Historic 102-room mansion goes into receivership after couple’s plans to give it £20million makeover

Historic 102-room mansion where Prince Charles’ investiture ball was held goes into receivership after couple’s dream to give it £20million makeover collapse

  • Paul and Rowena Williams bought the historic 102-room property four years ago as the ultimate fixer-upper
  • The Plas Glynfillion mansion near Caernarfon, North Wales, was built in the 1830s for Lord Newborough
  • In 1999 the mansion was bought by German rock star Ulrich John Roth of the band Scorpions for £500,000
  • The couple bought the property in 2016 and hoped a restoration would be complete by 2020, but it has failed

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An historic 102-room mansion where Prince Charles’ investiture ball was held has gone into receivership after the couple’s plans to give it at a £20million makeover have come to nothing.

Paul and Rowena Williams bought the Plas Glynfillion four years ago, and also the nearby Plas Brereton estate in 2016.

The couple took over the semi-derelict mansion, near Caernarfon, North Wales, which was built in the 1830s for Lord Newborough, and decided to redevelop it into a luxury hotel.

A shortage of funds stopped the couple developing Plas Brereton, and then work slowed at the mansion –  which played host to the Prince of Wales Investiture Ball in 1969.

Paul and Rowena Williams bought the 102-room property near Caernarfon, North Wales, four years ago as the ultimate fixer-upper

The couple announced multi-million pound plans to transform the house into a five star hotel but work later stalled

The couple announced multi-million pound plans to transform the house into a five star hotel but work later stalled

Queen Elizabeth II presents her son, the Prince of Wales at the King's Gate at Caernarfon Castle. At the time the ceremony was watched by more than 19 million people

Queen Elizabeth II presents her son, the Prince of Wales at the King’s Gate at Caernarfon Castle. At the time the ceremony was watched by more than 19 million people

Work then completely stalled on the project and in December 2018 Mylo Capital Limited – run by developer Myles Cunliffe – entered into a 50/50 partnership on Glynllifon.

At the time, Mr Cunliffe told North Wales Live: ”We have the funding needed to complete the project that Paul and Rowena Williams have started.

‘Work has slowed down at Glynllifon but this will change shortly, within four to six weeks, and will step up.

 ‘I am a finance guy, I started up with car finance and have moved into property with a property investment company.

The historic property with scaffolding covering it. No work has been done on the property since December 2018

The historic property with scaffolding covering it. No work has been done on the property since December 2018

Work then completely stalled on the project and in December 2018 Mylo Capital Limited - run by developer Myles Cunliffe, pictured - entered into a 50/50 partnership on Glynllifon

Work then completely stalled on the project and in December 2018 Mylo Capital Limited – run by developer Myles Cunliffe, pictured – entered into a 50/50 partnership on Glynllifon

‘I can bring the funds to make this project happen.

‘The short term aim is to be open within six months as a hotel and wedding venue. It will be the front of the building that will be opened with around 24 rooms available.’

Since then, developments on the site have completely stopped and in July last year, Mr Cunlliffe, said discussions were ongoing about selling the site.  

Now James Edward Liddiment and Paul Greenhalgh, from Duff and Phelps, have been appointed as receivers and managers for the company.

The business – which currently has Myles Cunliffe and Rowena Williams listed as directors – has eight charges lodged against it according to Companies House – all from finance company Together Commercial Finance Ltd.

In 1999 the mansion was bought by German rock star Ulrich John Roth of the band Scorpions for £500,000. 

The mansion had lain empty for several years after a previous attempt to create a wedding venue failed and was bought by the Williams.

In 1999 the mansion was bought by German rock star Ulrich John Roth of the band Scorpions for £500,000

In 1999 the mansion was bought by German rock star Ulrich John Roth of the band Scorpions for £500,000

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk