When Pink Floyd star David Gilmour and his wife, writer Polly Samson, put their spectacular seafront home on the market last year, they thought there would be a queue of potential buyers for the former ladies’ bathhouse.
I can reveal that the 77-year-old singer and guitarist, whose band’s hits include Wish You Were Here, was forced to slash the asking price by a staggering £5 million.
At a third of the original price, it is believed to be the biggest reduction in Britain since property values began falling a year ago.
However, the property in Hove, East Sussex, is unlikely to come cheap, with the new asking price set at £10 million.
“In the current climate you have to be realistic if you want to sell a property,” one agent tells me.
Beautiful: When Pink Floyd star David Gilmour and his wife, writer Polly Samson, put their seaside home on the market last year, they thought there would be a queue of buyers
Big plans: Gilmour and Samson have faced strong opposition from locals over the property
Dark side of the market: However, the 77-year-old singer and guitarist, whose band’s hits include Another Brick In The Wall, was forced to reduce the asking price by a staggering £5 million
Gilmour and Samson, 61, have had to endure fierce opposition from locals to the transformation of the former Victorian bathhouse, which has views over the English Channel as well as a courtyard garden, a recording studio and ample parking.
It also features an open-plan kitchen, living room, dining room and hallway, as well as a study, library, snug, gym and five bedrooms.
The couple bought the abandoned bathrooms at Medina House in 2015 and finally received planning permission for reconstruction in 2017, despite opposition from residents and preservationists.
Gilmour, who has an estimated fortune of £140 million, and Samson were condemned and their plans were described as “appalling and disrespectful” and were nicknamed “Polly’s Folly”. But in 2018, the bathhouse was demolished and architect Keb Garavito Bruhn was commissioned to design the new residence.
His creation took inspiration from the older building, mimicking its gable and crescent-shaped window at the top. Ceramic tiles that were originally part of one of the pools were retained.
Gilmour and Samson’s main residence is a farmhouse in Wisborough Green, West Sussex, 25 miles away.
“It’s beautiful and sad for us that it took so long and then was completed during the pandemic,” Samson said of the house last month.
“Our children were still children and living at home when we bought the house – and thought we could save the building.”
Going cheap: At a third of the original price, this is believed to be the biggest cut in the UK since house prices began falling a year ago
Uphill battle: Gilmour and 61-year-old Samson endured fierce opposition from locals to the redevelopment of the former Victorian bathhouse overlooking the English Channel
Not happy: Gilmour, who has an estimated fortune of £140 million, and Samson were condemned and their plans were described as “appalling and disrespectful” and were nicknamed “Polly’s Folly”.
Inspired: His creation took inspiration from the older building, mimicking its gable and crescent-shaped window at the top
“Now they’ve flown, so Medina House never had the chance to become our family home.” We have a one-room apartment [also in Hove], which is enough. Now it’s just the two of us.’
She added: “We’ve had so many unforgettable parties here.” It’s great to walk across the beach to swim and then jump back to the house to go to the sauna.
“Sometimes we would jump across the beach with our fishing rods, bring the catch back and then cook it on the fire in the conservatory.”
Ross Ward, of estate agent Pereds, says the reduced price is because Gilmour and Samson are “happy to retain the separate, purpose-built recording studio and ancillary accommodation”.
He explains: “The main property, Medina House, is now offered alone and this is reflected in the quoted price.”
There it is: the property offers impressive coastal views from the top floor windows
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