A spokesman for the LFB said: “The whole of the three story house fell to the ground. Thankfully no-one was in the property at the time.”

“But three people were evacuated from a neighbouring house.”

The brigade left the situation in the hands of the borough surveyor after securing the scene.

Singer-songwriter Aimee Duffy, who found fame with debut album Rockferry, is listed on the Land Registry as living in the home as recently as 2011 and it was later sold for £3.5 million in 2013.

Nearby estate agents Charles Banks tweeted: “Sounds like the big corner house Duffy used to own on The Terrace, has just collapsed..! Had been left empty for quite a long time..?”

The multimillion pound home of former Phones4U CEO was having a basement extension to include a home cinema when it was reduced to rubble.

Owners of the Georgian home, David and Julia Kassler, submitted plans to have the room installed underground as well as a home gym and a “wine room”.

More on Barnes house collapse; the blue-plaque home of Ebenezer Cobb Morley who wrote rules of Assoc Football @FA here in 1863 @GaryLineker

— Howard Goodall (@Howard_Goodall)
November 26, 2015

Permission was granted by The London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames in October last year after plans were submitted five months previously.

Mark Welsh, director of Kram Developments, had “a couple” of workers on site at the time of the collapse and denied the renovation was to blame.

He said: “It’s just an old building. It’s nothing to do with the work.”

The mansion had a blue plaque on it in honour the founder of the Football Association, Ebenezer Morley, who was the first man to write down rules to the beautiful game.

A council spokeswoman said: “Council officers are on the scene to make sure the building is made safe.”

A three storey house in Barnes, London, which collapsed today  Photo: Stewart Grint

Jeffrey Galitzine, 62, missed walking past the house by minutes as a he made a spontaneous decision to pop in to a cafe.

Mr Galitzine, who lives in the same street said: “I actually didn’t hear or see anything because I went for a coffee for 20 mins.

“I actually had a chat withe the foreman for five minutes or so before I went and then I came back there was just a workman directing everyone away.

“No policeman or firemen had arrived so it must have been just five or so minutes after it had happened.

“It’s a relief I didn’t end up under it – when I was walking just on that path a few minutes before.”

He added: “Seriously, there are mothers and children walking on that path all the time.

“It’s a real relief nobody seems to have been hurt. There were windows and walls just on the road.”

He added: “It was listed. Yes, it was due to get a blue plaque for Ebenezer Morley.

“But I think because of that the conservation people said they couldn’t change the outside – so they just had this netting for catching the odd brick.

A three storey house in Barnes, London, which collapsed today  Photo: Stewart Grint

“It always looked precarious.

“It was like wattle and daub on the inside – like an old country house and I think they had steel poles or something on the inside.

“I have to say it’s one of those enormous basements – it’s due to take up half the garden – ridiculous.

“I will say that the workmen have been very efficient. I can’t fault them.

“I’m just relieved nobody was hurt.”

Plumber Stewart Grint was making a delivery in the street when the building gave way.

He said: “There was a massive noise and then bricks were flying.

“People just ran for it – it’s amazing no one was hurt.”