Boris Berezovsky death: Ascot - an exclusive suburb which houses some of the world's richest people

View From Ascot

Berezovsky’s multi-million pound mansion, Titness Park, in Mill Lane, Ascot, Berkshire (BBC)

From the large double gates and the warnings of dog patrols to the strings of barbed-wire topping a 6ft fence, everything around the late Boris Berezovsky’s mansion is designed to repel intruders and prying eyes.

The meandering road past a number of luxury gated-homes remained sealed off yesterday as police worked inside the house to try to understand the final hours and “state of mind” of the oligarch before he was found dead on the floor of his bathroom by the sole security guard in the house.

If his neighbours knew of anything untoward, they were not telling. House calls to some of the nearest homes were answered by security guards, whose discretion extended to the identity and nationality of owners of the neighbouring sprawling mansions.

Some of the world’s wealthiest have descended on the area lured by like-minded mega-rich and the connections that they provide (The Guards Polo club is at the bottom of Berezovsky’s road). His neighbours are said to include other wealthy Russians, Queen Noor of Jordan (the widow of the late King Hussein) and wealthy Saudis with their own Gurkha security staff living within the grounds.

“They [the Russians] all want to be around the Wentworth Club,” said one of Berezovsky’s neighbours, who declined to be named. “They make sure they have membership before they buy a house. They come in by helicopter and they’ve all got security. You don’t see them at all.”

Berezovsky lived at Titness Park for at least three years, according to another neighbour who gave his name only as Mark. He said he only knew of his presence because a friend did some work on his kitchen. “You never saw him around. There are lots of Russians, but you would not see him in any of the restaurants. He kept himself to himself,” he said.