Aristocrat Sir Benjamin Slade in High Court Battle with Ex-Wife Over £1.2m Trust Fund
An eccentric aristocrat, renowned for his public search for a "castle-trained" wife on national television, is now embroiled in a High Court legal fight with his former spouse over a substantial £1.2 million trust fund. Sir Benjamin Slade, the 7th Baronet of Maunsel, is contesting Lady Pauline Slade's desire to sell Old Farm, a property valued at £585,000 situated within his expansive 2,000-acre estate in rural Somerset.
The Core of the Dispute
Following their divorce settlement in 1994, Lady Slade was granted an "income fund" currently worth approximately £651,000, alongside the right to reside rent-free in the Old Farm property located in Lower Rydon, West Newton. She now seeks to sell the house to address personal debts and enhance her financial income, a move Sir Benjamin vehemently opposes.
Sir Benjamin's legal team, led by barrister Robert Deacon, argues that his ex-wife possesses no entitlement to the sale proceeds. The trustees of her fund have petitioned the court to determine whether she can legally compel them to sell the property and dictate how any generated funds are utilised.
The Aristocratic Background
Sir Benjamin Slade, 79, is a figure of considerable public notoriety. He gained widespread attention in 2018 after appearing on ITV's "This Morning" to advertise for a new wife, infamously stipulating she could not be from a country beginning with an 'I' or featuring green in its flag, and must not be a Scorpio, lesbian, or Scottish. More recently, he had a brief, tumultuous stint on Channel 4's reality gameshow "Handcuffed: Last Pair Standing," departing after a drunken rant where he demanded his phone and bolt cutters to separate from his partner.
A direct descendant of General Sir John Slade, one of the Duke of Wellington's generals, Sir Benjamin's family seat is the historic Maunsel House in Somerset. This sprawling 13-bedroom red-brick manor, with origins dating to the 11th century, is reputedly where Geoffrey Chaucer composed some of his works. The property features a blocked-off secret passage once linked to a local church and a well-stocked bar displaying 81 guns, including a heavy machine gun.
Legal Arguments and Trust Terms
Barrister Robert Deacon presented Sir Benjamin's case, asserting that the 1994 settlement was designed "to provide income for Lady Slade from the cash fund deposited in the trust and to provide her with lifetime rent-free accommodation by means of the transfer of the property to the trust." He argued it was "never objectively intended that the property would be used to provide income" and that Lady Slade cannot alter the trust's fundamental purpose from providing a home to creating an income-producing asset.
Mr Deacon detailed Lady Slade's limited rights: she holds a life interest in the income from her £651,000 trust fund but cannot control its capital. Regarding Old Farm, she only has the power to direct trustees to sell it "to acquire another property [to be her home]," not to demand the proceeds be invested for income. Sir Benjamin contends that, under the settlement terms, she cannot request a sale unless she is actually residing at the property, and the trust's sole purpose was to secure her permanent accommodation.
Court Proceedings and Neutral Trustees
During a short hearing before High Court judge Master Julia Clark, the "preliminary issue" was whether Lady Slade can "compel" the trustees to sell Old Farm and invest the proceeds for her income. The two trustees, represented by barrister Hugh Cumber, maintained a "neutral" stance amidst the "diametrically opposing views" of the former couple.
Notably, Lady Slade, while a named party, was not represented in court and has not participated in the proceedings or submitted evidence, despite her vested interest in the outcome. The trustees initiated the case to resolve the dispute and ensure proper trust administration.
Master Julia Clark has reserved her decision on the matter, which will determine the future of the Old Farm property and the utilisation of the £1.2 million trust fund established nearly three decades ago.
