Inside Newcastle's 'most expensive home' as £20m mansion for sale with 12 bedrooms, cinema and gym

Inside Newcastle's 'most expensive home' as £20m mansion for sale with 12 bedrooms, cinema and gymThe former private school has been transformed into a luxury family home with bedrooms and

bathrooms galore and is believed to be the most expensive property to ever go on the marketBookmarkShareCommentsNewsByCoreena FordBusiness Reporter15:05, 3 JUN 2025BookmarkAn aerial view of

the spectacular property, which is on the market for £20m. (Image: Sanderson Young)

The chance to own one of the most expensive houses ever to go on sale in the North East is up for grabs - if you have £20m to spare.

With 12 bedrooms, eight bathrooms and nine separate living spaces, Jesmond Towers – the former La Sagesse School – is regarded as one of the finest period mansions in Newcastle, set within

six acres of grounds and gardens. For almost 100 years, the property was the centre-piece of the exclusive La Sagesse private school, but for the last 10 years it has served as the most

luxurious family home for North East entrepreneur Jeff Winn, the founder of accident insurance specialist Winn Group.

Mr Winn bought the building in 2013 for £3.6m after former Newcastle United owner Freddy Shepherd agreed a £10m sale of the whole former school site. Since then more than £14m has since been

invested into the opulent pile, creating the most luxurious family home in the city.

Now the house is up for sale and is set to be being marketed around the world to potential buyers. Alongside beautiful bedrooms, dining and lounge areas, the four floors of luxury living

includes a cinema room perfect for marathon movie nights, a dedicated entertainment suite with a fully-stock bar, designed to create a club-like experience.

For wellness and self-care, the lower ground floor has a treatment room, featuring French doors that open directly onto the gardens. Even pets get their own room, with a fully-equipped dog

grooming room, complete with its own external entrance, so muddy paws can be dealt with before entering the main residence.

Jesmond Towers also includes two separate detached lodges, North and South Lodge, and the site forms part of the Jesmond Dene Conservation Area, with stunning grounds, as well as the

beautiful Ouseburn which runs through the land.

The marketing materials by estate agency Sanderson Young say: “The refurbishment of this building has been extensive, from the complete replacement of the main roof to new windows,

completely new services throughout, and internal refitting and interior design, supporting a luxury mansion of the modern 21st Century. State of the art kitchens, bathrooms and lighting

features are common throughout this truly splendid home.

“A Clifford Chapman staircase has been built within the main house and is a fabulous feature of the access to the first floor above. Jesmond Towers is an extremely rare, exciting and

fabulous building, which creates a once in a generation opportunity to own such a very special and unique property.”

The property was originally built in the early 19th Century and was extended in 1817, and then again 1823-27, for its owner Sir Thomas Burdon, who was the mayor of Newcastle and a former

coalmine owner. It was later transferred into the ownership of entrepreneur and builder Charles Mitchell, who enlarged the house further in 1869 and 1884, and it was then bought in 1912 by

The Filles of La Sagesse, who turned it into La Sagesse Roman Catholic School until it closed in 2008.

Duncan Young, founder of Sanderson Young added: “Jesmond Towers is the most magnificent unique and very special residential listing to have been made inside the suburbs of Newcastle city.

The owners have invested over £14m over the last 16 years to create a simply stunning mansion house within its own private six acre park to the north of Jesmond and on the boundary of the

conservation area of Jesmond Dene.

“The house has over 25,500 sq ft of accommodation plus two detached lodges and a former gymnasium which shows great potential for redevelopment to the rear of the site. It’s had a soft

launch regionally and we increase this to national and international marketing later this month. A truly exceptional property!”

One of the lounge areas inside Jesmond Towers

South Lodge, one of the two detached properties within the grounds of the towers.

The stately pile currently houses a huge gym - in what is possibly the most opulent setting in the city, with a vaulted skylight ceiling.

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Fancy owning your own well-stocked bar? Jesmond Towers could be just the ticket.

The cinema room, with plenty of room to host private screenings, which is set on the second floor.

Inside the principal bedroom suite - which has its own sitting area, as well as doors leading to an outdoor terrace.

The owner of the building has invested more than £14m into the property.

Inside the lounge area of Jesmond Towers, which is divided into seating and dining areas.

North Lodge - the second detached property within the grounds.The one bedroom residence is believed to have once served as the original gatekeeper’s lodge for Jesmond Towers.

Lawrenson & Grebby Photography LLP)9 of 13ShareComments

The principal bedroom has a cavernous bathroom, with a deep-set spa bath, a dual walk-in shower and his & hers sinks.A discreet internal staircase also leads to another double bedroom on the

second floor.

The lower ground floor of Jesmond Towers also has a suite of entertainment rooms, including the fully-equipped bar, two full size snooker tables. The bar has been designed to create a

"sophisticated club-like area".

An immaculate kitchen area in the property.

Inside Jesmond Towers which is on the market for £20m.

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