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Thursday, 18 July 2013

Government puts 329-bedroom mansion on sale for £25 million

Government puts 329-bedroom mansion on sale for £25 million

A historic mansion boasting a lake, sports complex, training centre and a total of 329 bedrooms has been put on the market by the Home Office for £25 million.

Bramshill House, in Hampshire, is one of the country's most significant Jacobean properties.

The Grade I listed main property boasts a staggering 43,000 sq/ft of accommodation, putting it among the largest homes in the UK.

The mansion, which was built between 1605 and 1615, has 15 bedrooms, a long gallery, chapel, lounges, a mezzanine and a number of "magnificent state rooms" which have now been converted into banqueting halls.

It is approached through an historic park which extends to over 260 acres and has deer grazing, formal gardens, woodland and a lake.

It has been used by the Government, which has owned the estate since 1953, as a police training college.

But as part of a series of money saving measures - it costs £5 million a year to run - the estate has been put up for sale.

Away from the Jacobean mansion, there are a number of purpose built buildings which include two bars, two restaurants, a sports hall and 231 en-suite bedrooms.

There are 58 staff houses taking the total bedrooms on the entire estate to a staggering 329. The address dates back to the Domesday Book when it was known as the estate of Bromeselle and held by Hugh De Port.

By the 14th century the Foxleys owned the estate and in 1347 Sir Thomas Foxley Constable of Windsor Castle was granted permission to enclose 2,500 acres of land as a deer park at Bramshill and Hazeley.

Between 1351 and 1360 Sir Thomas also "erected a noble mansion at Bramshill", possibly using tradesmen from Windsor.

In 1605, the estate was acquired by Cambridge-educated Edward, 11th Lord Zouche of Harringworth. As the ambassador to Scotland and Lord President of the Council of Wales, Zouche needed a large country mansion to make a statement that he was a force to be reckoned with.

He reconstructed the house between 1605 and 1615. A letter dated 1619 contains a request for payment for painting work in 1615.

State rooms have been converted into banqueting halls

Bramshill was used as a maternity home during World War Two and afterwards as a shelter for the exiled King of Romania.

The Home Office, which bought Bramshill in 1953, has now decided to cash in on the estate and enlisted Knight Frank to manage a sale.

"Bramshill's rich history is part of its appeal but also its modern facilities bring it right into the 21st century," said Emma Cleugh, partner of Knight Frank Institutional Consultancy department.

Britain's youngest lottery winner Callie Rogers has just £2k left - but she's happier than ever

Callie Rogers, who won the National Lottery at just 16-years-old, says she's finally happy despite having just £2k left

Callie Rogers was one of the youngest winners of the National Lottery at the age of 16

Callie Rogers scooped the jackpot at the tender age of 16 back in 2003 and quickly splashed the cash on luxury holidays, houses, cars and expensive clothing.

But 10 years on from her win, the mum-of-three has admitted the huge sum of money was far too much for someone too young.

Speaking in a new interview with Closer magazine, she revealed: “I can’t believe 10 years have passed since I stood holding that huge cheque.

"It feels like a lifetime ago. So much has happened – terrible and amazing."

Callie now lives with her partner Paul, 34, in a modest £80k three-bedroom house in Cumbria.

She explained: “It was too much money for someone so young. Even if you say your life won’t change, it does and often not for the better.”

In fact, Callie said she's happier with her life now - taking care of her three children, Kian, Debony and Blake and working as a carer.

Callie was earning £3.60 an hour as a Co-op checkout girl in Cockermouth, Cumbria, when her numbers came up on June, 28, 2003.

She admitted 'everything seemed to move at a million miles an hour' after her win, with Callie soon buying herself a house and places for her mum and foster parents. But soon she began to struggle with life on her own at just 16.

Despite wanting to go back to work, the Co-op told her it would be difficult due to all the attention she was getting.

Finding herself with no regular routine, she fell into a life of partying with so-called "friends." It was there she met boyfriend Nicky Lawson in August 2003, but life with him brought more partying.

Two years later, the pair had their first child, Kian, now eight. She recalled: “He wasn’t planned – and I didn’t feel ready to be a mum. But Nicky and I decided to go ahead.”

Callie explained the pressure of growing up quickly took its toll on her self-esteem and she grew increasingly depressed.

In November 2005, she tried to commit suicide. She said: “I felt guilty, like I shouldn’t be unhappy when I was so rich.”

Callie had daughter Debony in 2007, but her relationship was rocky and she split up with Nicky around a year later.

The full interview with Callie Rogers in Closer is out nowBut before long Callie noticed her bank balance was starting to dwindle.

"The money felt like a pressure by then – I felt I had to be living the high life constantly, and others expected handouts,” she recalled. “I just wanted to be normal.”

Callie struggled with depression until she met Paul Penny in 2010.

She said: “Paul had no idea who I was or that I was ever a millionaire. I didn’t tell him – after a while, he found out from mates, but he fell for me, not the money.”

