An unconventional nobleman, known for his quest on ITV to find a wife trained in castle living to bear him a male heir, has been defeated in a legal dispute with his former spouse over a £1.2 million estate. Sir Benjamin Slade, who divorced Lady Pauline Slade after a 12-year marriage in 1994, saw his ex-wife awarded a trust fund of £1.2 million following their separation. This fund comprised a £585,000 property and an “income fund” holding approximately £651,000 in cash. The conflict arose when Lady Slade vacated the Somerset residence, where Sir Slade had been residing since listing his manor house for sale the previous year.
The 7th Baronet had previously made public appeals in his unconventional search for a spouse, outlining a peculiar set of criteria that excluded Scorpios, Scots, and mandated the potential wife to be at least two decades his junior. The legal battle began when Lady Slade left the Somerset property referred to as Old Farm in 2023, requesting its sale by trustees to settle her debts and increase her finances.
In response, Sir Slade contended that his ex-wife lacked the authority to sell the Lower Rydon property as she was only entitled to live there rent-free for life or acquire an alternative residence. He argued that The Old Farm was never intended to generate income, as her financial support was meant to come from a designated cash fund now valued at around £651,000.
The dispute was escalated to the High Court as trustees overseeing the divorce fund inquired whether Lady Slade could sell the property and retain the proceeds. Representing Sir Slade, barrister Robert Deacon informed the court that Lady Slade had moved out in 2022 or 2023 and later confirmed in a letter in August 2024 that she had no intention of returning to the property.
Lady Slade expressed in her letter a desire to sell Lower Rydon, stating, “I give my full consent to the trustees to sell the house, land, and outbuildings and for the money to be invested, to enhance my income, and all debts to be paid from the proceeds.” Master Julia Clark ruled against Sir Slade, affirming that the purpose of the divorce fund was to provide Lady Slade with income throughout her lifetime, including the property.
The judge concluded, “There is in my judgment no basis for concluding that if Lady Slade does not direct the purchase of a replacement property that the overall purpose of the trust comes to an end, or that Lady Slade’s interest in the net proceeds of sale ends and reverts to Sir Benjamin.” Sir Slade, a descendant of General Sir John Slade, one of the Duke of Wellington’s generals, has put his family’s residence, Maunsel House in Somerset, on the market for £3.5 million.
Previously, Sir Slade had offered £50,000 annually in his quest for a wife, while outlining peculiar preferences such as a love for ballroom dancing, backgammon, and the ability to use a shotgun. He notably excluded Guardian readers, Scorpios, drug users, alcoholics, Scots, and individuals under 5’6″ from consideration. His eccentric search for a partner was highlighted on ITV’s This Morning in 2018. Lady Pauline Slade, his first wife, was the daughter of Devon county cricketer and British Army officer Major Claude Myburgh.
