An English aristocrat, a country estate and the need for an heir, it sounds like the plot for either a romance
novel, or, given the times we live in, a reality TV show. The
New
York Times profiles Sir Benjamin Slade, the owner of Maunsel House in Somerset England. Slade, who is 59 and
childless has not found a relative willing to take responsibility for the estate which costs $140,000 per year to keep
up not including incidental charges that arise. Slade is seeking an heir to produce children and make sure the estate
continues to prosper. Maunsel House currently is rented out for weddings and parties. He is hoping to find an
American Slade with lots of enthusiasm for hard work so that the house doesn't have to be turned over to the British
National Trust or sold. A television company wants to turn Slade's search into a reality TV show in which the potential
heirs would live at the house and undergo challenges to determine the heir. You can see some interior pictures of
Maunsel House at
Sir Ben's website.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Anthony Patrick Slade Mar 13th 2006 6:03PM
Why not consider a middle class hardworking American Slade? If I or any Slade made enough money to cover the costs of the annual maintenance of the estate why would I move to England? I am assuming that the mansion has enough revenue coming in from the weddings and parties to pay for itself with some left over to live on. Why not? Great story and what more insentive would someone need to keep it going then the thought of loosing it to the State.