05-08-2025
This Rs 14 Crore Mansion Is A Dream Home... But No One Wants This Death Trap
Fashion designers Charles and Patricia bought Lanfoist House in Wales for just Rs 10.5 lakh in 1971. Now worth Rs 14 crore, the property is unsellable due to landslides
It is said that one should think twice before making any big investment, especially when purchasing property. For renowned fashion designer couple Charles and Patricia Lester, their dream home has turned into a decades-long nightmare.
In 1971, the couple purchased Lanfoist House in Wales, United Kingdom for just £9,000 (approx Rs 10.5 lakh). Now valued at £1.2 million (over Rs 14 crore), the property remains unsellable, not due to its condition, but because of recurring landslides caused by a nearby canal.
Built around 1690, the historic 20-room estate is located near the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal in southern Abergavenny. While the house itself is grand, the canal that flows just 70 feet above it on a steep slope has brought repeated destruction and fear into the couple's lives.
According to a report by Wales Online, multiple severe floods and landslides have been recorded over the years, with the most devastating incidents occurring in 1975 and 2014. The landslide in 1975 was particularly dangerous.
Recalling the terrifying moment, Charles, originally from Banbury, Oxfordshire, said, 'We heard a loud roar and rushed out to find water bursting through the canal bank. Nearly 20,000 tonnes of water, trees, and stones came crashing down. Thankfully, large trees fell first, their roots striking a wall and forming a dam — it saved our lives."
Now aged 83 and 82, Charles and Patricia say the anxiety from living under constant threat has taken a toll on both their mental and physical health. Patricia, originally from Buckinghamshire, shared, 'I still can't sleep properly. What if something like that happens at night? The fear is always there. The stress has become so overwhelming, I feel like I might either go bankrupt or lose my life."
Despite trying to sell the property for over a decade, the couple has been unsuccessful. Even when they agreed to a lower offer of £850,000 (approx Rs 9.93 crore), the deal collapsed due to safety concerns.
The Lesters blame the Canal and River Trust (CRT), which manages the canal, for negligence. They filed a £100,000 legal aid claim against CRT but lost the case due to what they described as the organisation's 'powerful legal team'.
Now, what was once their dream home has become an emotional and financial burden, a historic estate stuck in limbo, haunted by the risk of another disaster.
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First Published:
August 05, 2025, 14:43 IST
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