People will do almost anything to get their hands on an original piece of Banksy artwork, from spending millions at auctions to actually destroying buildings to remove murals. But now that a Victorian home in Cheltenham, England that actually boasts one of his pieces is up for sale, you can bag a Banksy and a property all for just £210,000 (USD $304,836).
Listed by Peter Ball & Co Estate Agents, it’s obvious that the Grade II, three-bedroom home needs some serious work, but whoever buys it is probably more interested in the famous Spy Booth artwork on the gable end of the house. The mural surrounds a phone booth, featuring three government-type figures wearing trench coats and holding spy equipment to snoop on the calls. Having appeared in April 2014, the art is thought to be in response to Edward Snowden’s claims that British spies at the British Government Communications Headquarters were part of a huge surveillance program. It also just so happens that the phone booth sits just a few miles from the headquarters.
It’s worth noting that whoever does buy the property may be in for a bumpy future, since last year the previous owner told local radio station Swindon 105.5 that having the famous artwork appear on his home was a constant struggle. It’s also been vandalized quite a few times, which is why it’s actually surrounded now by metal and wood barriers—the owner wanted to protect it with plexiglass but authorities nixed the idea.
The home may be shabby and Spy Booth may be a bit beat up, but we doubt it will have trouble selling based on the Banksy name alone.
