A heritage home in the UK that was once an abode of the Nobel Laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore is being sold for £2,699,500. Tagore had lived at No 3, Heath Villas in Hampstead Heath, north London, for a few months in 1912 while he translated his collection of poems ‘Gitanjali’.
If buyers are able to adhere to the intensive procedures of buying this blue plaque property, even the West Bengal government might be able to bid for buying the house and possibly be able to convert it into a memorial of Tagore.
Blue Plaque is a round blue sign attached to the facade of a building to commemorate its historical significance, typically giving the name of a famous or eminent person who once lived in or near the building.
During her debut trip to London, Banerjee had said, “My government is keen to buy the house where Tagore lived. Tagore is our pride. It is a private property and, therefore, I have asked our high commissioner (Ranjan Mathai at the time) to see if we can strike a deal.”
However, she was reportedly unable to do so.
“The property, valued at an estimated £2.7 mn a few years ago, had also featured in discussions during the West Bengal Chief Minister’s previous visit to London in 2015,” Hindustan Times reported.
Interestingly, Land Registry shows that the current homeowner bought it in 2018, which is almost one year after Banerjee showed interest in the property for the last time.
Speaking to Asian Voice, Philip Green of Goldschmidt and Howland (a leading London Estate Agent selling houses in Hampstead Since 1888), who is dealing in the sale of this property said, “We started recently this year when the client decided to sell the house.” He also clarified that none of the current or previous owners have met Tagore.
When asked if the West Bengal government can buy this property, and turn it into a museum or a memorial, Mr Philip Green said,
“In Hampstead there are many historic homes and we have English Heritage blue plaques on houses where famous people have lived.
“If any government of any country wants to buy the property and turn it into a museum they have to get the normal consent,” referring to all the due diligence or planning permissions etc they will need to acquire.
