THRONE OUT
458-year-old building repossessed over councillor dad’s unpaid bills
A HISTORIC castle owned by a suspended Tory councillor and father of a star of TV hit Game Of Thrones has been repossessed.
Aberdeenshire councillor Sebastian Leslie’s home, Lickleyhead Castle, which is thought to have been built in 1560, has been repossessed – with the family ordered to leave the premises.
Leslie, who sits as an independent councillor, was suspended by the Scottish Conservative Party until next year over unpaid council tax.
His daughter, Game of Thrones star Rose Leslie, lived at the castle, which is near Insch, as a child.
A decree for the repossession of the castle, which is also listed on rental site Airbnb where it is described as “quirky and fun”, was granted during a civil hearing at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Thursday.
Court documents revealed that the pursuer in the case, Together Commercial Finance, asked the court to find Leslie in default for failing to comply with calling-up notices – legal documents ending a mortgage agreement, requiring repayment of all of the outstanding loan.
The court was asked to rule that the firm have the right to enter into possession and sell Lickleyhead Castle as well as a gamekeeper’s cottage and land at Premnay, Insch.
The court was also asked to agree that Leslie, his family and anyone else occupying the castle should leave it, and to allow officers of the court to eject the occupants and their goods.
The decree was granted by Sheriff Andrew Miller. Leslie was not present for the civil hearing but submitted an email confirming there was no objection.
It comes after the West Garioch councillor was also due to appear at the court last week for a time-to-pay hearing.
Sheriff Morag McLaughlin granted a decree in his absence ordering him to pay £4214.50 plus interest and expenses to a chartered surveyor.
Court documents prepared by John Fraser, the claimant, stated that £500 had been paid towards the total bill of £4714.50 for inspections carried out and reports prepared on Leslie’s properties.
The property was put on the market in 2013 for £1.3million.
At the time, selling agents said the Leslies lived in another nearby castle but used Lickleyhead for weddings and functions and put the property on the market because it was “surplus to their requirements”.
It has passed through a succession of owners including Patrick Duff, the uncle of the Earl of Fife.
Former governor of Mexico City Don Guillermo de Landa y Escandon bought the property in 1922 for his daughter Maria Luz, who married into the Arbuthnot-Leslie family.
The court hearings follow Leslie’s suspension by the Scots Tories until next year and it is understood his case will be reviewed next June. He is understood to owe £2500 in unpaid council tax.
Earlier this year, he said he was trying to highlight what he described as corruption in the banking system.
Repeated attempts to contact Leslie for comment were made but received no response. A relative said he was believed to be in London.
His daughter, Rose, first made her name as housemaid Gwen Dawson in Downton Abbey before becoming a worldwide star as Ygritte in Game of Thrones.
She married her Game of Thrones co-star Kit Harington in Aberdeenshire last year.