The infamous West Sussex home once dubbed the 'Mucky Mansion' by its former owner, glamour model Katie Price, is undergoing a dramatic and lavish transformation under its new ownership.
From Repossession to Restoration
Katie Price, 47, was forced to sell the nine-bedroom faux-Tudor house in January last year for £1.15 million after failing to keep up with mortgage repayments. The property, which she initially bought for £2 million in 2014 from Tory peer Francis Maude, was repossessed by her creditors.
Price had famously planned to overhaul the dilapidated property as part of a television makeover series, but financial restrictions prevented the major renovations from ever taking place. The star did not receive any of the proceeds from the sale, as the money was swallowed by debts secured against the Sussex home.
A Tycoon's Passion Project
The buyer was furniture tycoon James Mercer, 63, a divorced father-of-two originally from Northern Ireland. He co-owns the house with his long-term partner, Leike Qu. Mercer reportedly 'fell in love' with the property despite its shocking state, snapping it up for less than the £1.35 million Price had hoped for.
New pictures obtained by The Daily Mail reveal the sheer scale of the ongoing renovation. Scaffolding envelops the back of the main house and its adjoining outhouse, but a new roof, doors, windows, and exterior walls signal a remarkable turnaround.
A neighbour remarked: 'There's no way the house can be called the Mucky Mansion now, it looked totally different. The new owners had their work cut out as it was in such a state. They would have been tempted to knock it down and start again.'
Leaving a 'Cursed' Legacy Behind
After leaving the home she lived in for a decade, Katie Price described it as 'hell', claiming it exacerbated her anxiety and caused panic attacks that led her to seek therapy. She insisted the property was 'jinxed' or 'cursed', citing a series of unfortunate events.
- She reported break-ins at the property.
- A number of her pets died there.
- She claimed to have seen the ghost of a small child.
She even issued a stark warning to the new owners: 'I hate that house. Whoever buys it, I warn them, they will get bad luck there.'
Before the sale, contract cleaners had to clear mounds of rubbish left on the premises, and there were concerns about potential land contamination. The house, set in expansive grounds with stables, comprises three reception rooms, nine bedrooms, and four bath or shower rooms over three floors, plus a one-bedroom annexe.
While her former home is reborn, Price has faced fresh controversy. Aerial photos of her new rented property in a nearby West Sussex village showed bin bags and debris strewn outside, sparking fears among locals that she was creating a new 'Mucky Mansion'. A source suggested her landlords could 'boot her out' if she turns the converted barn into an eyesore.
This property update coincides with news that Katie Price has split from her boyfriend, former Married at First Sight UK star JJ Slater, 31, after nearly two years together.
