|
Tales
of ghosts in a Gloucestershire mansion helped a royal couple buy
the home of their dreams.
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| Born
July 4, 1942 the Prince was educated at Eton College and the
Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. |
Prince
and Princess Michael of Kent had admired Nether Lypiatt Manor for
a number of years but when it came up for sale they felt the asking
price was too high considering the amount of work the house needed.
However,
rumours of the house being haunted discouraged potential buyers
and the Kent's eventually bought the house in 1981 for £300,000.
Nether
Lypiatt Manor was built in 1698 by Judge Cox, a notorious hanging
judge. Judge Cox's son hanged himself in one of the rooms and it
is his ghost that is rumoured to appear around the house.
The
Judge's treasured stallion and blacksmith are also claimed to have
been seen rushing through the main gates to the grounds as the anniversary
of their deaths approaches around January each year.
We as a family, our guests and our pets have always felt a welcome
from the house from the day we arrived, and have been extremely
happy living here.  |
| Princess
Michael of Kent |
Many
locals believe vehemently in the hauntings but the Princess is sceptical:
"I have no doubt that many old houses have some kind of spirit
presence or ghost and, if Nether Lypiatt Manor has such, he, she
or it, must be benign and well disposed.
"We
as a family, our guests and our pets have always felt a welcome
from the house from the day we arrived, and have been extremely
happy living here".
Nether
Lypiatt has a magnificent William and Mary staircase and most of
the principal rooms are panelled in chestnut, oak or beech wood.
The
house has four reception rooms, a studio, four bathrooms, two dressing
rooms and staff quarters. The land extends to around 20 acres.
 |
| Princess
Michael was born Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz of Bohemia. |
The
Kents have been keen supporters of their adopted county and have
backed at high-profile appeal to preserve Gloucestershire churches.
Princess
Michael's keen interest in history has resulted in the publication
of two books.
She
admits to being fascinated by the women the French call "left
handed queens" and she studied the lives of five royal mistresses
for her latest volume, Cupid and The King.
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