Pioneering organic Pimhill Farm put up for sale at £10m
Estate agents Savills said Pimhill had helped "spearhead the organic farming movement in the UK".The farm's founder, Sam Mayall, was vice president of the Soil Association for a number of years in the 1950s.During the 50s, the farm also took the decision to set up its own mill and it became well known for its organic oats and muesli.In a BBC interview in 2019, Sam Mayall's son, Richard Mayall, said in the early years "some people thought we were totally crackers" and the family had its doubts.But he added: "I'm glad to say we had sufficient conviction to go on."Louise Harrison, from Savills, said the estate, which also includes an organic dairy farm, "epitomises careful stewardship".
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Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Wimbledon winner was left penniless and forced to sell trophies plus £9m house
Few sporting greats have experienced the highs and lows that Boris Becker has, with the three-time Wimbledon winner navigating fame, financial turmoil, and personal challenges Boris Becker, the tennis legend who won Wimbledon three times, was once a global icon with a fortune built on Grand Slam titles and endorsements. At his peak, his wealth reached an estimated £100million, but a series of reckless financial decisions and legal troubles left him bankrupt. He was forced to auction his cherished trophies and surrender his lavish Mallorcan mansion, as his life of luxury crumbled before his eyes. This is the story of Becker's dramatic fall and his struggle to rebuild. Becker's career was nothing short of extraordinary. Bursting onto the scene in 1985, he became Wimbledon's youngest men's singles champion at 17, a record that still stands. His ferocious serve-and-volley style and unrelenting intensity secured six Grand Slam titles - three Wimbledons (1985, 1986, 1989), two Australian Opens (1991, 1996), and a US Open (1989). His charisma and flair made him a global star, commanding millions in sponsorships. After retiring in 1999, Becker transitioned into coaching, most notably guiding Novak Djokovic from 2013 to 2016. Under his mentorship, Djokovic won six Grand Slams, cementing Becker's reputation as a shrewd tactician and expert technician. He also became a familiar voice at Wimbledon as a BBC commentator and pundit, where his sharp insights and first-hand experience captivated audiences. The unravelling began when Becker was declared bankrupt in 2017 over an unpaid £3m loan tied to his sprawling Mallorcan estate, known as 'The Finca.' Purchased in 1997 for £500,000, the 10,000-square-foot villa in Alaro, Mallorca, boasted seven bedrooms, a swimming pool, a tennis court, and a basketball court. Valued at £9m at its peak, it was a symbol of his success - until it became a financial albatross. Becker poured millions into renovations, but by 2018, he had abandoned the property, leaving it a "dilapidated ghost house" with graffiti-covered walls and a collapsed roof. In 2020, he handed over the keys to a British bank to settle debts, marking a low point in his saga. The losses mounted, and to clear his debts, Becker's tennis trophies - symbols of his six Grand Slam victories - were auctioned off. In 2018, 82 items, including a replica of the 1985 Wimbledon trophy, fetched £700,000. The sale was a painful reminder of how far the German had fallen, as he parted with the relics of his glory days to appease creditors. Becker's financial woes were compounded by legal troubles. In 2022, he was convicted of hiding £2.5m in assets and loans to avoid paying debts, violating UK insolvency laws. The charges related to undisclosed assets, including a £1m German property and tech firm shares. Found guilty on four counts, Becker was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison. He served eight months at HMP Wandsworth and Huntercombe before his release and deportation to Germany in December 2022. The trial laid bare his financial mismanagement, with prosecutors highlighting his attempts to sustain a lavish lifestyle despite crippling debts. Becker's personal life has also been turbulent. Twice married, he has four children from past relationships and last month, at 57, Becker announced he was expecting his fifth child with his 35-year-old wife, Lilian de Carvalho Monteiro. The couple, married in a lavish 2022 Italian ceremony, have faced public scrutiny, but Lilian has remained a steadfast supporter through Becker's legal and financial battles. Despite his setbacks, Becker is fighting to get his life back on track. Since his release, he has returned to tennis commentary and his family, particularly Lilian, provides a foundation for his recovery. Yet, the Mallorcan mansion, now a derelict shell, and the auctioned trophies stand as stark reminders of his fall. Becker's journey - from Wimbledon's youngest champion to a cautionary tale of excess - reflects the fragility of fame and fortune. With a new child on the way and no longer bankrupt, he stands at a crossroads, determined to rewrite his story, chasing redemption with the same ferocity that once made him a titan of the tennis world.
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Trump backlash as rich Americans flee the States and bid for new life... in a Scottish castle
Wealthy Americans fleeing the US after the election of Donald Trump are driving a boom in sales of Scottish castles. In the six months since the most controversial and divisive president in modern history took office, top-end estate agents have witnessed a huge surge in interest for the country's oldest and most dramatic properties. And although buying a castle has long been the ultimate fantasy of many home-owners, prices are now soaring to a historic high – partly because of an exodus of millionaires from the States. So while many castles over the centuries have witnessed and withstood countless battles, skirmishes and attacks, these days they are more likely to find themselves at the centre of a bidding war. One recent sale went to a closing date with no fewer than three rich Americans all offering far in excess of the initial asking price. Cameron Ewer, head of residential property for Savills estate agency explained a spike in interest from the US was pushing prices higher. He said: 'There are definitely more international buyers in the marketplace. In the immediate aftermath of Donald Trump 's election, the number of American inquiries through our website went absolutely through the roof – and has now settled to a far higher-than-normal level. 'Not everyone is a Trump supporter, and those that aren't are keen to leave the country: there's definitely an element of that in discussions we've had with buyers.' Last month tax lawyers and immigration advisers told US broadcaster CNN they had seen a 'stampede' of Americans emigrating since the start of Mr Trump's presidency. One couple told the channel: 'We're getting away from the chaos … I feel like the America as we knew it growing up is slipping away pretty fast.' Meanwhile, more than 1,900 US residents applied for a British passport during the first quarter of 2025, the most since the Home Office began keeping records in 2004. Politics aside, Mr Ewer said there were also other factors behind the surge in interest in Scotland's castles. He said: 'Scottish castles have always had international appeal. There's a romance surrounding them – and there's always a smattering on the market. But there are definitely more for sale right now. One factor may be the increasing costs of running a castle – which isn't cheap. Another factor is simply that the market in Scotland is pretty buoyant across the board, and with more stock coming to the market generally, there's a feeling that this is a good time to be selling prize assets in Scotland.' He explained: 'The overarching reason for the uptick in interest is value: the quality of the properties, the culture, the heritage behind them that buyers can afford in Scotland is head and shoulders above what can be found in other places in the UK, Europe or elsewhere.' And with a flurry of castles newly offered to the market, even properties worth millions are being quickly snapped up. In just the past few weeks, three magnificent piles have gone 'under offer' – including Plane Castle in Stirlingshire (a manor house near Bannockburn with a 14th-century tower which was marketed for offers over £1.2 million); Keillour Castle (a turreted country house in Perthshire, offers over £1.8 million) and Cramond Tower (a restored mediaeval tower house outside Edinburgh, offers over £850,000). Glenborrodale Castle, a sprawling 16-bedroom sandstone castle in the West Highlands also sold this year – for more than £200,000 above the asking price – having been put on the market for offers over £2.35 million. Scotland has around 1,500 castles – ranging from mediaeval strongholds with towers and keeps, to fortified mansions, and even 18th century estate houses whose battlements are purely decorative. Many are ruins, while others have been converted into commercial ventures such as luxury hotels and wedding venues. Hundreds more, however, remain as private homes – and are eagerly sought after when they go up for sale, sometimes after decades or even centuries in the ownership of the same family. Estate agents believe the general level of interest in castles from property lovers on both sides of the Atlantic has been boosted by TV's The Traitors – hosted in the UK by Claudia Winkleman and by Alan Cumming in the American version – which was set amid the baronial splendour of Ardross Castle north of Inverness. Mr Ewer said increased demand was boosting the prices for castles. He said: 'Prices this year are at a height – both in terms of asking prices and also in terms of the final prices being achieved. Castles are a special type of property, and the values don't always follow trends in the general housing market. 'People don't say, 'I've got a budget of two million, I'm going to buy a Scottish castle.' They typically need far deeper pockets than that, to be able to ensure they can afford the maintenance and running costs. These aren't buyers with specific budgets. If you find the right buyer, they'll pay whatever it takes.' Earlier this month American actress Christina Hendricks hinted she was looking to buy a castle. After spending time in Scotland filming two series of period drama The Buccaneers – which features as locations Culzean Castle in Ayrshire, Hopetoun House, near South Queensferry, and Drumlanrig Castle in Dumfriesshire – the 50-year-old confessed in an interview: 'I am so in love with Scotland... I'm all about the historical stuff. I mean when we shoot at these estates and these castles... this is mind blowing to me.' Above, to help the actress – and any other would-be purchasers – track down a dream castle in Scotland, the Mail on Sunday reveals some of the most amazing examples currently on the market. Picturesque ruins Over the centuries, many ancient castles have fallen into disrepair. And although the damage may be beyond the reach of even the most ambitious restorer, the remains can still make a picturesque centrepiece for a larger estate. The ruins of Castle Cary in Creetown, Dumfries and Galloway, are currently on the market for offers over £9.5 million. The price tag may seem high for a derelict building but the estate also includes a holiday park business with swimming pool, and pub and restaurant. On the Isle of Skye, the ruins of Armadale Castle, the historic seat of the MacDonalds of Sleat, (above) is on sale at offers over £995,000. The Clan Donald Lands Trust said it had taken the 'difficult' decision to sell the square Tudor-Gothic mock-castle dating back to 1815 – and the adjoining 20,000-acre estate – because of financial challenges. Castle with Mod Cons Although Pirwindy Keep near Largo in Fife looks and sounds like a historic stronghold, it was actually built in 1998. To all intents and purposes it really is a 'modern' castle. The six-bed property – offers over £1.9 million – was designed as a replica of a fortified turreted keep. The main three-storey tower has an imposing stone façade and a protruding balcony which offers great views over the Firth of Forth to Edinburgh's Arthur's Seat – ideal as a lookout in case the house ever needs to take on a defensive role against marauding invaders! Historical dungeons! For some, a castle's true worth can only be measured in the number of centuries it has been standing – and in the tally of original features such as mediaeval battlements, dungeons, moats and arrow-slit windows. Earlshall Castle in Leuchars, Fife, still retains its 16th century musket loops for repelling invaders. With an asking price of £8 million, the house – which was visited by Mary, Queen of Scots and King James VI – also boasts a Great Hall and a 50ft gallery decorated with the coats of arms of European royalty and Scottish nobles. Cakemuir Castle in Tynehead, Midlothian, (above) also dates back to the 1500s and has distinctive crenellated walls and spiral staircases, plus a stone plaque commemorating the occasion Mary, Queen of Scots in 1567 sheltered there, as she fled Borthwick Castle disguised as a page boy. The eight-bedroom restored tower house is available for offers over £2.9 million. The original tower house features a projecting turnpikestair, gun loops and a parapet for guards. A pavilion contains a dining room opening to the lawned garden through three sets of French doors. The property also has a wine cellar. A £300,000 bargain Believed to be the cheapest castle currently on the market in Scotland, Little Tarrel Castle is for sale, offers over £299,000. The B-listed fortalice – a small fortified house – was built in 1559 by Alexander Ross who became chief of Clan Ross and Laird of Balnagown after his father was murdered. Determined not to meet the same fate, Alexander began attacking rivals, kidnapping neighbours, stealing church lands and defying the government. After decades of delinquent behaviour, he was brought to book and forced to hand his title to his son. The castle was fully restored in the 1980s but retains many original features, including arched stone fireplace, timber beams, thick wooden latched doors and shutters, as well as the original shot hole, gun loops and arrow slits.
Times
16 hours ago
- Times
Best coastal towns to live in the UK 2025
W ouldn't it be nice if every day could feel like a holiday? It can — or at least a lot more so — when you live by the sea. Now could be the ideal time to make that move. Increases in council tax and stamp duty on second homes has had a big effect on house prices in the most popular seaside spots. 'While at the end of March prices for prime coastal properties were 12.8 per cent below where they were in the autumn of 2022, this sits against the context of 25 per cent growth during the preceding mini housing market boom,' says Lucian Cook, head of residential research at the estate agency Savills. 'Nonetheless, for those looking to buy, this provides a good opportunity to get more for their money.'