Life hasn’t been easy for the couple – in September 2011, she fell pregnant with twins but, tragically, one of the twins, Mason, was delivered stillborn, for unknown reasons.

Despite the heartbreak, Callie admits she’s now truly happy for the first time since her lottery win.

She said: My life revolves around the kids and, if they want something expensive, they wait for birthdays and Christmas. I’m glad they’ll grow up knowing the value of money.

"I was too young to win the lottery – I don’t think 16 year olds should be eligible. It nearly broke me, but thankfully, I’m now stronger than ever.”

Read Full Story Here:

http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/britain-s-youngest-lottery-winner-callie-rogers-has-just-%C2%A32k-left---but-she-s-happier-than-ever-104534042.html

Bond Actor Paul Bhattacharjee Found Dead

Sky News – 3 hours ago

The body of an actor who disappeared a week ago has been found, police have confirmed.

Paul Bhattacharjee, who appeared in the James Bond film Casino Royale and EastEnders, had last been seen leaving rehearsals at the Royal Court Theatre in Sloane Square, London, on July 10. He appeared to walk in the direction of a nearby Tube station.

The 53-year-old was said to be in good spirits that evening but after sending his girlfriend a text message at 9pm, no-one heard from him and he was reported missing.

Scotland Yard was contacted by officers in Sussex on Wednesday morning and told that the body of a man matching his description had been found near cliffs at Splash Point in Seaford, East Sussex, last Friday.

Mr Bhattacharjee, from Redbridge, northeast London, was formally identified and his next of kin have been informed.

His death is not being treated as suspicious.

His friends and family had made pleas for his safe return, including his 24-year-old son Rahul Bhattacharjee-Prashar, who told the Evening Standard the disappearance was "completely out of character".

He added: "He was doing well in his career and everything seemed to be going okay."

The actor, who also appeared in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, White Teeth and Dirty Pretty Things, had been due to appear in this week's play Talk Show at the Royal Court.

His role in the play, which began last night, was recast.

He was part of the theatre's company of 14 actors performing in the Weekly Rep series, which sees six plays staged in six weeks, and had already appeared in two of the productions.

Tributes have been paid to the actor, with many from the theatre world taking to Twitter to express their sadness.

Director Jamie Lloyd wrote: "Very sad to hear about the death of Paul Bhattacharjee. He was a very fine actor. My thoughts are with his family."

Muzz Khan, who appeared in Much Ado About Nothing alongside the late actor, said: "Rest In Peace, Paul Bhattacharjee. I can't believe you're gone, mate."

Playwright Duncan Gates wrote: "'When you depart from me sorrow abides and happiness takes his leave'. RIP Paul Bhattacharjee."

Actor Rick Warden wrote: "Having a bad time with the news about friend and colleague Paul Bhattacharjee's death. An intelligent & charismatic man. Very sad."

He played a doctor in Casino Royale in 2006 and was in several episodes of EastEnders as Inzamam between 2008 and 2010.

Other television credits for the actor included Waking The Dead, Spooks and The Bill.

Last year he appeared as Benedick opposite Meera Syal in a Royal Shakespeare Company production of Much Ado About Nothing.

Read Full Story Here:

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/bond-actor-paul-bhattacharjee-found-dead-215831594.html#ZeiwQWE

Will first refusal see Fabregas refuse to return to Arsenal?

This one is going to hurt. No matter how you want to dress it up or put a positive spin on it, the sight of Cesc Fabregas representing Manchester United against Arsenal next season will mentally wound fans of the London club, some of whom seemed sure their former captain would play only for them if he ever returned to the Premier League.

Now it looks like Fabregas could return to England, but not to the Emirates Stadium, a venue where he was revered for so long having developed into one of the world's most coveted midfielders during his eight-year spell at Arsenal that began in 2003 and ran until Barca came calling in 2011.

Manchester United's chief executive Ed Woodward has departed his club's tour of Australia amid mounting media speculation that he is off to secure an agreement for Fabregas that is likely to be north of £40 million. None of this news will leave Arsenal fans feeling very good over this morning's cornflakes.

Fabregas is apparently keen to start the key matches for club and country. He has been deprived of that sensation at Barcelona (read Andy Mitten's latest blog for more on this topic). His return to his boyhood club in Catalonia has soured somewhat, and there are indications he would be open to a move elsewhere. Namely United.

He has indicated privately the prospect of a switch to Old Trafford appeals with next summer's World Cup finals looming large on the horizon. Only regular action will make him a regular with Spain. He will certainly be given scope for that under United's manager David Moyes, a coach who already appears to have seen enough of Wayne Rooney less than one month into his new job with the Premier League champions.

'How could Fabregas, our darling, our former skipper, do this to us?' some Arsenal fans will think. 'He said he would only leave Barcelona for his first true love in England, right?' The soundbites from yesteryear certainly suggested so.

