Sotheby’s International Realty.
History and Architecture
Built in the early 18th century, Ormeley Lodge had a series of distinguished residents before Goldsmith and her husband James, a financier and politician, purchased it in the 1970s. These included Charles Townshend, former Chancellor of the Exchequer; MP Sir John Sinclair; and David Fane, Master of the Horse for Queen Elizabeth II.
Goldsmith had reluctantly sold her Chelsea home, Pelham Cottage, and was seeking a new property. She wrote to Lord Howard de Walden, the then-owner, who confirmed he was planning to sell. Upon visiting, she wrote in her memoir, Annabel: an Unconventional Life: “Ormeley, a large red-brick Queen Anne house, was as magical as I had remembered and when I saw the glorious cedar tree that dominated the lawn, I knew that I would never find a more perfect place to bring up children. I lost my heart to the place instantly.”
Features and Gardens
The 10-bedroom main house spans nearly 12,000 square feet, along with two extra flats, a studio, garage and gardener’s store at Ormeley Mews. The property sits on 2.3 acres of gardens, including a tennis court and a swimming pool with a pavilion. The interiors were designed by Colefax & Fowler, featuring traditional country house decor with rugs, draped curtains, and rich patterned fabrics.
Outside, there is an orchard, a kitchen garden, wildflower meadows, and extensive walled gardens. Notable designers include Arabella Lennox-Boyd, who created the formal knot garden, and Mary Keen, who conceived the ornamental lawn and planting. The gardens have been opened to the public annually as part of the National Gardens Scheme.
A Social Hub
Goldsmith, namesake of Annabel’s nightclub on Berkeley Square, hosted lunches, dinners, and annual summer parties that became staples of the British social calendar. Guests included Princess Alexandra, Kate Rothschild, David Frost, Hugh Grant, and Imran Khan. Princess Diana visited most weekends, using the estate as a sanctuary.
Goldsmith died in October last year at age 91. The Goldsmith family commented: “Ormeley Lodge has been our much-loved family home for 50 years, the setting for countless happy memories. We now feel the time is right to pass the property onto its next custodian, and we hope it will be enjoyed and cherished as much as it has been by our family.”
Paddy Dring at Knight Frank said: “The sale of Ormeley Lodge represents a rare chance to acquire not only a remarkable residence, but also a part of British cultural heritage. Lovingly maintained over the past 50 years, we expect the property’s unique history to resonate strongly with discerning buyers around the world. Opportunities to secure a house of this size and character, surrounded by such established, picturesque and expansive gardens in a London setting are very uncommon, so it is certainly an exciting proposition for any prospective owner.”
