HATRY’S MANSION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 58, 11 March 1935, Page 6

HATRY’S MANSION

NEGOTIATIONS FOR LEASE. HOME OF A BRIDGE CLUB. Clarence Hairy ’s palatial mansion, No. 5 Great Stanhope Street, Park Lane, London, will probably be a bridge club soon. Almack's Club have been negotiating tor the lease of the house for some weeks, an official of the club stated lately, and were awaiting the final signature to the agreement. Clarence Hatry, the financier, who is now serving a sentence of 14 years, lived at 5 Stanhope Street for four years before his conviction in January, 1930, and in those four years he spent £70,000 on the property. He installed—among other luxurious things

—a swimming bath on the prinicipal bedroom floor, and a. stone-floored Tudor style cocktail bar in the subbasement. Hatry swam, in the bath every morning, summer and winter. In the magnificent oak-panelled lounge peers, politicians, diplomats and bejewelled women once moved as Hatry’s guests. Beyond the Georgian dining room is a 35ft.-long winter garden. On the upper floors are ornate bedrooms, with marble baths, and the ballroom. A gymnasium and glass-floored rock garden overlook Hyde Park. The house was offered ft sale by auction, in 1930, but was withdrawn. The highest bid was £50,00. Almack’s Club is one of the oldest mixed card clubs, and had its headquarter® in Grosvenor Street until 18 months ago, when it moved because of heavy overhead charges.