Camden News: Harry Hallowes | Alisher Usmanov | Neighbours | Hampstead Heath | Hampstead Lane

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Camden News - by DAN CARRIER
Published: 5 June 2008

Alisher Usmanov and Harry Hallowes

The odd couple – worlds apart, but neighbours nonetheless

ONE is a Russian oil and steel billionaire whose interests include a major stake in Arsenal Football Club.
The other is an elderly Irish hermit whose natural assets stretch to a pile of neatly chopped logs piled alongside the self-built shelter he has created on Hampstead Heath.
But Alisher Usmanov and Harry Hallowes have more in common than first meets the eye – the pair this week reportedly became next door neighbours.
Mr Usmanov, 54, is understood to have splashed out nearly £50 million on Beechwood, a Victorian mansion on Hampstead Lane. The extensive grounds stop just 100 yards away from the patch of land Harry calls home.
The contrast between the pair’s lifestyles could not be greater. While Mr Usmanov sits on the board of the famous Bolshoi Ballet Company, Harry sits on a rickety deck chair in the grounds of Athlone House.
While Beechwood has a long sweeping drive, hidden behind wrought iron gates with a permanent security guard on duty and under constant CCTV surveillance, Harry’s front door is a little simpler.
The City of London, who manage the Heath, put a wooden gate (estimated cost: £25) into the fence that Athlone House developers had ringed his plot with.
Harry has lived in a ramshackle self-built shelter on the site for 19 years and was granted squatter’s rights when Athlone House was sold for redevelopment.
Beechwood boasts a little more luxury: a reception hall can accommodate Tsarist-style banquets and the owners can choose from eight different bedroom suites, two drawing rooms, three dining rooms and can work out in an extensive leisure complex, all maintained by staff living on site in their own, separate quarters.
Harry said: “I have been keeping an eye on it for years. It was owned by the Emir of Qatar and he did lots of building work. A number of years ago the place doubled in size and I don’t know why. It terribly degraded it, and I wondered why any one would need any more space when the place is that size.”
He added: “I am not an Arsenal fan. I don’t really follow football – it is not a sport I find interesting. Now rugby is a different matter – I am very keen on hearing what happens in the internationals.”

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