Ooh mother, George Formby’s home is for sale

The former home of George Formby, one of Britain’s most famous post war comedians, has come on the market in Fairhaven, Lytham St Annes for £895,000.

The comedian, singer and ukulele player lived in the seafront house for eight years from 1953 until his death in 1961 – and in a nice historical twist bought it off Irish tenor Joseph Locke for £6,000.

George Formby and Beryl board a flight to the US in 1949.

Originally named Cintra and built in 1932 from red Accrington brick, Formby renamed it Beryldene after his formidable wife (and business manager) Beryl. He described his time with her as ‘hell’ but despite this their tenure at the property was recognised in August this year by the George Formby Society, which unveiled a blue plaque on one of the entrance pillars (pictured, below).

The detached house, at 199 Inner Promenade just outside the centre of Lytham St Annes, is not the only property to have been given the Beryldene moniker by the couple. The first was a house they bought outside Blackpool in 1937; the second a farmhouse near Garstang in 1945; the third in Knutsford, Cheshire in 1947; then a house in Fylde in 1948 before the couple settled in their final home, the property currently for sale, in 1953.

Formby also bought a holiday home in the Norfolk Broads in the early 1950s and for a short time owned a large house in Ireland.

Since he died the last Beryldene has been extended into the attic, had a conservatory added at the back and has been refurbished by the vendors, a retired judge and his wife, who bought the house in 1988. They have preserved its art deco stained glass within the UPV windows and much of its interior remains Formby-era too including a walnut panelled hallway.

The property became a celebrity in itself in 1961 after Formby’s death. His executors held a three day auction of all Formby’s belongings – including most famously his underpants – under canvass in the property’s back garden and some 1,000 items were sold including his Bentley, musical instruments and even – if this picture (above) is to believed – dog. The house was also auctioned and fetched £9,000.

For more details, contact County Estate Agents.