"Apart from Arsenal and Barcelona, I don't see myself playing anywhere else," said Fabregas in an interview in December 2011.

"I will definitely be going back (to Arsenal) whenever I have time to watch games and to see the guys, and you never know in the future, why not?

"I hope I will stay here for a very long time, and maybe even retire here, but why not? In life, you can never say never, and if there is one place to go back to, it is Arsenal for sure."

He continued: "It was very hard, the hardest decision I have ever made, even if it was my dream to play for Barcelona.

"I'm not embarrassed to say the day I left all I could say (to the Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger) was thank you very much. I couldn't talk more. I'm not embarrassed to say I nearly cried. It was very emotional."

He could not possibly join United after such an outburst, surely? But then one rummages back into the reservoir of contradictory quotes to find this little nugget before United met Arsenal in the semi-finals of the Champions League four years ago.

"I'm a massive Man United fan. I have no problem saying United are one of the best clubs in the world, even though I want to beat them. They are the best side in the world at the moment, a top, top side and we respect them a lot."

Footballers declaring love and loyalty for a club are a bit like flaky women. If Fabregas ends up at Manchester United, it will be the equivalent of some chick declaring her undying love for you one day before winding up in bed with your worst enemy the next day.

The sight of Fabregas joining Robin van Persie in the camp of an old enemy at Old Trafford is going to sting a whole lot worse than seeing Nicklas Bendtner play for Arsenal one more time.

It is not so much Fabregas returning to England that is the problem. It focuses more on what it says about the state of Arsenal.

What Fabregas will effectively say by joining United is that he thinks he has a better chance of winning trophies under David Moyes than Arsene Wenger. Just like Van Persie last season. Just like Thierry Henry when he decided the grass was greener at Barca. Just like Samir Nasri when he was booed by some fans in a 2-0 defeat to Liverpool a couple of years ago before skipping off toManchester City a few days later.

Arsenal struck an agreement with Barcelona over the sale of Fabregas in August 2011 that gave them first refusal on the player. But that clause is in itself meaningless if the player refuses to return. This now seems a possibility.

There will be no point in Arsenal offering the £25m buy back fee agreed with Barca if Fabregas does not want to come back.

The comfort of more money being added to Arsenal's bulging bank account by a large cut of Fabregas's sell-on fee will again dissatisfy the club's fans, who continue to be sold stories about potential targets without the promised spending spree coming to fruition.

That does not mean bids for the Liverpool forward Luis Suarez at £40m and Gonzalo Higuain, a snip at £25m from Real Madrid, will not come off, but you can understand the frustration of the fans. It continues to feel odd Wenger even contemplating such transfers.

“Fabregas has decided to stay one more year at Barcelona," said Wenger following yesterday's 7-1 friendly win over Vietnam. "He has changed his mind. I don’t know. But that’s what I have been told. We have the clause in his contract so we would be on alert but at the moment that’s not something we are after."

If Fabregas does opt for United, life will go on.

But it suddenly becomes imperative for Wenger and his board to begin sprinkling the squad with some real gold dust. A summer of significant spending promised by Ivan Gazidis, the club's chief executive, has yet to materialise. One says yet because this could yet happen. Indeed, it must happen.

At some stage, the bleeding of blue chip faces, or red in this matter, must be stemmed by ambition, and unloading heavier dollops of cash. Arsenal are too big and wealthy a concern to continue playing the victim in such scenarios. Their fans deserve better.

Desmond Kane

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QUOTE OF THE DAY: "The World Cup must be a festival of the people. But for it to be such a festival, you can't play football in the summer. You can cool down the stadiums but you can't cool down the whole country and you can't simply cool down the ambience of a World Cup. The players must be able to play in the best conditions to play a good World Cup." Sepp Blatter continues to cast more doubt on the credibility of Qatar's plan to host the 2022 World Cup finals in searing temperatures. But will clubs accept the alternative of a winter tournament?

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE VIEW: “I think Celtic’s class showed in the end. The three goals were preventable. We gave away cheap possession twice and didn’t pick up from a corner. You do that at this level and you get punished. We are part-time players and I thought we played well and could have got a goal. But I have no complaints. We rallied in the second half but I think Celtic maybe had a couple of extra gears if we scored.” Cliftonville manager Tommy Breslin faces a dose of reality after his part-timers from Belfast are beaten 3-0 by Celtic in the first leg of their second round qualifying tie.

COMING UP: Manuel Pellegrini will get another look at his new squad as Manchester City take on Amazulu in Durban - we'll have full live commentary at 7pm on that one. Also, England's women are in action against France at the Women's Euro while qualifying for the Europa League proper continues with the likes of Hibernian, St Johnstone, Derry City and Prestatyn Town among those playing. Jan Molby will bring you his latest thoughts at some stage during the day and, of course,Eurobot will fire up to bring you the latest in transfer tittle tattle.

Read Full Story Here:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/early-doors/first-refusal-see-fabregas-refuse-return-arsenal-043008211.html