Brackendene mansion was built around 1900 and bought by Iran in the 1970s during the Shah’s reign, but has been empty since 2010 and branded an ‘eyesore’ by locals
This is the enormous mansion abandoned by the Iranian government in Cheshire’s wealthy ‘Golden Triangle’ which has been labelled an ‘eyesore’ by residents as it deteriorates.
Haunting photographs have shown the dilapidated condition of the mock Tudor mansion which has been left to decay for the past 16 years but could fetch up to £10m. Brackendene in Trafford, Greater Manchester, was once a striking feature of the prosperous, leafy green neighbourhood.
The neglected red brick mansion overlooks the sweeping fields of the Cheshire Plains and is encircled by premium real estate worth millions. It was purchased by the Islamic Middle Eastern nation in the 1970s when pro-western monarch Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi ruled the country.
The mock-Tudor property is cloaked in mystery, but it’s believed some of the grandest parties in the city would occur within the now decaying walls – and at one stage, even their consul-general resided there. Diplomatic and trade discussions as well as social gatherings and banquets are also thought to have occurred there.
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Yet now striking drone photographs reveal its pitiful condition left ransacked, with its once-manicured garden wild and untamed, and windows sealed with boards. Its greenhouse destroyed and outdoor pool covered with algae.
The dilapidated property – which was constructed around 1900 – has been officially unoccupied since 2010, according to Trafford Council. It’s believed its decline began following the Islamic revolution in February 1979, says Amir Barik, a senior lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University.
The revolt resulted in Pahlavi being overthrown and replaced by what would become known as the Islamic Republic, led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who was later declared the country’s first Supreme Leader that December. Subsequent reports suggested the property deteriorated further after a ‘collapse in relations’ in 2005, when Iranian politicians urged the government to sever diplomatic ties with Britain.
Brackendene then fell victim to vandals who defaced it with unsightly graffiti and stripped it of any valuables – much to the dismay of local residents. Local inhabitant Deborah Jeffery said: “People pay a lot of money to live here because it is a quintessential English village.
“I walk past it every day and have often thought what an amazing property and wondered what it would have looked like in its day. It is such a shame how it has been left, as the land around it is stunning.
“It’s just waiting for someone to come along and snap it up and do it up really nice. I do wish they would come along sooner though, as it is an eyesore to the area.”
Other nearby homeowners have also expressed similar desires to see it tidied up and restored to its former glory. In 2011, there appeared to be a breakthrough when it was reported that representatives from the Iranian embassy in London had journeyed to Trafford to discuss the building’s future.
However, tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme escalated and turned violent. Furious protesters stormed the British embassy in Tehran, Iran’s capital, after the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government backed further sanctions. Subsequently, they gave Iranian diplomats 48 hours to exit the country.
During this period, three arson attacks within 11 months nearly destroyed the building – the final incident in 2011 was so severe it caused the upper floors to collapse into the basement. Despite this, council chiefs have taken steps to curb illegal activity with hopes of potentially reopening the building in the future.
The roof and several floors have been repaired following the fires by the Iranian owners, according to Trafford Council. A local estate agent estimates that the house and surrounding land, without planning permission, would be worth around £1.5million.
However, with the right planning and spec build, it could fetch around the £10million mark. Reclaiming the land is not straightforward for the council, as it sits on diplomatic land owned by the Iranian Government. That means the council cannot obtain a compulsory purchase order as they typically would for properties in similar situations.
A compulsory purchase order (CPO) enables a public authority to acquire land without the owner’s consent, according to national housing charity and campaign group Shelter. Trafford Council said it held numerous discussions with the Iranian Government following its closure about the ‘state of the site’ and its ‘long-term use’. It also said it met with the owners on several occasions and ‘stressed’ their concerns while advising on ‘additional measures to secure the site’.
A spokesperson for Trafford Council said: “The former Consul-General’s House and the surrounding land is owned by the Iranian Government and is governed by diplomatic procedures limiting the ability of the Council to intervene. In 2024, we wrote to a representative with regards to the repair of security fencing and on-site brick wall.
“We also discussed the need to urgently find a long term use for Brackendene which is an important building and site in the Devisdale Conservation Area.
“We noted that a number of rebuilding works appeared to have taken place on the site including re-roofing and new floors and we reminded the owners that building regulation approval was required from the Council.
“We have recommended to Iranian representatives that they should seek advice from a planning consultant and submit a pre-application enquiry to the Council so we can advise on any proposed developments they wish to make. We will continue to press the owners of the site to carry out works to make it safe and secure and to commit to a plan regarding the long-term use of the building.”
