Money Can't Retain Your Title

The Aristo News has always stated for a while that financial woes are permeating all aspects of aristocratic life. The 11th Baronet of Wolseley has been forced out of his ancestral seat, the Earl of Devon is selling everything he can & the Marquees of Devonshire just raised ₤35,000 at a Sotheby's sale.

Well, now Chris Eubank's, the boxer who purchased the Lordship of the Manor of Brighton, is being forced to sell his title. Why? He's bankrupt. Actually, he's been bankrupt since 2005, but now he's being forced to sell property, assets and the title he purchased for ₤45,000. It is now on sale for ₤35,000. Ouch. If the title can't be sold, it will be auctioned to the highest bidder by the Manorial Society of Great Britain.

If you have the cash, click here to learn more about the sale of the title.

Just in! Marquess of Downshire Scores at Sotheby's Sale!

Unlike the Earl of Devon, the Marquess of Downshire did very well at today's Sotheby's sale. As we previously reported, he was selling a document called "Engineering - The Draining of the Fens". The item had a guide price of ₤20,000-₤30,000, but it sold for a remarkable ₤35,000.

Well done!

It must be said that most items at today's sale went unsold, while others barely reached their minimum guide price. The market seems to be skewed towards buyers, so our aristo's would be advised to keep the family silver at home until the market recovers in their favor. But when you need the money, you need the money...

Earl Compton To Sell Tandridge and Chelsham Estates

Is The Aristo News turning into a real estate blog? We hope not!

Well, Earl Compton, the heir to the 7th Marquess of Northampton, is selling the Tandridge and Chelsham Estate in Surrey. The estate, which is listed by Savills, has a sale price of ₤25 million.

The estate is only half an hour from London and fourteen miles from Gatwick Airport. Not bad. Rent from the various farming enterprises on the estate stood at ₤350,000 for last year. The income from residential, commercial and farming property stands at ₤450,000 per year. There are 9 farmhouses, 25 cottages, woodland and many more features on this vast ₤25 million estate.

This may be a nice payday for the Earl in this environment and you do get a lot for your money. However, we can't help but wonder if the aristo's are starting to feel the credit crunch. Let's not forget that the 2nd Baron Hesketh's trustees just sold a painting for ₤1,161,250, which was ₤38,750 under the ₤1.2 million guide price.
If our aristo's continue to sell their prized works of arts and homes, what will be next? Their titles? Only time will tell...


For more information on Earl Compton's ₤25 million estate, click here and here.

Financial Woes for Earl of Devon?

According to The Daily Telegraph , the Earl of Devon is "selling the family silver"? Why? Due to his refusal to host gay weddings at the family seat, Powderham Castle, the castle's marriage license was revoked. The current Earl of Devon, Lord Devon, insists gay weddings are against his Christian beliefs.

A sale of priceless books and manuscripts is scheduled for July 14, 2009. However, Lord Devon insists the sale has nothing to do with the loss of his castle's marriage license, but to raise money for repair works on the castle.

We'll keep you posted on this story.

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