A unique nobleman who made a televised appearance on ITV in pursuit of a spouse with “castle training” to bear him a “male heir” has been defeated by his former spouse in a legal dispute over a £1.2 million wealth division.
Sir Benjamin Slade, who divorced Lady Pauline Slade after a 12-year marriage in 1994, saw his ex-wife receive a £1.2 million trust fund in the divorce settlement. This fund consisted of a £585,000 residence and an “income fund” holding approximately £651,000 in cash. The disagreement arose when Lady Slade vacated the Somerset residence, where Sir Slade had been residing since putting his estate on the market the previous year.
The 7th Baronet had previously appealed publicly for a wife, outlining a peculiar set of conditions, including the stipulation that the potential spouse not be a Scorpio, not be of Scottish descent, and be at least two decades his junior.
The legal clash commenced when Lady Slade left the Somerset property, named Old Farm, in 2023 and requested that the trustees sell it so she could utilize the proceeds to settle debts and improve her financial situation.
In response, her ex-husband contended that she lacked the authority to sell the residence, asserting that she was entitled only to live there rent-free for life or acquire a new property. He argued that The Old Farm was not intended to generate income, as her financial support was designated to come from a specific cash fund now valued at around £651,000.
The dispute was elevated to the High Court as trustees overseeing the divorce fund sought clarification from a judge regarding Lady Slade’s ability to sell the property and retain the sale proceeds.
During the court proceedings, the baronet’s legal representative, Robert Deacon, informed the court that Lady Slade had departed in 2022 or 2023 and subsequently confirmed in a letter in August 2024 that she had no intention of returning to the property.
In her letter, Lady Slade expressed her desire to sell Lower Rydon for years, relinquishing any claim to the property and authorizing the trustees to sell it to enhance her income and settle debts.
Master Julia Clark ruled against Sir Slade, supporting his ex-wife’s position, emphasizing that the purpose of the divorce fund was to provide her with income for her lifetime, which included the property in question.
The judge stated that if Lady Slade chose not to purchase a replacement property, it would not terminate her interest in the proceeds from the sale, which would not revert to Sir Benjamin.
Sir Slade, a direct descendant of General Sir John Slade, a general under the Duke of Wellington, who was once criticized by the Duke for his handling of cavalry, has put his family estate, Maunsel House in Somerset, up for sale at £3.5 million.
In a previous quest for a spouse, Sir Slade had offered £50,000 annually and outlined a series of peculiar demands, seeking a wife significantly younger, with shared interests such as shooting, backgammon, and ballroom dancing, while excluding individuals meeting certain criteria like being a Scorpio, Scottish, or under a certain height.
His unconventional pursuit for a partner was highlighted on ITV’s This Morning in 2018. Sir Benjamin’s first wife, Pauline Myburgh, 79, was the daughter of Devon county cricketer and British Army officer Major Claude Myburgh.