Inside derelict Batman film mansion that needs millions to bring it back to life

A mansion used as a filming location in one of the hit Batman films is lying derelict and is in need of tens of millions of pounds in order to be brought back to use.

Mentmore Towers was built between 1852 and 1854 for the wealthy Rothschild family in the village of Mentmore, Buckinghamshire.

The sprawling mansion was used as a filming location for hit movies such as Batman Begins, the first in the franchise to star Christian Bale, and The Mummy Returns.

And even the Spice Girls visited in 1998 to film the music video for Goodbye, following in the footsteps of other groups including Roxy Music, Mike Oldfield and Enya, who also used it as a filming location.

However, after a deal to turn it into a hotel fell through, the sprawling mansion now lies derelict and crumbling, with water pouring through the roof, some of which has now collapsed.

It is now languishing on English Heritage's 'At Risk' register, with its condition described as poor and there being "immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric."

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Water has come through ceilings in the kitchen quarters while wallpaper has shrivelled and is falling from walls and tapestries are still clinging on in some rooms.

However, grand furniture still remains in the main hall and huge entertaining rooms are covered in gold leaf.

The photographer and urban explorer who snapped the scenes inside the house said: "Sadly now most of it is falling apart and needs gutting, which is such a shame.

"Ceilings are falling down. It's hard to see how anyone will be able to do anything with it because it would cost too much money.

"There is a library with secret rooms behind bookcases. I recognised it from the Batman film.

"It's sad when you think of its history and what has been filmed there as it is such a beautiful house."

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The mansion features a revival of late 16th and early 17th century Elizabethan and Jacobean styles and was originally created as a display case for Baron Meyer de Rothschild's huge fine art collection.

Much of the house's parkland was sold off in 1944 but the house remained in the family until the mid 1970s when the contents were auctioned and it was sold to the Maharishi Foundation.

But in 1999 it was purchased by investor Simon Halabi who planned to turn it into a hotel, however the plans fell through and it has been empty ever since.

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