The London Home That Inspired The 101 Dalmatians Story Is On Sale For $11 Million

A Victorian house in London that provided inspiration for Dodie Smith’s novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians has hit the market for $11.2 million.

The pink stucco townhouse on Primrose Hill in northwest London, U.K., is on sale for the first time in almost 40 years. The 4,876-square-foot, 8-bedroom home has an abundance of period features, panoramic views of Primrose Hill park, a roof terrace, and a 50ft rear garden.

The Albert Terrace house is thought to have been the template for the family home in Dodie Smith’s 1956 novel where dalmatians Pongo and Perdita lived with their owners Roger and Anita Dearly. The novel describes the Dearly residence as a “modest but pretty” Victorian house by the Outer Circle in Regent’s Park. 

Author Dodie Smith, who lived on nearby Dorset Square, had 9 dalmatians including one named Pongo and is thought to have passed the pink house on daily dog walks to Primrose Hill park and the adjacent Regent’s Park, according to researchers at Beauchamp Estates, the agency selling the home.

The novel–which became the 1961 animated Disney DIS film and 1996 and 2000 Disney feature films that starred Glenn Close–centers around Pongo and Perdita battling to save their kidnapped litter of puppies from Cruella de Vil who plans to make them into a fur coat.

It is said that Smith got the idea for the story during a dinner party at a friend’s house in Primrose Hill when one of the guests observed Dodie’s dalmatians would “make a lovely fur coat.”

In the novel, Cruella lives at Hell Hall mansion in Suffolk, which was based on real-life Greys Hall in Sible Hedingham, Essex, where Dodie Smith lived in her early years, according to Beauchamp Estates.

The first edition of Smith’s book has a pink cover and illustrations by Janet and Anne Johnstone. It shows a semi-detached house featuring a pillared entrance portico with a glass paneled front door, an entrance hallway, a classic drawing room, and Roger’s study, which bears a close resemblance to the Albert Terrace home. 

Disney storyboard creator Bill Peet later used the book as inspiration for the original concepts for the 1961 Disney animation film, which Smith said captured the illustrations of the original book.

Built in 1847, with five stories, the characterful, semi-detached house is a local landmark for its eye-catching pink façade. It has sash windows and high ceilings throughout, decorative plaster detailing, 8 bedrooms, 2 reception rooms, 3 kitchens, roof terrace, study, a balcony, 4 bathrooms, and front and rear gardens.

The current owner grew up in the house and bought it as a family home in 1983, said selling agent Jeremy Gee of Beauchamp Estates. They are selling the home as they have grown children and are looking to downsize, he said.

“Regent’s Park, Primrose Hill and its surrounding houses served as inspiration for the ‘101 Dalmatians’ novel and the Disney animation, which has been loved by children and their parents down the generations,” Gee said. “Though there is no record of Smith stating it is the exact home, the property has been identified as the house that helped inspire the novel,” he said.

He added: “The house has an attractive aspect overlooking Primrose Hill park with views towards the hill and is on a street with a small collection of homes with a similar look. In need of modernisation and full of period character, it offers a blank canvas for refurbishment.”

The home lies in the neighborhood of Primrose Hill, a wealthy, village-like area in northwest London, with charming streets and houses, independent shops, cafes, and restaurants, and a park, set just north of Regent’s Park.

The home is on sale with Beauchamps Estates

This post first appeared on Forbes.com. To see the original, click here.