Oxford Italianate mansion (actually rented from Oxford City Council) dubbed the ‘best council house in the country’ was lived in by Robert Maxwell from 1959 until 1991 where he eventually moved Pergamon Press publishing hundreds of ‘international scientific journals’. It was here that his nine children were brought up, living in a combination of what was described in the Times, as' cruelty and luxury'.
While in situ, Maxwell commissioned a stained-glass window as a feature of the imperial staircase, a depiction of Samson (modelled on himself) by the Israeli sculptor Nehemia Azaz. The lawn doubled as a helipad from which he would jet about for business and pleasure; the grounds too, were furnished with a tennis court and swimming pool. Under Maxwell's reign, all-out parties were hosted here for lan and Kevin and Ghislaine's classmates were reportedly invited over for reading competitions (which Ghislaine consistently won, awarded first prize).
