Patrick Comerford
My visit to churches in Bloomsbury, Fitzrovia and Mayfair earlier this week, included my first-ever visit to the Jesuit church in Farm Street, Farm Street Church or the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, which has been described by Simon Jenkins as ‘Gothic Revival at its most sumptuous’.
Across the street from Farm Street Church, Farm House is a six-bedroom, Gothic-style house at 22 Farm Street that was sold recently sold by Wetherell with an asking price of £11 million.
The four-storey house stands out from its neighbours and is one of the most visually distinct properties in Mayfair. It was built in the Gothic style, with a half-timbered façade, heavy panelling and original Jacobean doors. But, despite appearances, it dates back only to the 1900s, and was originally built for a Mrs M Strakosch, on the site of a former farmhouse, Hay Hill Farm, that stood there before Mayfair was developed.
Mrs Strakosch wanted to create an authentic 16th-century house – even putting in original mediaeval doors and panelling. The oak front door is carved inside and out with the heads of the 12 apostles, and the reception hall was once lined with old Flemish linenfold panelling. Other features that have since been lost include walnut panelling and painted 17th-century wooden wardrobe doors in the main bedroom, and the original stone floors have been replaced with wide, wooden boards.
But the house still has many of the original Jacobean internal doors, including the linenfold panelling in the dining room, and paned windows overlooking the street.
Behind the oak front door, Farm House has 4,560 sq ft of living space over four floors, with potential to increase this to 5,500 sq ft. There is a marble hallway, a 25 ft dining room, a bright kitchen and breakfast room and guest cloakroom. The lower ground floor has a large reception room with a private terrace, a second kitchen, and two guest bedroom suites with adjoining bathrooms.
The first floor has a formal drawing room spanning the entire width of the house. The largest bedroom suite is on this floor. The second floor has three further guest bedrooms and a family bathroom, with a south-facing roof terrace accessed from the third guest bedroom. A private garage is hidden behind stable doors.
Farm House has played host to aristocracy, politicians and socialites for the past century. In the 1930s, the house was owned by Thelma Morgan (1904-1970), Viscountess Furness, a socialite and actor whose identical twin sister Gloria was the mother of Gloria Vanderbilt, the fashion designer and artist.
Thelma was married twice, and was also the mistress of the then Prince of Wales, before he become King Edward VIII. Thelma was also a friend of Wallis Simpson, and introduced her to the Prince of Wales during this time. Both Edward and Wallis, later the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, visited Farm House frequently at this time.
The prince soon ended his affair with Thelma and began his relationship with Wallis Simpson. Thelma then had a short-lived affair with Prince Aly Khan. While she was away in the US, Thelma allowed Wallis Simpson to stay at Farm House where she entertained the future king who would be forced to abdicate.
Later, Farm House was the home of Gloria Swanson, who rented the home from Thelma Furness while she was pregnant, and gave birth to her second child there in 1932.
In the 1950s and 60s, Farm House was used by the US Embassy nearby as a residence for diplomats and visiting dignitaries. It is said President John F Kennedy visited Farm House in 1961 while he was visiting the US embassy in Grosvenor Square.
Next door, at 24 Farm Street, it is said Princess Diana often sought solace and sat alone among the books in the library when the house was owned by her step-mother, Raine Spencer, Countess Spencer. It is also said that she first met Dodi Al-Fayed there. Raine Spencer’s husband, John Spencer, the 8th Earl Spencer, bought 24 Farm Street as a gift for Raine in 1990, to say thank you for her support during his recovery from a stroke.
As I stood outside, I wondered how many people in these houses had ever crossed the street to visit Farm Street Church. But more about Farm Street Church tomorrow afternoon, I hope.
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