A UK mansion that has gone up for sale used to be the MI6 compound that housed the man second in line to Adolf Hitler at the start of the Second World War. The Daily Star reports that Mytchett Place in Surrey was found with microphone wires in the walls and also has a stunning staircase that Nazi Rudolf Hess threw himself down.
Extensive work has been carried out on the property where MI6 agents held Hess, who had flown to the UK in 1941 to engage in peace talks. Work on the £15 million property includes re-roofing, new plumbing and re-wiring to the 12-bedroom home that also features a three-storey tower.
The mansion, recently used as a commercial space, is in need of complete renovation but comes with huge receptions, at least 11 acres, and marks itself as a strange historic landmark. Hess had convinced himself that Anglo-German relations could be tempered to crush the Soviet Union, and so flew to the UK in the hope of brokering a peace deal with Scottish peer the Duke of Hamilton.
Hess parachuted down into the moors south of Glasgow and was quickly captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London. He was then taken to Mytchett Place, which became known as "Camp Z".
Hitler subsequently stripped Hess of his medals and standing in the Nazi Party, declaring the second-in-line insane. Mytchett Place soon became the most secure prison in Britain and housed just one man, Hess, who spent his days in a luxury bedroom on the first floor of the house.
Psychiatrist Henry Dicks examined Hess after MI6 had interrogated the German official, who was apparently less than impressed by his surroundings, dubbing them as a "detective novel atmosphere". Hess was the only prisoner, surrounded by barbed wire, high fence, armed patrol guards and MI6 agents.
Estate agent Robert Butterworth said: "It has the privacy and seclusion suited to a prime country estate, while being in a well-connected Surrey location. Due to the size of the internal layout, outbuildings and grounds, the possibilities are vast. The race track is perfect for adrenaline seekers and Formula 1 fanatics."
Inquiries about the property are already accumulating. However, a refurb of the property could cost millions, with commitment and deep pockets needed for the potential home owner.
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