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HIDE AND GREEK

Mysterious abandoned mansion left frozen in time with Bentley on drive belonged to Greek tycoon who vanished with family

A MYSTERIOUS abandoned mansion left frozen in time with a Bentley on the drive belonged to a Greek tycoon who vanished with his family, it emerged today.

Property millionaire Athanasios Tachmintzis, 70, lived in the huge house near King’s Langley, Herts, before disappearing more than three years ago.

 A Bentley has been left to rust on the driveway of the abandoned mansion
A Bentley has been left to rust on the driveway of the abandoned mansionCredit: Triangle News
 The ceiling in the kitchen has fallen in, although a dishwasher stacked with plates waits to be unloaded
The ceiling in the kitchen has fallen in, although a dishwasher stacked with plates waits to be unloadedCredit: Triangle News
 Rails of designer clothes stand in one of the rooms, and the owners left without taking returned dry cleaning out of its bag
Rails of designer clothes stand in one of the rooms, and the owners left without taking returned dry cleaning out of its bagCredit: Triangle News
 A telescope stands ready for use, but the house has been left for so long that a vine has started to grow through a window
A telescope stands ready for use, but the house has been left for so long that a vine has started to grow through a windowCredit: Triangle News
 In the bathroom, half-finished bottles of shampoo stand beside a Jacuzzi-style tub
In the bathroom, half-finished bottles of shampoo stand beside a Jacuzzi-style tubCredit: Triangle News
 Property millionaire Athanasios Tachmintzis son Nicholas, pictured, also lived in the property
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Property millionaire Athanasios Tachmintzis son Nicholas, pictured, also lived in the property

Pictures emerged on Monday showing the faded glory of the abandoned mansion left to rot after the owners seemingly left in a hurry, maybe even in the middle of the night.

Neighbours have wondered what caused Mr Tachmintzis to flee the house, leaving furniture, ornaments, designers clothes and even a game of chess on the table.

A watch stuck in time was seen on a bedside table, while designer clothes bearing the labels Yves St Laurent, Gucci and Louis Vuitton were stacked up on rails in a bedroom.

Empty fish tanks were left lined up in a hallway - while a dishwasher stacked with plates had not been unloaded.

LEFT IN A HURRY

A Japanese-theme piano takes pride of place in one of the rooms with the music left out ready to play, while stacks of china were sitting on a living room table next to the sofas.

In his huge bathroom, there is a Jacuzzi-style tub with half-used shampoo and conditioner bottles.

Amazingly, a potted plant is still alive on a windowsill next to a telescope lined up ready for its owner to look at the night sky.

A utility room has a snooker table and outside, four or five cars - including a rusted Bentley - lie in overgrown grass.

 The home, which can be found near London, is believed to have been deserted in 2016
The home, which can be found near London, is believed to have been deserted in 2016Credit: Triangle News
 The urban explorer who took these eerie photographs says it's one of the best-preserved finds he's made
The urban explorer who took these eerie photographs says it's one of the best-preserved finds he's madeCredit: Triangle News
 But there are few clues as to what happened to its previous owners, or why they left so suddenly
But there are few clues as to what happened to its previous owners, or why they left so suddenlyCredit: Triangle News

According to MailOnline, villagers said the dad-of-five lived there for around 18 years before suddenly vanishing.

They said he lived there with his daughters and at least one of his sons.

Mr Tachmintzis’ wife Sharon, who was born in North Wales, died aged 52 in 2004.

SECURITY DOGS

The pair were married for 32 years and had three sons Alexis, 43, Nicholas, 41, and 36-year-old Paul. They had two daughters Kiristiana, 34, and Alicia, 28.

It is believed Mr Tachmintzis was so concerned about security he kept Dobermans as guard dogs and employed staff to stand on his gate.

One neighbour told MailOnline: “I ride my horse down the road every day and all of a sudden I realised around three years ago that the people there had just disappeared.

I ride my horse down the road every day and all of a sudden I realised around three years ago that the people there had just disappeared.

Neighbour

“I just thought at first that they had gone away somewhere and would then come back – but nobody did. It is most strange.

“At first the gates were just shut and then a padlock and chain appeared on them. You could just see the grass getting longer and longer and growing around the cars.

“Nobody around here has a clue what happened to them and why they just upped and left. It is a real mystery.

DISAPPEARED

“They obviously had loads of money because it is a big house. There were always lots of comings and goings with different people going in and out.

“They used to have up to three Dobermans. His two daughters would walk them, and sometimes the cleaner would take them out, but they were too big for her to handle and she had to stop.

“One day around six-years-ago, this guy in his 40s came out and said that his dogs had gone missing and he asked if we had seen them, but we hadn't.

“The girls were dark haired and very pretty. I think they used to go to a local health club and gym.”

Another villager said he heard Mr Tachmintzis made a huge deal involving a luxury property on the exclusive Sandbanks resort in Dorset.

They said: “'I believe his wife had cancer and died several years ago.

“He also had a housekeeper, but she left suddenly. It is certainly very odd. Nobody knows what caused them to leave the house, seemingly never to return.”

 It is believed the owners of the property may have been Russian
It is believed the owners of the property may have been RussianCredit: Triangle News
 However, Land Registry documents suggest the property is registered to a Dorset-based company
However, Land Registry documents suggest the property is registered to a Dorset-based companyCredit: Triangle News
 Inside the home, a piano waits to be played, with sheet music open for a musician
Inside the home, a piano waits to be played, with sheet music open for a musicianCredit: Triangle News
 A game of snooker remains unplayed
A game of snooker remains unplayedCredit: Triangle News
 The beautiful property must once have been the owner's pride and joy
The beautiful property must once have been the owner's pride and joyCredit: Triangle News
 China and crockery have been laid on a table in the abandoned property
China and crockery have been laid on a table in the abandoned propertyCredit: Triangle News
Crumbling mansions have been left abandoned on London’s Billionaires’ Row, Bishop's Avenue