Elton John and his life at ‘Hercules’

Before moving to his Georgian mansion in Old Windsor, Elton John lived in a modest (ish) brick bungalow in Abbots Drive in leafy Virginia Water, the sort of place at the time more associated with Range Rovers and quiet golf than with sequins and stuffed leopards.

In the early 1970s, fresh off the success of Your Song and just before Rocket Man made him a household name, Elton moved to the Wentworth Estate, one of the UK’s most exclusive addresses. He named his house 'Hercules', not after the mythical strongman, but after his own new spectacular middle name, Elton Hercules John.

A bungalow like no other...

In 1972, 24-year-old Elton bought the three-bedroom bungalow for around £50,000 (pocket change now, but a small fortune then). It came with a swimming pool, a loft games room and soon, more stuff than most museums.

This wasn’t your average Surrey starter home. It quickly transformed into an Elton- sized treasure trove filled with Tiffany lamps, Bugatti furniture, vinyl records from floor to ceiling and surrealist posters probably worth more than the house itself. There were even stuffed leopards, because, why not?

Mistaken identity and the bookshop incident

Elton being Elton, he didn’t exactly blend in with the locals. One day, he strutted into the local Virginia Water bookshop in a bright orange fur coat and eight-inch platform boots, only to be mistaken by the shop’s owner, film director Bryan Forbes, for a Bee Gee!!!

Thankfully, no offence was taken and the two became good friends and Forbes introduced Elton to the world of Art Nouveau and Art Deco.

Overflowing with fabulousness

As Elton’s fame exploded, so did his collection of ..... everything. From records to rare posters, flamboyant stage outfits to antique furniture, 'Hercules' was bursting at the seams and thanks to his new social circle, Elton found himself hosting some rather amazing dinner parties. Think Peter Sellers, Dame Edith Evans, and on at least one occasion, the Queen Mother.

However, within a few years, it was time to move on. The house went up for sale and Elton upgraded to, a Georgian mansion in Old Windsor. It was a goodbye to 'Hercules', and to the slightly bonkers, deeply lovable chapter of his life where superstardom met suburbia.