Who Wants To Be A British Heir?
Filed under: Estates
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.
