Once the holiday home of Indian shipping magnate Sir Dhunjibhoy and Lady Bomanji, the sprawling property has been shrouded in the mists of time since their passing. Share this article Share this article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy link Link copied Bookmark this Comment
Once the epitome of grandeur and luxury, Pineheath House is now a spookily abandoned 40-room mansion that has been untouched for nearly four decades.
Once the summer residence of Indian shipping magnate Sir Dhunjibhoy and Lady Bomanji, this sprawling estate has now been frozen in time following their deaths.
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Today, the mansion contains historical artifacts, some of which date back to the 1920s: the beds are still neatly made, the walls are decorated with portraits, and dolls rest on pillows.
Pineheath served as the autumn residence of Sir Dhunjibhoy and Lady Bomanji.
In recognition of his significant financial contribution to Britain's victory over Germany in World War I, Sir Dhunjibhoy was knighted in 1922, the Mirror reports.
A supporter of charity, Sir Dhunjibhoy donated significant amounts to charitable causes throughout his life.
Its main beneficiaries were organizations supporting World War I veterans and the widows of those who did not return from the front.
The couple, who had close ties to the British aristocracy, including the royal family, spent the summer months at their residence in Windsor.
Each year they spent a third of their lives in India, then returned each autumn to Pineheath, near Harrogate in Yorkshire.
Lady Bomanji maintained this tradition until her death in 1986, nearly half a century after the death of her husband, Sir Dhunjibhoy.
Since her death, the estate has been beautifully preserved, offering a fascinating insight into the lives of Britain's wealthiest families.
Several rooms in the 40-bedroom mansion retain original 1920s wallpaper, furniture and fittings.
Drawers and cabinets are filled with newspapers dating back nearly a century, as well as invitations to some of the most exclusive social events dating back to the 1970s.
Priceless chandeliers hang from the ceilings of numerous buildings, and many rooms contain dusty and rusting relics of a bygone era.
The residence also provides a rare opportunity to see the interactions between wealthy people and their domestic servants.
The mansion still has a rusty telephone system, now covered in dust from long disuse. It was once used to call servants to meet the needs of the owners.
The kitchen is a testament to its time: a gas heater is installed above the sink to heat water, and an old coffee grinder is attached to one of the walls.
A box filled to the brim with carefully labeled keys provides access to various areas such as suitcases, a tennis pavilion and numerous rooms.
The chairs in the morning room, hard and creaky from years of disuse, remain in their original places, while the bedspreads still adorn the beds in the servants' room, where a mirror hangs on the wall.
Portraits of the home's owners and Her Majesty the Queen feature prominently on the walls, and one of the master bedrooms has its own vintage-style shower room.
The walls of Pineheath House are adorned with magnificent hand-painted wallpaper and the ceilings are carved with the initials of Sir Dhunjibhoy and Lady Bomanji.
In the bathrooms, antique soaps sit in elegant bowls, untouched for years, and kitchen scales are covered in dust from long disuse.
The large bar is stocked with cocktail and sherry glasses and an open, unsmoked packet of tobacco lies nearby.
Sourse: www.express.co.uk
