Inventor’s ‘unique’ Isle of Man home sold for £15m

A “unique” country home designed by an inventor has been sold for £15m, thought to be a record price for a residential property on the Isle of Man.

Dr John C Taylor, 88, built Arragon Moar in Santon using Palladian architecture and an elliptical design after buying the land in 2002.

The 23,000sq ft (2,137sq m) property includes an central atrium, cantilever staircase, glass lift and 360-degree roof terrace.

Described by estate agent Cowley Groves as one of the “finest” in the British Isles, managing director Orry-James Creane said: “I don’t know of any open market transaction that is higher than this.”

The 70-acre (28-hectare) estate included three cottages and associated land.

Originally put on the market as a larger estate including a farm for twice the price, the “slimmed-down” version was put on the market with the £15m price tag less than a year ago, Mr Creane said.

However, he added: “I anticipate more houses at this level may come forward and this record may not stand for long.”

Dr Taylor, an expert clockmaker, was educated at King Williams College in Catletown before working in the family business in Derbyshire but retuned to the island in the 1970s.

Although his most famous invention remains thermostat controls for cordless kettles, he has also been a strong promoter of traditional watchmaking.

The 88-year-old said he had chosen to build and elliptical-shaped home “because a circular one would be too easy”.

“I bought the land for Arragon Mooar House in 2002 when it was a derelict farm. I was fascinated by the elevated location with amazing views and its neolithic stone circle,” he said.

Since its construction, the estate has also played host to many special guests, including Professor Stephen Hawking in 2008.

Reflecting on leaving the bespoke property, Dr Taylor said: “Now I’m nearly 89, it’s a perfect time to move to a new home that I can enjoy with my partner, Gayle [Welles].”

He said he intended to continue to live on the island “with a smaller collection of clocks and watches” as he looked to “simplify” his life but continue his passion for promoting the “endangered crafts” of clock and watchmaking through his online museum.

“My aim is to reignite interest in British clock and watchmaking from the golden age of the 17th and 18th centuries.” he said.

“If I can inspire people younger than me to love these mechanical works of art and perhaps learn to be a clock repairer, restorer or maker, this would be an honourable legacy for the Clocktime Digital Museum.”

Although the identity of the new owner has not been revealed, Mr Creane said the person “admires and respects the vision and construction that is there”.

The sale “set a precedent for what a high value house can achieve” on the Isle of Man and would act as a “barometer or a benchmark” for other houses “depending on what they are”.

“It’s uniqueness came down to a lot of worth rather than value – it was either worth it to you, or it wasn’t, so it came down to personal taste,” he said.

“I anticipate more houses at this level may come forward and this record may not stand for long.”