so, think you got problems - Divorce costs husband estate won from Henry V

[bridgit]

'A member of one of Britain's oldest families said yesterday that he faced losing his ancestral home after a divorce battle.

William Williams-Wynne, whose family has occupied the Peniarth estate at Tywyn, north Wales, since the 15th century, said he would be homeless after judges dismissed his appeal over his former wife Veronica's £1.5 million settlement.

Mr Williams-Wynne, 59, said: "They've bust me. I'm the twentieth generation on the estate but this is the end of the road.

"The estate is held in a family trust and they've increased my rent by 300 per cent and I just can't afford it. I'm moving out and I'm going to be homeless. It's absolutely unbelievable."' http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/07/24/ndivorce24.xml

[Bridget Burke]

1. He's actually still in possession of the estate....

From the link:

Mr Williams-Wynne, who has moved into an outbuilding, added: "We are the oldest family in Wales. The estate dates back to 1412 and we were just coming up to our 600th anniversary. We just haven't quite made it. All my life has gone into building up the estate. My three daughters can't afford to live in the house....

Although Mr Williams-Wynne was left with the family estate, which was reputedly won in a game of chance with Henry V, his counsel, Jeremy Posnansky, QC, told the court: "He can't eat it, he can't go on holiday with it, he can't fill his car with petrol with it and he cannot spend it."

The barrister said that even if Mr Williams-Wynne sold his assets, including his light aircraft, microlight, motorbike and art collection, the divorce left him with an income of £15,000 a year.

Poor guy. Let's hope he doesn't have to sell any of his collections! His definition of "homeless" is somewhat unusual.

In the old days, war & treachery won estates. And favorable marriages. Some modern estate owners have found ways to keep things going. Offer tours of the stately home? Set up experimental farms? Learn to invest? Actually GET A JOB to pay expenses?

Mr Williams Wynne should review some history & be grateful he's still got his head.

[bridgit]

2. i know huh, let's hope 'the foundation' planned for a rainy day

:-)

"Mr Williams Wynne should review some history & be grateful he's still got his head." :spray: