Tragic banker’s gutted mansion on sale for £3m
This magnificent Tudor mansion and 131-acre estate has just come on the market for a knockdown price of £3 million.
But on closer inspection, thick foliage is growing out of the windows of the derelict Dorset pile — for the house hides a terrible tragedy.
This was the former home of investment banker Michael Treichl which was destroyed by fire one year ago.
Treichl bought Grade i-listed Parnham in Dorset in 2001 for £4 million and spent £10 million restoring it.
Then in April last year it was burnt down — and police accused Treichl, 68, of starting the blaze.
Tragically, he committed suicide while on police bail.
Now the sale of the property is being instructed by receivers, acting on behalf of the mortgage lender, royal bank Coutts & Co.
‘The house suffered catastrophic fire damage in 2017 and is completely derelict, requiring total restoration,’ say agents Knight Frank.
They are selling the burnt- out façade, re-designed by 18th-century architect John Nash who worked on Buckingham Palace.
Austrian- born Treichl’s widow Emma, 55, has moved to a property nearby. ‘she is quietly rebuilding her life,’ says a friend.
There was speculation Treichl’s hedge fund business was in trouble which led him to burn down the house.
In 2014, he took out a mortgage on Parnham and last December probate documents revealed he left just £10,000 of assets.
It was never explained who had let thoroughbred horses belonging to his wife, a former Vogue model, out of their stables, allowing them to escape the blaze. Emma and their four children had been on holiday in France. Before his death Treichl said that it would cost a lot more than Parnham was insured for to rebuild it. But it is thought insurers will not pay a penny when there is a suspicion of arson.
Designer John Makepeace, who sold the house to Treichl, is not optimistic his former home will sell quickly. ‘It was on the market for four years before I bought it,’ he said. ‘Not many people need 80 rooms.’