By
Luke Salkeld
Last updated at 7:12 PM on 14th February 2012
For weeks they have been living in tents on an historic green as part of the ‘Occupy’ protest movement.
Now, having turned that public area into a muddy swamp, they have moved on to far more comfortable lodgings.
Staying true to the name of their faction, a group of former campers are now occupying a £3million eight-bedroom mansion – as squatters.
The Grade II listed building provides
its new residents with a large (empty) swimming pool, a gym, vaulted
cellar, four bathrooms and playroom.
Grade II-listed Clifton Wood House is an early 18th century property complete with gym, vaulted cellar and an indoor heated swimming pool
Squatters: Alex, Haile Bless and an un-named friend on the grand staircase of the £2.9million Cliftonwood House
Haile Bless in the empty pool which is part of the eight-bedroom mansion in the most affluent area of Bristol
The squatters yesterday refused to confirm how they gained entry to the house in the exclusive Clifton Wood area of Bristol a week ago.
But they insist they have not broken the law – and are planning to stay.
One of the group, Haile Blessed, said: ‘I won’t say we want to stay as long as possible because that then makes it into a game. Ultimately we want to stay for forever.
‘Once I put up my pictures I don’t take them down.’
The 14 squatters appear to be in possession of a set of house keys and the codes to the front gates – both of which were left on a counter in the empty mansion.
They say they formed part of the
60-strong Occupy Bristol protesters who were recently evicted from
College Green, next to Bristol Cathedral.
Their
new ‘home’ is still connected to both water and electricity but the
estate agent Knight Frank has turned off the gas since they arrived.
The entrance hall of Cliftonwood House, which has become home to a group of squatters from the ‘Occupy’ protest
There is little sign of the squatters in the mansion, which sits on an acre of land in one of the most expensive parts of the city
None of the members hold jobs and food comes through scavenging for leftovers and the little they earn through busking.
The group firmly maintain their legality, Haile said: ‘I think the police have the owner’s number but they don’t seem to care.
‘The estate agents know we’re here too but they’re not doing anything about it, we’re the legal caretakers.’
Its owner is believed to be property developer Petros Birakos, who recently tried to sell the three-storey property through Knight Frank estate agency for £2.9 million.
In 2009 a £3 million property owned
by his son Jason, less than one mile from Clifton Wood House, was
occupied by around 40 squatters.
A spokesperson for Knight Frank refused to comment on the situation yesterday.
The group, of mixed nationalities,
are legally allowed to live there because squatting is legal if entry to
an empty property is not forced and there is no criminal damage.
The
group discovered the house was empty through a squatting association
who keep a list of houses that are owned by companies and not
individuals.
Haile Bless (right) and an un-named man moved in after turning the city’s College Green into a muddy mess
The men own a set of keys and the codes to the front gates – both of which were left on a counter in the empty mansion
The vast 18th century house still boasts a large number of original features, which the squatters seem to admire
Up to 14 squatters have been living in the house in recent weeks. Their food comes through scavenging for leftovers and the little they earn through busking
Another squatter, Mat, said: ‘It’s try before you buy isn’t it? We live in a generation where everything is try before you buy, that’s what we’re doing. We’re prospective buyers.’
Bristol’s Occupy movement set up their camp on College Green in October with up to 60 tents erected on the lawns.
But within weeks the site, which overlooks Bristol Cathedral, was reduced to a muddy swamp full of rubbish, empty cider bottles and used syringes.
Security teams eventually moved in to clear the site on January 31 after a judge granted an eviction order.
The protesters had promised to help clear up their mess, but none were present to assist council contractors with the removal of rubbish.
It has been estimated that £20,000 damage was caused to the green but a local contractor has now offered to re-turf the entire area for the knock-down price of £4,800.
‘We live in a generation where everything is try before you buy, that’s what we’re doing. We’re prospective buyers,’ said one of the squatters
The group discovered the house was empty through a squatting association who keep a list of houses that are owned by companies and not individuals.
The mansion is still connected to both water and electricity but the estate agent Knight Frank has turned off the gas since the squatters made it their home
CLIFTON LODGE: THE HOUSE THAT WAS FIRST SOLD IN THE 1740s FOR £2,000
Clifton Wood House was built in the 1720s. The Goldney family, a famous Bristol merchant dynasty, bought the property in 1747 for £2,000.
The Grade II Listed mansion stayed in the family’s estate for more than 200-years and was rented out to a number of wealthy merchants including the slave trader Richard Farr.
For part of the 19th century it was also used as a children’s home.
It was taken over by Bristol University in the 1950s who used it as a prestigious halls of residence for around 50 years.
In 2002, the university sold the property for £1.25 million to wealthy local businessman Petros Birakos, who converted it into today’s stunning family property.
The mansion, which is located in the conservation area of Clifton, is approached through wrought iron electric gates.
It has an entrance hall, drawing room, family room, study, two cloakrooms, kitchen, utility room, sitting room, dining room, eight bedrooms, four bathrooms, playroom, vaulted cellar, wine storage, gym and indoor swimming pool.
Mr Birakos, 56, put the property onto the market in 2009 for £4.25 million – making it the most expensive home for sale in Bristol.
However, the whopping price-tag and housing crisis put buyers off and the price had been slashed to £2.9 million until recently when it was taken off the market.
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and?? people are homeless and this place is empty. if this were happening in africa/baltic states/far east the DM would be first to harp on about social injustice and human rights. Would you rather a homeless person dies on streets of hypothermia?? regardless of why they are there ( drink drugs stupidity) do they deserve that??
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Well not a huge fan of these guys, but they’re not breaking the law and they’re not causing damage. They’re just taking advantage of a stupid system.
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The laws in this country are ludicrous. Nothing can be done about illegal squatters or the deportation of an international terrorist. Grow some balls UK seriously.
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And now the DM have published this story, it will no doubt trigger an exodus of would be protesters whom will rock up to the house in their droves, just to get in on the action, which will have nothing whatsoever to do with protesting, but everything to do with vandalism..!
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When are the government going to put a stop to this.
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Don’t worry the goverment will swing into action and come next winter these layabouts will be back on the streets. Murder – piffling, Rape – fairly serious, Squatting – bit of a joke really (except for the owner) Steal money – deadly serious (except for benefit theft), anything up to 30 years.Really got our priorities right here in GB.
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This is a man who does not even live in it and it costs millions. You can understand the attitude of youngsters when they see this, the man does not live there and does not need it so they move in. It still does not excuse their behaviour.
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Wot! No bidet? – Not that classy then.
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2.9 million pounds ? It looks horrible.
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They look the typical squatter type. Pot smoking and probably with wealthy parents
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