Inside The Forgotten Crumbling Mansion That Was Once The Love Nest Of Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel and the second Duke of Westminster once shared a passionate love affair in a grand manor house in the Scottish Highlands. The place had naturally been the epitome of glamour, class, and style. But fast forward a century, and the now-crumbling mansion is a mere shell of its former self. But it's not completely forgotten. As two intrepid urban explorers pushed through its decaying spaces, though, they found eerie remnants of a world gone by. And the artifacts left behind told a bizarre story of their own...

Glory days of the Rosehall Estate

The manor – known as the Rosehall Estate – is located in the achingly romantic Scottish Highlands. You’ll find it in the village of Invershin, to be precise. And you need only take a look around to see why the lovers may have fled there. The miles of the breathtakingly beautiful countryside would have lent a seemingly much-needed sense of privacy for two public figures.

An idyllic Location

Chanel and her lover would have been able to experience some of the best that Scotland has to offer while staying at Rosehall, too. Within driving distance of the mansion, you’ll find rolling hills and beautifully weathered beaches. And there’s also the Royal Dornoch Golf Club, which was first established in 1877. The designer was known to have picked up a few golf clubs in her time, so there’s a chance she may have played there during her stays.

Rich and famous guests

And if the walls could speak, we bet they’d have some compelling stories to tell about what went on inside. After all, the couple’s notoriety meant that they entertained many VIPs. In 1927, for instance, Winston Churchill was invited to stay at Rosehall when he wasn’t in the best health. Though no stranger to the good life, Churchill was taken aback by Chanel's lavish lifestyle at Rosehall.

Churchill's view of Chanel

The letters that the future prime minister wrote his wife at the time provide a fascinating insight into the day-to-day life at the manor. Of Chanel, he said, she “fishes from morn till night, and in two months has killed 50 salmon. She is very agreeable – really a great and strong being fit to rule a man or an Empire.”

A sad state

Unfortunately, though, Rosehall wasn’t destined to welcome throngs of guests into its rooms forever. In fact, the manor now lies totally abandoned. And it’s only urban explorers who seem to be brave enough to venture inside. Luckily, some have shared their trips online, letting us in on the amazing discoveries that have been made within. This includes the remnants of Chanel’s trailblazing tastes.

Rags to riches

Because by the time Chanel was designing her wealthy lover’s grand Scottish mansion, she’d come a long way from her somewhat unfortunate start in life. Her father had sent the young Gabrielle – nope, her real name isn’t Coco – to an orphanage when she was just 12 years old. Yet it was here that Chanel first picked up sewing.

The signature scent

After Chanel left the orphanage, she began to use her newfound skills to start her empire. She also fell into intense relationships with two wealthy men: Étienne Balsan and Captain Arthur Capel. And through their luxurious lifestyles and financial support, the designer was able to successfully launch her first hat store in 1910. Then, 11 years on, the fashion icon brought out her first signature scent: Chanel No. 5. That smash success opened new doors for her.

Red flags

Before long, Chanel became acquainted with the suitor who brought her to Scotland. She first ran into the Duke of Westminster, who was otherwise known as Hugh Grosvenor, in 1923 while on vacation in Monte Carlo. The designer obviously wasn’t bothered by the fact that he’d already been married twice and was instead drawn to his poise and handsome features.

"Proportions of a catastrophe"

The Duke’s immense wealth didn’t seem to worry Chanel, either. But then again, why would it? It seems she rather liked just how rich he was, writing “wealth of such magnitude ceases to be vulgar. It is beyond all envy and assumes the proportions of a catastrophe.” And Chanel soon experienced that wealth firsthand — though even she couldn't have predicted the luxury that awaited her at Rosehall.

The Flying Cloud

Within 48 hours of their first meeting, Chanel was invited to dine on the Duke’s lavish yacht, the Flying Cloud. It was one of the biggest privately owned yachts in the entire world at the time. We can only assume the designer was impressed by its luxury – and by Westminster, of course – as the pair subsequently started seeing each other romantically.

