This is the huge mansion abandoned by the Iranian government, which has been branded an ‘eyesore’ by locals as it continues to fall into disrepair.
Eerie images reveal the crumbling state of the mock‑Tudor mansion, which has been left to rot for the past 16 years but could be worth up to £10million.
Brackendene, on Charcoal Road in Bowdon, Trafford, was once a stunning fixture in the affluent, leafy area.
The forgotten red‑brick mansion looks out onto rolling fields and is surrounded by prime real estate worth millions.
The property was bought by the Iranian government in the 1970s, at a time when the pro‑Western monarch Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi held power.
The mock‑Tudor building is shrouded in mystery, but it is believed some of the biggest parties in the area once took place inside its walls — and at one point, even Iran’s consul‑general called it home.
Diplomatic and trade meetings, as well as social functions and banquets, are also thought to have been held there.
Dramatic drone images now show the property’s sorry state, having been left looted, with its once‑manicured gardens overgrown and windows boarded up.
Its greenhouse has been smashed and the outdoor pool swamped with algae.
The decrepit building — which was built around 1900 — has officially been empty since 2010, according to Trafford Council.
However, it is thought its fall from grace began following the Islamic Revolution in February 1979, according to Amir Barik, a senior lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University.
The uprising saw Pahlavi toppled and replaced by what became known as the Islamic Republic, led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who was later announced as the country’s first Supreme Leader that December.
It was later reported that the property fell further into ruin following a ‘collapse in relations’ in 2005, after Iranian politicians called for diplomatic ties with Britain to be cut.
Brackendene was then plagued by vandals, who covered it in graffiti and stripped it of valuables — much to the disgust of locals.
Local resident 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 it must have been 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 nicely.
“I do wish they would come along sooner though, as it is an eyesore to the area.”
Other nearby homeowners have also expressed similar frustrations, calling for the site to be cleaned up and restored to its former glory.
In 2011, there appeared to be a breakthrough when it was reported that Iranian embassy representatives from London had travelled to Trafford to discuss the property’s future.
However, tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme later boiled over.
Angry protesters ransacked the British embassy in Tehran after the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government supported further sanctions.
Following this, Iranian diplomats were given 48 hours to leave the UK.
In that time, three arson attacks within the space of 11 months almost destroyed the building. The final incident, which happened in 2011, was so severe that it caused the top floors to collapse into the basement.
Although work has since been carried out by council chiefs to limit illegal activity, hopes remain that the property could be reopened in the future.
According to Trafford Council, the roof and several floors have been restored following the fires by the Iranian owners.
One local estate agent said the house and surrounding land, without planning permission, would be valued at around £1.5 million.
However, with the right planning consent and development, it could be worth closer to £10 million.
The council faces significant challenges in taking control of the site, as it sits on diplomatic land owned by the Iranian government.
This means Trafford Council cannot issue a compulsory purchase order, as it typically would for properties in similar circumstances.
A compulsory purchase order (CPO) allows a public authority to acquire land without the consent of the owner, according to national housing charity Shelter.
Trafford Council said it has held a number of discussions with the Iranian government since the site’s closure regarding the condition of the property and its long‑term use.
The authority said it has met with the owners on several occasions, stressing concerns about the site and advising on additional measures to secure it.
A Trafford Council spokesperson said: “The former Consul‑General’s House and the surrounding land is owned by the Iranian Government and is governed by diplomatic procedures that limit the ability of the Council to intervene.
“In 2024, we wrote to a representative regarding the repair of security fencing and the on‑site brick wall.
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“We also discussed the urgent need to find a long‑term use for Brackendene, which is an important building and site within 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 reminded the owners that building regulation approval was required from the Council.
“We have recommended that Iranian representatives seek advice from a planning consultant and submit a pre‑application enquiry so we can advise on any proposed development.
“We will continue to press the owners to carry out works to make the site safe and secure and to commit to a long‑term plan for the building.”
The Iranian government has been approached for comment.
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