Main Line Monday: $22.5 Million Villanova Estate Includes Clock Tower Guest House

All TREND photos via Realtor.com

Did you balk at the price? We did it too until we heard this: Albermarle was once part of the historic Ardrossan Estate.

Once a 700-acre expanse boasting close to thirty buildings (not to mention the occupancy of Hope Montgomery Scott, the socialite who inspired the the character Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story) Ardrossan was a vaunted property more noted than other Main Line mansions. Today, only 311-acres remain of its original tract, 71 of which now belong to the township. From the Main Line Times:

The township bought 71 acres of the 311-acre Ardrossan Farm property for open space, closing on the $11.6 million deal late last year. The remainder of the property will become an upscale housing development, although developer Edgar “Eddie” Scott III promises to preserve much of the interior land as “investment lots” so the new homeowners can enjoy magnificent views of the rolling countryside.

So what of the other 400+ acres? Long story short, the land was divided and sold off into individual parcels, most of which–like Albermarle–are now probably mansion estates.

When it was part of Ardrossan, Albermarle had served as the stable portion, which explains the restored stone barn that is now a cool two-story space with wet bar, radiant heat floors, and reclaimed wood. In addition to that outbuilding and the main house, the property has two-story stone twin guest houses and a refurbished stone clock tower building (the clock dates back to 1917!) with preserved vintage glass windows.

THE FINE PRINT
Beds: 8
Baths: 9 full, 4 half
Square feet: 6,395
Price: $22.5 million

All TREND images via Realtor.com.

Listing: 770 Godfrey Rd, Villanova, PA, 19085 [BHHS Fox & Roach-Haverford Stn]