By Sohaib Shams
The Grade-II listed townhouse in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, where Mary Shelley completed her novel Frankenstein is on the market for offers over £800,000.
Historical significance
Mary Shelley and her husband, poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, moved into Albion House shortly after their marriage in March 1817. The author, then 19, had begun writing Frankenstein during a summer in Switzerland the previous year and finished the novel while living in Marlow. It was published anonymously on 1 January 1818. During their stay, Mary gave birth to the couple's daughter Clara in September 1817. The Shelleys left for Italy in March 1818, months after publication.
Property details
The historic building was later divided into four homes, including the three-storey Shelley Cottage now being sold by Bonners & Babingtons. Dating partly to the 18th century, the property retains exposed wooden beams, fireplaces and a distinctive white exterior. It offers approximately 1,177 sq ft of accommodation with three bedrooms, a modern kitchen and an enclosed courtyard garden. A plaque outside commemorates the Shelleys' residence from 1817 to 1818.
Current listing
The chain-free home on West Street has had its asking price reduced and is available for offers over £800,000. Interiors have been modernised while preserving period features such as cast-iron fireplaces, shuttered windows and herringbone flooring. The property includes a glazed roof in the kitchen, built-in bookshelves and a timber outbuilding. The town centre and River Thames are nearby.
