Le Selva: Faded Grandeur on Portsmouth Road
Facade & Grounds
Hidden behind a row of tall evergreens along the busy Portsmouth Road in Esher, Surrey, sits a house that time has quietly forgotten. Once known as Le Selva, this sprawling property now lies abandoned—its windows boarded, its driveway cracked and overgrown, and its once-immaculate gardens left to the mercy of the elements.
Set deep into its plot, the house is shielded from passing traffic by dense hedgerows and mature trees. A long, curved driveway winds its way past encroaching shrubs and forgotten flowerbeds before revealing the building itself.
Architectural Details
Despite the decline, the architecture still holds a sense of status. Red brick meets pale render in a design that feels both suburban and stately. French doors face what was once a lawn but is now wild, untamed, and slowly being reclaimed by nature.
Interior Echoes
Inside, the atmosphere is still and hollow. Large reception rooms stretch into dark corridors, some with columns breaking up the space, others completely empty. A stone fireplace dominates one room—its hearth scorched black, the surrounding carpet littered with dust and scattered debris. Light fittings hang loosely from the ceiling, while disused wires and tools are strewn across the floor.
Rear Terrace & Garden
At the rear, a paved terrace extends into an expansive garden. The wild grasses have grown tall, shrubs stretch freely, and a once-manicured hedge line is now a dense green wall. One large tree has fallen, leaving behind a splintered stump—an unintentional monument to the passage of time.
Final Thoughts
Despite the modern design and relative youth of the building, Le Selva carries the same quiet sadness found in much older abandoned structures. It tells a story of sudden departure rather than long decline. This isn’t the romantic decay of Victorian brickwork or industrial ruin—it’s something more immediate. The kind of place people once saw every day, now hidden in plain sight.
Visiting Notes
Location: Portsmouth Road, Esher, Surrey
Status: Abandoned
Visited: July 2025
Access: Private – approach with caution and respect.