Chelsea chief eyes £100m house

It began life as the home of a clergyman before a radical transformation sent its value through the roof.

Today, the Old Rectory in Chelsea is available for £100million - making it the most expensive home to go up for sale in Britain.

If it sells for that figure, it will beat the previous record by £30million.

Not surprisingly bearing in mind its value and location, the mansion is believed to have attracted the interest of Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich.

He is said to have bid £90million and then upped his offer to £100million.

The late 19th century property's two-acre garden was once its most valuable asset. But in 1994 the rectory was transformed. A development team, working closely with English Heritage, added two huge wings, housing ten main bedroom suites, and a massive ballroom.

The total floorspace - 30,000 sq ft - is the equivalent to five large family houses and it also boasts a spectacular indoor swimming pool and tennis courts. The mansion-is currently owned by Norwegian-shipping magnate John Fredriksen, who bought it in May 2001 for about £40million.

A self-made billionaire, 59-yearold Mr Fredriksen rose from messenger boy to controlling the world's biggest tanker company, Frontline.

The offer by Mr Abramovich was reported by the Norwegian broadcaster-TV2. But a spokesman for the Russian denied he had bought the property.

The record property price was set in April by steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, Britain's fifth richest man.

He splashed out £70million for 18/19 Kensington Palace Gardens. That property has a ballroom and a gem-encrusted swimming pool.

London estate agent Andrew Langton said it was a mystery whether the Old Rectory was really up for sale.

'It's probably the best home in London,' he said. 'If it is for sale, it would become the most expensive property ever traded in Britain. But Fredriksen certainly doesn't need the money.'