H&M Billionaire Buys English Village

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
May 25th 2009 at 3:01PM

The Swedish billionaire behind fast fashion chain H&M may have bought himself and entire English village. Stefan Persson is said to be the buyer of Linkenholt, a village near Andover, Hampshire. The village, manor house and up to 2,000 acres of surrounding countryside were put up for sale earlier this year. Persson, who already owns a 8,500 English estate in Wiltshire may have spent around £25 million.

The estate hosts sporting events and rents out small cottages and the main manor house. It has been owned by a charitable trust since the 1970s. The Daily Mail reports that Persson's son Karl-Johan and his wife Leonie, may take up residence in the manor house.

The charming village is home to 22 houses, a cricket club, blacksmith and a shop. The residents who live in the village are hoping to stay on and many have lived there for their whole lives. The Sun reveals that the only building not included in the sale is St Peter's Church, which holds services on the third Sunday of each month.

Tags: england, h and m, HAndM, hennes and mauritz, HennesAndMauritz, linkenholt, stefan persson, StefanPersson