Fashion statements

Chanel was by now one of the most famous and influential women in the world. After the designer and the Duke attended a racing event together, for instance, photographers captured how she’d fastened a belt around the coat she was wearing. And it didn’t take long for women everywhere to start doing the same. All eyes were on Chanel, though no one adored her more than her loving Duke.

Coco's Choice

As it turns out, the relationship between Chanel and Westminster wasn’t just a fling. The Duke divorced his wife in 1926, and the designer also demonstrated her commitment by picking the Duke above another potential lover. Despite being such a trailblazing figure for the era, she apparently told friend Claude Delay, “I chose the one who protected me best.”

Rich beyond measure

Let’s face it: the Duke of Westminster’s immense wealth may have also played a role in Chanel’s decision. He was pretty much the Jeff Bezos of his era, after all. Apparently, if you’d have wanted to explore his entire country house in the northwest of England, it would have taken something in the region of 15 hours. Crazy, right? Plus, the Duke also owned properties in London and France. And we mustn’t forget the aforementioned yacht, of course.

Showered with gifts

It will perhaps come as no surprise, then, that the Duke apparently used to present Chanel with lavish treats. He would reportedly send her huge baskets containing foods that you’d struggle to find at the store – such as strawberries and fresh salmon. And rumor has it that one day, a servant emptying one of these crates found a giant emerald jewel under the goods.

Quite spoiled indeed

Another time, one of Chanel’s household staff members allegedly opened the door to a bunch of flowers that was so big that it was difficult to see the Duke standing on the other side. And even though these tales should probably be taken with a pinch of salt, it can certainly be said that the designer was living in the lap of luxury at this point in her life.

Multiple homes

What we can be sure of, though, is that the Duke was rather generous with his properties. Towards the beginning of his affair with Chanel, for instance, Westminster let her stay in his residence in Mayfair, an upmarket London borough. He also gifted the designer land on the French Riviera – on which she built a beautiful villa. And then, of course, there’s the couple’s luxurious Scottish love nest, Rosehall.

Rebuilding

Rosehall has an impressive history. The first mansion on the site actually belonged to Richard Dunning, the second Lord Ashburton. And to help with the transportation of building materials, he ordered a canal made that connected the estate to the nearby River Oykel. Sadly, the whole place caught fire in 1817 – not all that long before Lord Ashburton himself passed away. As a result, a new dwelling had to be built.

A massive property

Thankfully, workers were able to salvage bits of the old, destroyed house in order to construct the new one. And this time, they made it bigger and better. By the end of the restoration, the Rosehall Estate boasted five different buildings, extensive accommodation for the servants, a subterranean network of tunnels and a huge garden with a lake.

Bold choices

For Chanel and the Duke, Rosehall was meant to be merely a vacation home. But that didn’t stop the designer from wanting to put her own stamp on the decor. She selected beige for the walls, for instance. And while that doesn’t sound all that remarkable today, the color would have been a big departure from the traditional style.

Scotland's first bidet

That wasn’t all. Chanel had beautiful French wallpapers hung up in the sleeping quarters, and she hired the finest artisans to create and fit new fireplaces. Plus, the designer even put what may have been the first bidet in the whole of Scotland into one of the house’s bathrooms. She really was on the cutting edge of every trend!

A prime vacation spot

Even though the couple entertained many guests at Rosehall, it seems only Winston Churchill provided a written account of his stay that survives to this day. Aside from revealing how taken he was with Chanel and her fishing skills, the future prime minister’s 1927 letter to his wife summed up why the estate made such a great vacation spot.

Then and now

Churchill wrote, “This is a very agreeable house in a Highland valley. Well-equipped with salmon, trout and snipe. The air is most exhilarating, keen and yet caressing. It is quite different to England.” But while the beautiful surroundings have managed to stand the test of time, the same can’t be said for the stylish corridors of Rosehall.

