Fashion Designers Stuck With £1.2m Welsh Mansion Due to Canal Damage

Charles and Patricia Lester, a fashion designer couple who have created garments for celebrities like Barbara Streisand and Adele, purchased the historic 20-bedroom Llanfoist House in Wales for just £9,000 in 1971. The Grade II listed mansion, dating back to circa 1690 and once owned by notable industrialist Crawshay Bailey, has since appreciated in value to £1.2 million. However, the couple has been unable to sell the property due to recurring landslides and water damage caused by the nearby Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, which runs approximately 70 feet above the house on a steep incline. Severe flooding and landslides, including near-fatal events in 1975 and 2014, have not only compromised the home's condition but also taken a serious toll on the Lesters' mental and physical health. Despite trying to sell the mansion for over a decade, they remain trapped in limbo, with the risks from the canal making the property virtually unsellable. The couple had hoped to retire to a self-built home in west Wales but were forced to sell that as well, highlighting the profound impact the situation has had on their retirement plans and wellbeing.