Richard Hammond’s wife Mindy is reportedly seeking to keep their £7million Bollitree Castle in Herefordshire as part of their divorce settlement.
The couple announced the end of their 28-year marriage yesterday in a joint statement on social media.
The former Top Gear presenter, 55, and his wife, 59, purchased the grand property in 2008.
According to The Sun, newspaper columnist Mindy has requested to retain ownership of the castle estate as the couple begin divorce proceedings.
The request comes as Hammond is reportedly staying at a rented property in a nearby village, where he runs his “Smallest Cog” car restoration garage.
The Grade II-listed castle boasts six bedrooms and a swimming pool, set within 20 acres of land.
The couple announced the end of their 28-year marriage in a joint statement
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The historic property, built in the 18th century, is located in Weston under Penyard, Herefordshire.
The couple’s eldest daughter Isabella, 24, still lives on the estate and works with her father, while their younger daughter Willow, 22, resides in Gloucestershire.
Hammond previously downplayed the grandeur of the property, telling The Times: “It’s not grand and it isn’t really a castle. It’s just a house, with some bits of castle nailed to it. It’s not a particularly massive house.”
Before moving to his current rented accommodation, Hammond was reportedly sleeping in a converted barn on the castle estate.
A little update from us; this Christmas we were together as a family and this year we will still be a family but just structured a bit differently.
Our marriage is coming to end, but we’ve had an amazing 28 years together and two incredible daughters.
We will always be in…
— Richard Hammond (@RichardHammond) January 9, 2025
Sources claim Mindy “wanted him gone” from the property, leading to his departure.
The TV presenter was spotted without his wife on New Year’s Eve at the Wye Inn in Hereford, where he was seen drinking Guinness with friends and work colleagues.
A source told the Mail: “Richard popped in for a quiet drink with a few mates and work pals from his Smallest Cog workshop. His garage in Rotherwas is well known for restoring classic cars.”
In a joint statement shared on X yesterday, the couple wrote: “A little update from us; this Christmas we were together as a family and this year we will still be a family but just structured a bit differently”.
“Our marriage is coming to end, but we’ve had an amazing 28 years together and two incredible daughters,” they continued.
A source told The Sun: “Richard is very upset about all this. It seems he has tried hard to rekindle the relationship but to no avail”.
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Mindy has claimed she wants to keep the castle they bought in 2008 through their divorce
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The source added that there is “no speculation that any third party is involved”.
The couple met in 1995 while working at the same London PR firm and married in 2002.