An urban explorer has taken photos of a once magnificent mansion that was used as the background for blockbuster Hollywood movies, including Batman Begins.
Mentmore Towers, built between 1852 and 1854 for the Rothschild family in the village of Mentmore, in Buckinghamshire, is seen practically derelict and with a collapsing roof in a series of photos taken by the Instagram account @places-forgotten.
This sprawling house features an early 16th- and early 17th-century revival of Elizabethan and Jacobean style and was initially created to display Baron Meyer de Rothschild’s large fine art collection.
With its grandiose furniture and extravagant architectural details, it was the ideal location to film films like Mummy Returns featuring Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, and Rachel Weisz.
Mentmore Towers (pictured), were built for the Rothschild family, which was located in Mentmore.
Christian Bale steps down from Mentmore Towers, in Batman Begins
Now, you can see it practically abandoned and covered in a falling roof. These photos were taken by Instagram user @places-forgotten.
Eyes Wide Shut’s iconic scene shot in Mentmore Towers vaulted hall
It features a large home that reflects the revival of Elizabethan, Jacobean styles from late 16th-early 17th century (Pictured : The Vaulted room featured in Eyes Wide Shut).
This mansion was famous for its grandiose furniture and extravagant architectural details.
Some may recognize parts of this property as Wayne Manor. This was the residence of Bruce Wayne, who starred in Batman Begins in 2005. (Pictured, Library with secret areas behind the bookcases.
It was also used as the background for Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, Philip Kaufman biographical film Quills. In 2002 it was also the residence of Chequers at Ali G Indahouse.
The vaulted hall used in Stanley Kubrick’s 1999 epic Eyes Wide Shut starring Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise can also be clearly seen in the images.
Others may recognise parts of the property as Wayne Manor, the home of Bruce Wayne in the 2005 film Batman Begins, starring Christian Bale.
The pad also provided the backdrop to Terry Gilliam’s Brazil, Philip Kaufman’s Marquis de Sade biographical film Quills and as the PM’s residence Chequers in Ali G Indahouse in 2002.
And even the Spice Girls visited in 1998 to film the music video for Goodbye, following in the footsteps of other artists, including Roxy Music, Mike Oldfield and Enya.
However after a deal to turn the site into a hotel fell through, it now lies derelict and crumbling, with water pouring through the roof, some of which has now collapsed.
In fact, it is now languishing on English Heritage’s ‘At Risk’ register, with its condition described as poor and there being ‘immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric.’
Much of the house’s parkland was sold off in 1944 but the house remained in the family until the mid 1970s when the contents were auctioned and it was sold to the Maharishi Foundation, which plugs meditation.
But in 1999 it was purchased by investor Simon Halabi who planned to turn it into a hotel, however the plans fell through and it has been empty ever since.
The house would have had 171 suites and 122 rooms in the new wing located below it.
However, the plans were delayed when a resident demanded a judicial review.
However, the challenge was met but the 2008 financial crash in the world saw the project fail.
Mr Halabi – once worth £3 billion and once Britain’s richest man – then declared bankruptcy in 2010 and the property has fallen into decay ever since.
Photographs of the house by an urban explorer/photographer show its sad decline.
The ceilings of the kitchen have been flooded with water, while wallpaper is falling off walls. Tapestries can still be found in certain rooms.
The main hall still has grand furniture, as seen in Eyes Wide Shut’s orgy scene. Large entertaining spaces are also covered with gold leaf.
It was abandoned after a plan to make it a hotel collapsed. Water is now pouring through its roof (pictured).
English Heritage lists the house as ‘at risk’. It is in poor condition and at immediate danger of being destroyed or lost.
Simon Halabi bought it as a property to be turned into a hotel. But plans collapsed and it is now vacant.
The sad condition of this manor house is evident in photographs taken by an urban explorer as well as a photographer
The red carpet is running through the hall of Mentmore Towers, a once magnificent stone walled building
You can see old furniture and clothes stuffed in one of these rooms, as well as the Mentmore Towers.
Photographer @placesforgotten captured the scene inside the house. He said that “sadly now most of the it is falling apart” and needed to be gutted, which is a terrible shame.
The ceilings are crumbling. It is difficult to envision how anyone can do anything because it would be too costly.
“There’s a secret library behind the bookcases. It was in the Batman movie.
“It is sad to think about its history, and the filming that has taken place there. It’s a lovely house.”