Newport estate once owned by Sunny von Bulow sold for $30 million
NEWPORT — The former home of Claus and Martha “Sunny” von Bulow, known as “Clarendon Court,” sold late Thursday afternoon for $30 million.
The home, located at 626 Bellevue Ave. in Newport, was designed by Horace Trumbauer in 1904. His inspiration for Clarendon Court was the John Hedworth House built in 1717 in County Durham, England, by Architect Colen Campbell.
The home is encompassed by a high stone wall with beautiful iron gates that open to a cobblestone courtyard and entry to the residence. The magnificently landscaped estate of more than seven acres with sweeping ocean views, extends to the cliff edge, above and over the famous Cliff Walk. A gracious carriage house includes ample garage space, three separate guest quarters, and a charming brick-walled parterre garden.
The seller was represented by David Huberman of Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty, and the buyer was represented by Kate Kirby Greenman, also of Gustave White Sotheby’s.
In a press release, Huberman said, “Clarendon Court is a masterpiece of distinguished architect Horace Trumbauer, and has been considered by many to be one of the finest residences in America. It was meticulously restored by the seller, while retaining old-world craftsmanship and finish work, which highlights the ambiance.”
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According to current city assessor records the property is assessed at $13,228,800.
The sale is potentially the highest for a residential property ever in the state.
Highest residential sales in RI
Earlier this week the $16 million sale of the Seaward estate in Newport at 339 Ocean Avenue was the highest in Rhode Island since the 2019 sale of 10 Bluff Ave. in the Watch Hill section of Westerly for $17.6 million, according to data maintained by the Rhode Island Statewide MLS.
The current record residential price is the $17.75 million paid by singer Taylor Swift in April 2013 for 16 Bluff Ave., also in the Watch Hill section of Westerly, according to multiple reports. It was not a Multiple Listing Service listing.
According to Lila Delman Compass, the property was sold for $16 million, however, the sale does not encompass the full 45-acre site originally listed.
The history of Sunny and Claus von Bulow
According to Daily News archives, Claus von Bulow died in May 2019 in England. In 1982, he was convicted of attempting to murder his wife, but that conviction was later overturned after a second trial in Providence.
Sunny first married Prince Alfie von Auersperg, an Austrian, and the couple had two children, Annie-Laurie, or “Ala”, and Alexander.
After the divorce, Sunny met von Bulow in London and they married in 1966. Their daughter, Cosima, was born the following year.
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The von Bulows bought Clarenden Court, across from Rovensky Park, from the daughter of John E. Rovensky, the previous owner who died in 1970.
Sunny von Bulow purchased the estate for a reported $250,000 and spent $600,000 to renovate the mansion.
On the day after Christmas in 1979, Sunny von Bulow was found unconscious and unresponsive at Clarendon Court. She was rushed to Newport Hospital, where she slipped into a coma from which she later recovered.
Then on Dec. 20, 1980, she was found face down in a bathroom of Clarendon Court, and again brought to Newport Hospital, she unsuccessfully was treated for an overdose of insulin and remained in a coma until her death in 2008.
In 1982, Claus von Bulow went to trial in Newport after being charged with attempted murder. He was convi
cted, but the conviction was overturned after a second trial in Providence in 1985.
During one of his trials, prosecutors claimed von Bulow twice tried to murder his wife, by injecting her with insulin, in order to inherit her wealth estimated at $75 million and to marry his lover. Alexandra Isles, who later testified during his trial, said she had given him a deadline for a divorce.
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The trial is said to have split the Bellevue Avenue and Bailey’s Beach Club crowd down the middle. Some believed von Bulow was guilty, while others believed he was innocent.
During the trial, large crowds gathered every day to see von Bulow appear from the side door of the courthouse and go down the steps across from the Colony House. Some wore T-shirts that said, “Free Claus” on them.
In the early morning, Rogers High School students would get in line for the trial, then sell their spot to someone who arrived later before they went to school.
The seller was represented by David Huberman of Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty, and the buyer was represented by Kate Kirby Greenman, also of Gustave White Sotheby’s.
In a press release, Huberman said, “Clarendon Court is a masterpiece of distinguished architect Horace Trumbauer, and has been considered by many to be one of the finest residences in America. It was meticulously restored by the seller, while retaining old-world craftsmanship and finish work, which highlights the ambiance.”
Bethany Brunelle can be reached at [email protected] 907-575-8528 or @bethanyfreuden1 on Twitter, Insta: bethanyfreudenthal , TikTok: thehijabicrimereporter, Muckrack: https://muckrack.com/bethany-freudenthal
