Stately London mansion tied to one of Charles Dickens most scandal-ridden characters has listed for $25M

This house has seen the best of times — and the worst of times.A stately London mansion tied to one of Charles Dickens’ most infamous fictional financiers has hit the market with a roughly $25 million asking price — and a far less tragic fate than its original owner or his literary doppelgänger.Located in Marylebone on Harley Street, the seven-bedroom townhouse spans more than 8,600 square feet across five floors and is being marketed by Beauchamp Estates, according to a press release.The Grade II-listed property pairs period architecture with contemporary comforts, including a private spa, a plunge pool and a home cinema — amenities that place it “a world away from anything remotely Dickensian,” said Jeremy Gee, managing director of Beauchamp Estates.Originally built between 1822 and 1825 by architect John White Jr., the red-brick Georgian building features sash windows, a fanlight entrance and an ornamental balcony overlooking a first-floor terrace.Inside, the home offers expansive reception rooms, a formal dining room and a designer kitchen with sleek cabinetry and a central island.Amenities occupy the lower ground level, including a mosaic-lined swimming pool, a mirrored gym, a steam room and a wine cellar.

A private lift connects multiple levels, from the service quarters to a penthouse suite with vaulted ceilings.But its most intriguing asset might be its former owner — and the scandal that came with him.According to historical records from University College London, the townhouse was first occupied by John Henry Deffell, a wealthy merchant, socialite and director of the East India Company.A prominent investor with interests in India and Jamaica, Deffell attracted aristocratic followers who entrusted him with their fortunes.When many of those investments collapsed as fraudulent in 1847, Deffell fled Marylebone and died by suicide — a story covered by the London Gazette and the Morning Chronicle.Among the readers of those papers was a young C...