Historic Friary on the Severn Going To Auction!

One of the East Coast’s most historic and picturesque estates, an early 20th-century Georgian Revival mansion encompassing 23 acres on the banks of the Severn River in Maryland, is going to a no-reserve auction on August 12th.  Known as the “Friary on the Severn,” it is currently listed at $24.9 million with the furnishings included. 

The land on which the mansion was built has a long and interesting history traced back to 1660 when it was patented and sold to a prominent Annapolis family.  Most of the mansion as it now stands was constructed in 1922 by an arms dealer with the original core built in the 18th century, which was preserved and restored. Evidence of a network of tunnels under the home indicates that it may have been part of the Underground Railroad. The Capuchin Order of the Catholic church purchased it in 1950 and it became home to the St. Conrad Friary, and the friars maintained it for 34 years.  In 2002, the Phillips family from the popular Phillips Seafood business purchased the home for $2.5 million. 

Since the Phillips-family purchase, the home has undergone a long and expensive restoration.  As wings and extensions were added, the exterior architecture continued in the Georgian Revival style with interiors becoming more contemporary, each blending seamlessly with the other.  Standout features include tall arched windows, doorways and exterior terrace walls.  Many of the floors are of wider board teak set in a herringbone pattern.  There are 11 fireplaces, one with marble that came from the Italian quarry of Michelangelo. The Capuchin’s chapel has since been converted to a ballroom/all purpose hall.

Measuring 35,435 square feet, the home now has seven bedrooms, eight full bathrooms and five half baths.  The core of the main house has a two-story ceiling and two large kitchens can provide catering for large events or family meals.  There are formal living and dining rooms with the dining room having silk-covered walls.  A conservatory on two levels is bathed in light shining down from a ceiling oculus, popular in Georgian architectural style.  There is a large wine cellar sized to hold tastings, a movie theater with large guest capacity, and multiple dining venues both inside and out.  The library is paneled in oak, doors throughout are walnut and the music room is long and spacious.  A billiard room with a bar serves as the ultimate man cave.  The indoor spa has a workout station and long-resistance swimming pool.  Terraces surround the living areas and the outdoor pool terrace has been wired and a gas line installed for an outdoor kitchen.  A guest wing of the house has a common seating area with underwater windows for viewing swimmers.  There is a tennis court and a funicular which takes passengers down to the water’s edge and the yacht dock.  The attached three-bay garage can hold up to nine cars.

Ideally located in what has been called the Sailing Capital of the World, Friary on the Severn is within an hour of five major airports, 45 minutes from Washington, D.C., 10 minutes to the Naval Academy, 45 minutes to Baltimore and a hop, skip and jump into downtown Annapolis and the Annapolis Yacht Club.  

The Friary will continue to be listed with David DeSantis and Bradley R. Kappel of TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, Annapolis until August 12th when it will be auctioned by Concierge Auctions.

Photo credit:  Concierge Auctions

Source: www.conciergeauctions.com