Rolf Harris's £4m mansion fails to sell at auction - despite price cut

Rolf Harris's former mansion has been unable to sell at auction - despite the asking price dropping by more than £2million. 

The Berkshire property where the disgraced TV presenter carried out his heinous crimes went on the market almost a year ago for £4million. 

But since then, the house has failed to secure a buyer and was most recently put on offer for £1.95million.

The drastic drop in cost was not enough to tempt buyers, as offers reportedly only went as high as £1.54million.

Auctioneer Andrew Parker is said to have started off strong with the initial offer of £1.95million at an online sale hosted by BTG Eddisons.

However, it is understood he had to quickly drop the bidding to start at £550,000 less than the asking price when no one showed interest.

Offers were then made but only reportedly went up in increments of £10,000, however the reserve price is understood to be at £1.75million, according to The Mirror.

The former children's entertainer was jailed in July 2014 for five years and nine months after being found guilty of a dozen indecent assaults against four young girls. 

His crimes took place between 1968 and 1986, and some of these assaults occurred inside his Berkshire home.

In one instance it was reported that Harris sexually assaulted one of his daughter's friends when she was aged between 13 and 19.

He was said to have performed a sex act on her while his daughter slept in another room at the family home.

In likely reference to the connection of Harris and the assaults, the auction listing said, per The Mirror: 'Prospective buyers are advised that there is a sensitive matter regarding this lot. Please contact us for further details.'

It added: 'The property would benefit from modernisation and the site may offer scope for redevelopment, subject to planning permission.' 

The auctioneer reportedly also highlighted the size of the living/dining room, the master bedroom and the balconies that overlook the rover. 

However, the mansion has largely fallen into disrepair during the year it has been on the market, perhaps another off-putting feature for potential buyers. 

Photos show the house in Bray covered in moss with some of the walls decaying. 

Rust has taken over the front gate, which is hanging off its hinges, while some of the windows appear cracked too. 

In 2017, the neighbours of the convicted paedophile were reported to be putting their multimillion-pound riverside properties up for sale after Harris returned home from prison.

Join the debate

Should notorious criminals’ former homes ever be given a second chance on the property market?

Comment now

A year earlier, Harris's riverside home was pictured receiving a makeover as thousands of pounds were spent renovating the mansion in preparation for his return.

Workmen were seen replacing a large patio and the Berkshire home's drive was also dug up and the back garden was revamped. 

In May 2023, an undertaker's private ambulance was photographed outside his home after Harris died there aged 93 on May 10. 

Estate agent Brian Warren, of Warren Property Matters, told The Sun that the property would need up to £2million in renovations to make it liveable.

He said: 'Because of what's attached to it, there's not many people that would go in there and refurb it would they?

'It's got the stigma attached to it. Who's going to buy it?'

He added that the property was only fit to be demolished and rebuilt. 

Harris's mansion sits in a village popular with celebrities such as Sir Michael Caine, Heston Blumenthal and the late Sir Michael Parkinson, who have all reportedly lived there.

The house was modelled after Harris's childhood Australian house in Perth, Western Australia.   

Harris rose to fame in his early 20s when he moved to England, became an art student and found work in television at the BBC, performing a regular ten-minute cartoon drawing section in a children's show - Jigsaw.

He went on to illustrate Harbin's Paper Magic programme in 1956 and quickly became a regular on other BBC television shows.

Harris moved back to Australia in 1959 and tried his hand as an actor, before inventing the wobbleboard - and used it in his song 'Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport'.