Falling into disrepair

When you consider the mansion’s exquisite history – an interior designed by none other than Coco Chanel and bedrooms that Churchill would have slept in – it’s certainly a shame that the grounds have been left to deteriorate. The amount of upkeep in the mansion's heydey must have been staggering. And as for Chanel and the Duke’s whirlwind romance, that, too, fell into a state of disrepair.

Conflict of interest

The Duke, it seems, didn’t enjoy spending time with Chanel’s creative acquaintances, struggling to engage in their topics of conversation. Westminster apparently wasn’t all that happy when Chanel spent time on her vocation, either. And as the designer’s career was such a large part of her identity, it’s perhaps no surprise that she turned down his marriage proposal with the words, “There have been many Duchesses of Westminster but only one Chanel.”

Consumed by nature

And so after numerous heated rows, the couple’s decade-long relationship came to an end – as did Chanel’s visits to the Scottish love nest. The Duke wed again in 1930, but Chanel never took a husband. Unfortunately, Rosehall was gradually left to deteriorate. It has remained empty since 1967 – and has been taken over by mold and dry rot.

Adventurers sneak inside

But the mansion’s somewhat eerie exterior hasn’t put off urban explorers from taking a look inside. Their footage gives a glimpse of what Rosehall must have been like in its glory days. The YouTube channel Samandjessexplore paid a visit in 2020, and as they made their way through the decaying manor, they discovered numerous relics and reminders of the house’s luxurious past.

Old mementos

Not long after entering, the YouTubers found a wine bottle sitting on a shelf in what appeared to be some sort of storeroom. The vial wasn’t empty, either. In fact, it was full. Even so, the group respectfully left it where it was. And on the higher shelf, there was a decaying piece of an old newspaper – a copy of the Liverpool Echo from 1942, ominously dated Friday 13th.

Incredible furniture

Next, the explorers made an even cooler discovery when they entered a room full of old furniture. Within the treasure trove, there was a chesterfield leather sofa, a turquoise wardrobe with an intricate floral pattern painted on the front, and a huge, elaborately carved wooden bed. It's quite possible that Chanel picked out some of these items herself!

Still standing

Before moving further into the fascinating time capsule, the YouTubers stumbled across a lamp made out of seashells. And all around them lay similar ornaments and battered old pieces of furniture – all of which would have been beautiful in their heyday. Even decades later, these pieces still possessed a distinct charm. In fact, it was astonishing just how full many of the rooms still were.

More than just antiques

Making their way deeper into the decaying property, the intrepid group soon realized that the incredible relics could be spotted in almost every room. On one of the mansion’s many fireplaces, for instance, lay an old work of art. And that, along with the bright red horse-drawn fire truck sitting in the corner, seemed to offer a glimpse into the unique style of decor you’d have seen back then.

An intriguing tablet

In another room sat an ornate chaise lounge, which looked to be in surprisingly good shape considering its moldering surroundings. Yep, you need only look at the green hue on the wall behind to get a sense of the damp conditions. And there were some exotic pieces scattered about too. Near that lounge was an intriguing tablet, inscribed in Arabic writing.

Some funny finds

Strewn around a case that read, “Life is too short to drink bad wine,” the YouTubers found some pretty blue floral china that had been made in Italy by a company called Tiffany Boutique. And even though they’re not a product of the prestigious Tiffany & Co brand, it’s likely they’re still pretty valuable. New plate sets on the crockery website sell for approximately $150, for instance.

Impossible to know

When the explorers eventually made their way up the dark and dust-laden staircase, they discovered even more. In one room sat a gorgeous roll-top bath, which they pointed out may have been used by Chanel or Winston Churchill. Crazy, right? Next, the group uncovered a bidet surrounded by damp, rotting wood. And yes, it’s thought this is the one that people believe was the first to be installed in Scotland – though it’s relatively impossible to be sure.

