A house opposite Highgate cemetery, which was used as a backdrop in The Beatles ‘Mad Day Out’ photoshoot with war photographer Don McCullin is on the market for £3.45 million.
On July 28 1968 the band was recording the White Album (track two a particular favourite) when Paul MacCartney commissioned the legendary photographer to take some contemporary publicity shots of the band.
The Fab Four and photographers toured London, from Cable Street and Limehouse in the east, ending up at MacCartney’s house in St John’s Wood, with their third stop taking place outside this house on Swain’s Lane – the group were aiming for Karl Marx’s tomb but didn’t quite make it.
The Swain’s Lane property was originally built in the 1880s for the superintendent of Highgate cemetery, who could take advantage of its high site to survey the cemetery.
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In the 1960s Modernist architect John Winter bought the house so that he could build himself a new property on the adjacent plot, described by Albert Hill of The Modern House as “one of the very very very few post-War houses to be Grade II* listed.
“It’s a very interesting steel frame house, made of steel and glass and that’s pretty much it. It’s one of the most important California-style houses in this country.”
Winter renovated the Victorian property that’s currently for sale in the 1970s and it was further extended in 2001.
Light and spectacular views abound.
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Highlights of the interior include its front to back reception and dining room with double-height floor-to-ceiling windows leading out to the garden; the first floor sitting room with balcony overlooking Waterlow Park; a master bedroom with views of the City skyline; and the glazed pitched roof in the extension.
themodernhouse.com
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