Manchester United player Ryan Giggs paid £1.9 million in 2004 for a Victorian mansion in Worsley, near Manchester, only to knock it down and build this enormous lego block-style home in its place.
Giggs’ new six-bedroom property consists of a glass tower, indoor swimming pool, private gym, and sauna and steam room
Top: the Victorian home Giggs demolished and, bottom, its replacement
IT was once a beautiful Victorian mansion in a picturesque village, home to a popular author of romantic novels.
Then, to the anger of some local residents, the 100-year-old house was bulldozed - to make way for this gigantic sprawl of red-brick buildings.
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It looks like it could be modern offices. In fact, it is the expensive new home of multi-millionaire footballer Ryan Giggs.
The Manchester United winger paid £1.9million for the mansion and is estimated to have spent between £3million and £4million to have it knocked down and his new home put up.
Conservationists had pleaded with the £75,000-a-week player not to ruin the genteel ambience of the village of Worsley, Greater Manchester.
What has emerged is the huge building pictured above, with glass tower, gym and an indoor swimming pool with a Welsh
dragon design laid into red, white and green tiles at the bottom.
The house also has a sauna and a steam room and all six bedrooms will have ensuite bathrooms. There is a four-car garage, a tool room and a large terrace.
The star is expected to move in with his partner Stacey Cooke, 27, and their threeyearold daughter Liberty when the gardens have been landscaped.
Some residents claimed Giggs's vision of 21st century living is far removed from the gracious house it replaces.
One said: 'To put it into the words of a well-known critic of modern architecture, this house is a carbuncle. It is appalling and shows a total lack of understanding
and sympathy for the village and its heritage. This red-bricked monstrosity should never have been built in this spot.'
A neighbour said: 'We are more than happy Ryan has moved into the area but I must say the house is absolutely huge.
'It's just a shame the old place had to be knocked down because it was a piece of local heritage and had been well kept.'
The original mansion, built in 1901 and said to be haunted, had tapestry carpeted walls and was the home of Mills and Boon authoress Mary Wibberley.
When Giggs's plans were unveiled, the novelist said: 'What a waste of a beautiful house that was in a beautiful condition.'
But Giggs has promised to retain one feature - the sundial will be installed on the front elevation of his new home.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-398473/Home-Giggs-6m-carbuncle.html#ixzz1aOFyEpU6
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