Unidentified device

Continuing through the house’s eerie green-tinged corridors, the intrepid bunch entered a room containing a stack of old skis. And near that, there was a bizarre blue contraption on the floor. If, like the YouTubers, you don’t recognize the object, a commenter on the video helpfully explained what it was. They wrote, “It is a clay pigeon trap used to send the clays in the air to shoot!”

Chanel's presence

It was in a different part of the house where Chanel’s presence could be felt the most, though. For one, the room we’re referring to contained a cupboard full of shoes, which very plausibly could have been worn by Chanel, the Duke, and their illustrious guests. And in the corner were the remains of a grand old sewing machine, where the designer may well have sat and worked on her creations.

A dangerous mansion

Despite all of the magnificent discoveries, though, the house certainly had its dangers. At one point, the explorers found an area where the roof had started to collapse. Elsewhere, the floorboards looked like they’d been completely taken over by rot — one false step could've landed them in a world of trouble. And if that’s not enough to send shivers down your spine, what about the area where a bug infestation seemed to have taken hold?

Public reaction

Naturally, the YouTube video received lots of comments. People expressed sadness that the once-beautiful house had fallen into such a state. One person wrote, “I love how you all respect the marvels that you find. Too bad Coco didn’t assign a trustee to take care of the place. Makes me sad to see such a beautiful structure go to ruin.”

A cool $4 million

But it seems there’s hope for the old mansion just yet. Over the years, you see, professional building reviewers have been in to take a look around. They’ve decided that despite the mess and the dangers, the house can still be revived by someone willing to put the work in. And in 2014, estate agents Remax put the property and its land on sale for the equivalent of just over four million dollars.

Future plans

And by the time the YouTubers sneaked into the building, it had actually already been sold. Yep, in 2020 the plans were made public: the estate was going to be turned into a luxury hotel – hardly surprising given its history, don’t you think? Plus, the developers apparently want to keep as many of Chanel’s designs as possible. Start saving now if you ever want to go there!

Tarnished fame

Yet Chanel’s is far from the only famous abode that’s been left to rot and decay. Beverly Hills is full of magnificent homes, too. But somewhere among the glamorous villas of the rich and famous lies a decrepit building. The mansion was once the home of talented Hollywood director Vincente Minnelli and his family – but it has since been abandoned and left to decay. And its crumbling walls and overgrown gardens are a sorry testament to the legal battle that seems to have engulfed the place.

Vincente Minnelli

The grandeur of Liza Minnelli’s childhood home was the grand vision of her father, Vincente Minnelli. The legendary director rose to fame in the 1940s, and before long, he was known as one of Hollywood's most gifted filmmakers. He established himself as an auteur who could assemble sprawling sets and top-notch actors into unforgettable works of art. His status only rose when he married Judy Garland, whom he directed in Meet Me in St. Louis. With that Hollywood's most iconic — and tragic — couple was born.

All that glitters

Together, everything they touched seemed to turn to gold, including their daughter Liza. From a young age, it was clear that she had inherited both of her parents’ creative talents...but even so, gold can still become tarnished. Judy Garland’s substance abuse is one of the most famous spirals in history, and by 1951, she and Vincente were divorced — and he had plans for a brand new life in a brand new home...

That's big

Vincente made his most fateful decision yet when he moved into his Beverly Hills home on Crescent Drive. It’s hard to believe a home without Judy Garland could still make draw so much attention, but it did. The size alone left visitors awestruck. It spanned 5,900 square feet and was practically a different planet the second you walked through the doors. The mansion had 19 rooms, including 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms. It was unlike anything the Minnellis had experienced before...but not because of the size.

Secrets tucked inside

Unlike his first home, the Minnelli mansion echoed with activity. There were the sounds of Vincente and his colleagues laughing into the night, actors seeking guidance, and Liza running to and fro from one end of the home to the other. Even so, Vincente had a secret intention for the mansion.

