Notorious madam Cynthia Payne’s brothel, which was a den of iniquity for Britain’s high society in the 1970s, is turned into £400,000 luxury flats

  • In 1978, the first public recognition of this building came from a raid by police that revealed Cynthia Payne’s ‘personal services’ for a few wealthy clients.
  • For 12 days, police kept an eye on Streatham’s Ambleside Avenue house. 249 men, 50 women, were seen entering and leaving the property.
  • They raided the place and took part in sexual activity within. This included vicars, barristers and politicians.
  • Madam Cyn (or as she was known) was convicted at her 1980 trial of running a disorderly household and served four months in Holloway Prison
  • Now her old home has divided into a number of flats costing £399,000 each and are being marketed with estate agents  Marsh and Parsons










A suburban house once owned by notorious madam Cynthia Payne where she ran Britain’s most notorious brothel has been turned into luxury flats on sale for £399,000 each.

Marsh and Parsons divided the large Ambleside Avenue property, Streatham in south London into several flats. They cited the quality of the ‘period convert’ and their close proximity to Tooting Bec Gardens, but failed to mention their association with the notoriously sexy sex den.

Cynthia Payne (above) was known as 'Madam Cyn' and was convicted of running a disorderly house at her trial in 1980 and ended up serving four months in Holloway prison

Cynthia Payne, also known as “Madam Cyn”, was convicted in 1980 of operating a disorderly home. She was sentenced to four months imprisonment at Holloway Prison

Her home in Ambleside Avenue, Streatham, south London, was watched by police in a covert operation over 12 days who saw 249 men and 50 women enter and leave during that time

Police in Streatham watched her home at Ambleside Avenue in Streatham for 12 days. They saw 249 men enter and leave the house during this time.

Now the property that was synonymous with sex and prostitution in the 1970s has been turned into luxury flats

This property was once associated with sex, prostitution and other illegal activities in the 1970s. It has been converted into luxury apartments

The inside has been given a total renovation to create smart apartments in south London for £399,000 each

The inside has been given a total renovation to create smart apartments in south London for £399,000 each

Payne, who was offering ‘personal services’ for a number of wealthy clients in 1978, brought the building to national attention. The house was secretly monitored for 12 days by the police, and 249 men were seen entering and leaving.

They raided the house and found that there were many people involved in sexual activity at Ambleside Avenue. This included a peer, barristers (barristers), ex-political officers, politicians, bank managers, as well as a former leader of an RAF Squadron.

Payne died in 2015 aged 82 and her colourful funeral saw mourners dressed in French maid outfits and as policemen and her coffin decorated with flowers spelling out 'SEX'

Payne, 82 years old, died on May 2, 2015. Her colorful funeral featured mourners in French maid attires as well as officers and flowers inscribed with ‘SEX.’

Contemporary cartoon shows a vicar sleeping with a prostitute. He is confronted and asked by uniformed officers to show his solicitor. He’s in his bedroom right next to mine.

It would emerge that Payne had been charging her elite clientele £25, which was exchanged for a ‘luncheon voucher’ – a token that entitled the bearer to have sex with any of the women in the house.

Madam Cyn was, or as she was called, convicted in 1980 of operating a disorderly home and was sentenced to four months imprisonment in Holloway.

She was not discouraged by the experience and was again raided in 1986. The resulting court case resulted in her being acquitted, but she received so much coverage that it made her a household name. She went on to be a minor celebrity as well as appearing on programs like The Dame Edna Experience.

At 82 years old, she passed away in 2015. Her colourful funeral was attended by mourners wearing French maid costumes and police officers. The coffin was decorated with flowers that spell out “SEX” 

Her old home has been extensively developed internally to create a number of residences, two of which are currently on the market, both at £399,000. Others have already been sold

Her old home has been extensively developed internally to create a number of residences, two of which are currently on the market, both at £399,000. Other properties have been sold.

It is believed that Streatham’s house in Streatham was quickly sold after her death.

It’s since been extensively developed internally to create a number of residences, two of which are currently on the market, both at £399,000. Other residences are believed to be sold.

Marsh and Parsons have been reached out for comments.

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