Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Rolling Stone's party palace complete with sauna, pool, Myra Hindley painting and 19 loos yours for £13m

By Ben Todd

Gothic splendour: Holmwood House, with its formal gardens and organic vegetable patch, was home to Jo and Ronnie Wood


Ever dreamed of living like a Rolling Stone? Well, here’s your chance to follow in the footsteps of one of rock’n’roll’s wild men... if you have £13million to spare.

The former home of Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood has been put up for sale by his ex-wife Jo — two years after he famously walked out on her.

The Gothic-style property has more than two acres of land and lies on the edge of Richmond Park in South-West London.

Ronnie and Jo bought the house in 1997 for just under £2million, and over the years it has hosted many lavish parties, dubbed ‘Woodfests’ by Jo. She once said the police would turn up on a regular basis — ‘they always came to tell us off’.

And in these photographs of the property, called Holmwood House, the decadence of the Woods’ rock’n’roll lifestyle is evident.

The mansion has seven en-suite bedrooms over three floors. There is a separate cottage, lodge, garage building and swimming pool house.


Bar-room blues: Ronnie famously used to have a pub in his home in Ireland - but this house settles for a breakfast bar with an eclectic style of its own


Jo, 55, had planned to keep the house after her 23-year marriage broke down when Ronnie, 63, left her for a Russian cocktail waitress in 2008.

But she recently told the Mail: ‘That house needs a big family with lots of kids running around. I don’t use most of it.’

Last night, the property was said already to be under offer.


Greenhouse effect: The vast conservatory is perfect for summer parties - Holmwood House frolics were legendary... with revellers and the police


Kitchen sink drama: The main kitchen - one of three in the property - has a pressed tin ceiling, stone flooring, larder and a walk-in refrigerator


Fit for a lounge lizard: A huge picture of Marilyn Monroe dominates the colourful sitting room, with its wooden floors, elaborate chandeliers and medley of velvet sofas


Oh, what a knight: Live like the lord of the manor with a reception hall that is also the formal living room - and a suit of armour as protection in case you annoy the missus


Make a splash: As well as featuring the obligatory rock star swimming pool, there's also a whirlpool bath, sauna and steam room - perfect for a little off-stage relaxation


Strange bedfellow: One of the three larger bedrooms features Kate Moss depicted as Myra Hindley in her police mugshot in a portrait by British artist Russell Young


Game on: The snooker room has a beamed ceiling, fireplace, and raised seating area. Snooker fan Ronnie was infamously a regular drinking partner of player Jimmy White


Satisfaction en suite: Another of the main bedrooms has a boudoir with a magnificent canopied copper bath - and one of the 19 loos to be found around the house

source: dailymail