Abandoned, Batman’s English mansion (and its secret quarters) is in danger

Abandoned, the mansion from the movie Batman is a legacy of the Rothschild family

Historically known as Mentmore Towers, the 19th-century English mansion was built between 1852 and 1854 for the Rothschild family in Buckinghamshire. The Elizabethan and Jacobean-style property was designed as a country house by Baron Mayer de Rothschild, a banker and fine art collector. Sold at auction by Sotheby’s in 1977, the mansion was inspired by Italian Renaissance interiors and decorated with furniture in gilded styles from the end of the 17th century. Purchased by British businessman and property developer Simon Halaby, the property is slated to be converted into a 171-suite luxury hotel. A ban on building an extension including guest rooms, conference rooms and an XXL spa forced the businessman to halt work. The serious financial problems of Halaby’s real estate empire, due to the collapse of the real estate market, prevent the project and its complete restoration… The mansion is abandoned from 2022.

Considered the largest house of the Victorian era, the 42,500 square meter stone mansion and its formal gardens attract filmmakers from around the world who rent the exceptional property for sci-fi, dystopian or other films.

A mansion seen in various Batman opuses

Located on the outskirts of Gotham City, the opulent estate depicted as Bruce Wayne’s personal residence in the DC Comics comics is a unique possession that has been passed down from generation to generation. The 5-star private hotel has 70 rooms, a helipad, a vast network of underground caves, secret passageways and rooms hidden behind closets or walls, a classic garden and a secluded 7-storey mansion situated on a golf course. The building, which caught fire in 2005’s Batman Begins, is being reconstructed in 2008’s The Dark Knight, and is considered “at risk” by the government from 2021.

Wallpapers, tapestries, sculptures, furniture and ceramics adorn the still desolate space. The rich villa, completely abandoned, retains a fascinating charm despite the defects of the ceiling, dilapidated walls and floors marked by time. A Visit to an Abandoned Mansion: Forgotten Beauty Stands the Test of Time