Manchester Villa is situated on the finest piece of canal front property in Lyford Cay offering panoramic views of the marina and waterways. With 3.29 acres of landscaped gardens including wonderful Bahamian and mature trees on four prime lots, it is a coveted peninsula. This massive estate, with room to spare, comprises over 12,000 square feet of interior space. It underwent a refresh and addition, which were completed in 2019 and now features a main villa, carriage house, captains cottage and guest apartment. Highlights of the property include a tennis court, beach volleyball court and extensive dockage that wraps almost the entire length of the seawall of the property.
Interior designer Richard Himmel, exterior architect Robjohns Clarke and landscape architect Michael M. Myers oversaw the design and build of this impressive residence. No expense was spared when this estate was initially built in 1995 by Mr. and Mrs. Irving Gould. Mr. Gould, a Canadian financier was the chairman of the Commodore Company. Stories were told of how he frequently flew guests down to his Bahamian residence on his private jet named Pet Jet to enjoy the privacy and solitude provided here at this beautiful villa. The property is also walled and gated for added security.
Mr. Gould was an avid fisherman and boater who enjoyed exploring the Bahamian waters. This extraordinarily positioned estate is perfect for the boat lover to berth his or her collection of watercrafts. The estate has a superb aspect towards the clubs marina where one can quickly access the open seas. Seafaring amenities include access to an unbelievable 840 plus feet of canal frontage, boat lift and dockage with electricity and water. A unique feature includes a 6,000 gallon tank to hold fuel for watercraft and power the generator.
Main Villa
With many areas to entertain and relax the Main Villa features soaring ceilings, large windows and mahogany doors. The French doors retract into the walls to allow one to open up the inside to the outside for seamless entertaining. All windows and French doors have built in rolldown shutters.
As one enters the residence one is greeted by a large elegant drawing room beyond which is the gallery running through the center of the house and high arched doorways connecting all the public spaces and bedrooms. Beyond this is the sundrenched airy main living room with sweeping views of the marina. The living room opens onto a large covered terrace, expansive veranda and large infinity pool with a lush garden beyond leading to the estates extensive dock views of the Lyford Cay Marina.
The living room is flanked by two octagonal, pitched ceiled rooms that are all connected by conservatory halls. The northern room is the cozy family room and features a built-in bar which makes it perfect for a relaxed evening with cocktails. A connecting passageway leads on from the family room past a guest bathroom and into the beautiful library with white-washed mahogany built-in cabinetry throughout. The library then opens up to the northern conservatory hall which leads to the master suite. The large master bedroom opens onto its own terrace overlooking the garden and canal beyond. It consists of large his and hers bathrooms and walk-in closets.
The southern room is the homes formal dining room with built-in cupboards to store china and silverware. This area also opens onto the pool and terrace. The dining room then leads into the southern conservatory hall that connects the guest wing, back of house and kitchen. There are two guest bedroom suites, one which could double as a second master and has its own private terrace and multiple windows to allow the room to be flooded with natural light.
Next to the dining room and guest wing is the large family kitchen with breakfast table, with a beautifully decorated powder room opposite the pantry. Off the kitchen is a butlers pantry with a walk-in cooler, wine fridge and freezer, the laundry room, housekeepers bedroom and bathroom. The Main Villa also boasts a three car garage and ample storage throughout and the guest apartment.
Carriage House
The Carriage House was completed in 2019 and is a beautiful addition to this estate and expands the accommodation of this expansive property. The ground floor is comprised of a large two-car garage, a gym and a bedroom suite overlooking the beautiful main canal. Upstairs is an open plan kitchen-living area with laundry cupboard and two additional suites, one of which has a terrace looking west down the main canal of Lyford Cay.
Captains Cottage
The Captains Cottage is located next to the dock and is perfect for crew or younger guests. The cottage has a kitchen with laundry facilities, a games room with terrace for entertaining and four bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms. It is a solid structure which was slated for a refresh.
Guest Apartment
Upstairs in the Main Villa is the perfect accommodation for a houseguest or an estate manager. This apartment has a living room with kitchenette and balcony, as well as bedroom with ensuite bathroom.
Construction wise, this stately home was built to last with finishes that include CBS internal walls and 12 inch thick external walls. The roof is strengthened with standing seam heavy gauge copper and is crowned with copper gutters and downspouts. In 2018 foam insulation was put in the roof to increase energy efficiency. Other elements include a freshwater tank, reverse osmosis system and the air-conditioning is a chilled water system.
In essence, Manchester Villa is in a league of its own. There is nothing like this canal front estate in the whole of the Bahamas.
Lyford Cay is home to the renowned Lyford Cay Club, which features beautiful beaches, golf course, marina, tennis courts, pool, fitness center, beauty salon, restaurants and hotel facilities.
