London: from €431,259: The Wessex studios in Islington - where rock luminaries such as U2, REM, Prince, The Clash, David Bowie and the Rolling Stones have recorded albums, and where legend has it Sid Vicious got sick into the piano - has had its third re-incarnation as an apartment and mews scheme by a northern Irish developer. Edel Morgan reports.
Built as a chapel in 1881 off leafy Highbury Street, the haunting Gothic building was bought by Sir George Martin in 1965 and converted into a studio.
Wessex Studios closed its doors last year and was acquired by the Neptune Group headed by Creighton Boyd and Patrick Heffron who specialise in renovating properties in London's fringe areas.
Once regarded as the most important recording studio in the UK after Abbey Road, it is now being turned into eight apartments and one house ranging in prices from £300,000 (€431,259) to £525,000 (€754,704), aptly named The Recording Studio. Currell Islington is the selling agent (0044 20 7655 0888).
The double height barrel-vaulted ceilings and arched windows make for two spectacular penthouse apartments carved from the former "chill room" where Marianne Faithful was a regular.
All of the units in the three-storey conversion feature rock star staples like drop down plasma screens in the kitchens and bathrooms with underfloor heating and porcelain tiling.
The floors are reconstituted solid oak and penthouses have en suite wet rooms and Jacuzzis with built-in radios.
There are two-bed penthouse selling at £425,000 (€610,852), two one-bed 55-56.6 sq m (592-610 sq ft) units from £300,000-£315,000 (€431,259-€452,749), four two-bed apartments with 74.6-81.3 sq m (804-876 sq ft) from £360,000-£385,000 (€517,421-€553,353), and one 103 sq m (1,114 sq ft) house at £525,000(€754,704).
Set in Highbury New Park, close to Islington's busy Upper Street, four of the units have private courtyard gardens.
There are just four allocated car-parking spaces which will set you back £30,000 (€43,126) each.
The apartments are loft-style with warm gold and russet brickwork and 19th century pitch pine exposed beams, the original arched windows, plasterwork and slate tiling. And should Bono, Mick Jagger or Madonna decide to buy one for old times sake, all of the units are fully soundproofed.