Tony Duquette

Ultimately, he planned to make it Liza’s dream home. He commissioned stage and film artist Tony Duquette to design a huge playhouse for Liza on the estate’s 42,500 square feet of land. “I remember always asking to go to Liza’s to play dress-up,” actress Candice Bergen recalled. On paper, it seemed like a recipe for the happiest childhood imaginable.

Left threadbare

But as anyone in Hollywood could tell you, fame is fleeting. Liza’s childhood days spent playing dress-up could only last so long, and so could Vincente’s success as a director. By 1970, Liza's star was rising, but Vincente was in deep debt. The house had been built on the basis of excess, but by the late '70s, Vincente’s friends referred to it as “threadbare.” Walking through each room and across the empty expanse of land, the estate looked like a ghost town...and in more ways than one.

A new owner

Vincente died in the house at 83 years old. Shortly after his death, his will revealed Liza as the mansion's new owner. But a stipulation came with the estate, one Liza would have to adhere to whether she liked it or not. Vincente made it clear that, though Liza was technically in charge of the $1.1 million estate, Vincente’s widow, Lee, could live in the mansion for as long as she wished. Decades later, the home still stands — but it’s almost unrecognizable.

Creaks and bumps in the night

It houses an eerie silence, the kind it was never meant to contain. Lee’s death in 2009 ended a decade-long legal battle with Liza over selling the house. Liza could finally do what she wanted with her childhood home. But just because the house is out of Liza’s hands doesn’t mean her childhood home has forgotten her. See, the new owners never moved into the home, so walking through those doors was like walking back in time.

Hollywood's envy

A neighbor “noticed some torn drapes through an upstairs window” that hadn’t been ripped in the past, proof that the house definitely wasn’t as empty as originally believed. When the neighbor investigated the home, what they saw was heartbreaking. The home, which had once been the envy of Hollywood, was now littered with trash. Paint peeled off the walls, water damage stained the ceiling, and the carpets were ripped and tattered. Staleness clung to the air from room to room. 

Untouched

It was hard to believe just how far the mansion had fallen. The property itself hadn't been touched in years, leaving the gates ensnared by vines and weeds. Crumbling columns and debris littered the sprawling lawns, and the swimming pool was decorated with graffiti... proof of how the home fell into such a depressing state. These clues indicated that the abandoned dream home wasn't so abandoned after all.

Filthy squatters

Squatters made the home almost unrecognizable. Where Vincente Minnelli’s lavish bed once sat was now a yellowed mattress. One of his floral chairs, once the height of fashion, lay in ruin. In some forgotten rooms, squatters found old records from when the home was filled with music — perhaps that collection included a few Judy Garland albums that were once played by her loved ones.

Years of neglect

Traces of the home’s former glory still shone in the floor-to-ceiling mirrors and bright pink bathtub, but its glamor was overshadowed by years of neglect. Even the home’s new owners don’t seem to care about the former palace. Though it appears that minor landscaping was done on the estate at some point, it remained empty for almost a decade. But urban explorers were drawn to the house like moths to a flame.

Reminders of its previous grandeur

The mansion's vestiges of old-school glamour made it a go-to destination for these adventurers, especially since it provided a rare glimpse into how the Minnellis once lived. One group found few traces of the grandeur that the property had obviously once enjoyed. In the dining room, you see, only a few cushions, a couple of chairs, and the old TV set remain. And even more random furniture lies askew in other rooms, including a lurid, bright-green couch. Elsewhere, large sections of the ceiling are in fact missing.

What's stopping the progress?

Interestingly, the blog Abandoned Explorers posited that the home's recent owners left it deserted on purpose. “Was this why it had been basically left open to squatters for years in hopes it would be accidentally burned down or be destroyed by vandals beyond repair?” the author pondered. Whatever the case, the house has again been left to decay – despite once being home to some of Hollywood’s most famous clientele.