Wytham Abbey, a 15th-century Grade I-listed manor located in Oxfordshire, has seen its asking price reduced by 60% to £5.95 million as its owners struggle to find a buyer. The Effective Ventures Foundation (EVF), previously known as the Centre for Effective Altruism, acquired the estate in April 2022 for a different purpose. They intended to establish it as a center for technologists and philosophers to work on pressing global issues, with support from funding linked to Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz’s Open Philanthropy fund.
Initially listed for £15 million, the property was put on the market after EVF’s financial backers withdrew support for proposed events. By June, the asking price had been reduced to £12 million, and further adjustments were made in August amid a downturn in the luxury property market. EVF stated that the decision to lower the sale price was made to attract serious offers from interested buyers, following consultations with leading surveyors.
Despite appearing as one of the most-viewed homes of 2024 on the portal Rightmove, the property has yet to secure a buyer. The abbey has a storied history, having hosted notable figures such as Queen Elizabeth I and Oliver Cromwell, as well as contemporary investors like Jaan Tallinn and Sam Bankman-Fried, the co-founder of the collapsed FTX platform.
The estate encompasses approximately 9 hectares (23 acres), featuring Tudor architectural elements and various historical enhancements made during the 18th century. EVF indicated that they would consider recommendations from significant donors regarding the property’s sale, potentially prioritizing its use for more impactful charitable ventures. In 2023, Effective Ventures repaid nearly $27 million to the FTX estate, correlating with the financial fallout following Bankman-Fried’s legal issues.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/aug/31/wytham-abbey-asking-price-slashed-by-60-per-cent-after-failure-to-find-buyer