'Erchless,' Old Westbury estate built by Phipps family, lists for $23 million
A historic Gold Coast estate in Old Westbury, once owned by the notable Phipps family, is on the market for $23 million. The Georgian-style mansion is located on Post Road. The annual property taxes are $757,768.
The Phipps family acquired the land in 1901, said listing agent Lois Kirschenbaum, of Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty. Howard Phipps, whose father was a partner in the Carnegie Steel Company, lived there with his wife, Harriet.
Harriet Phipps worked with an architect on plans for the estate, which was completed in 1935 and called Erchless.
"Not only was she extremely involved in the house," said Kirschenbaum, "she was a Virginian and was very specific about using brick from Virginia."
Those are the same bricks seen on the exterior today. "This house is in impeccable condition," Kirschenbaum added. "It’s been maintained beautifully over the years, and that’s really what’s so unusual about it."
The estate comprises 92 acres. Credit: Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty
The property comprises 92 acres. The main house is U-shaped with two wings and a central foyer, featuring 15 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and two half-bathrooms. While many original features have been preserved, such as molding, paneling and the 13-foot ceilings, Erchless also contains several modern amenities. They include central air conditioning and an elevator.
While designing the mansion, Harriet Phipps had a distinct vision for the layout: rooms that flowed into each other and were easily accessible from the main hallway, said Kirschenbaum.
"She did not want a lot of rooms — she wanted grand rooms," she added.
Harriet Phipps had a distinct vision for the layout of the home, desiring "grand rooms," the listing agent said. Credit: Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty
There are additional structures on site, including four greenhouses, a stable with a turnout paddock, two garages and several cottages and barns. Outside, a pair of pagoda-style cabanas stand near a heated in-ground pool.
The real showstopper of the property is its award-winning gardens, Kirschenbaum said.
"The family, starting with Howard Phipps, were horticulturalists and plant collectors," she said. "These gardens are known across the Northeast as the finest in the country. There are layers of perennials, peonies, camellias, Japanese cherry blossoms. They are breathtaking."
The property is served by the Westbury Union Free School District.
See more inside the estate
The exterior of the home is comprised of bricks from Virginia, the home state of Harriet Phipps. Credit: Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty
The house was designed to have rooms that were easily accessible from the main hallway. Credit: Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty
The house, called Erchless, was completed in 1935. Credit: Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty
The kitchen. Credit: Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty
Rachel Weiss joined Newsday in 2016. As a real estate/living multimedia reporter, Rachel writes feature stories and contributes to and appears in on-camera video packages. She was the lead reporter on Newsday’s LI Acts of Kindness series.
