A Historic Feud Over an 18th-Century Estate
The death of Sir Michael Maxwell, a well-known and eccentric aristocrat, has sparked a bitter legal and emotional battle between his family and a gamekeeper who now holds a portion of the family’s historic estate. The dispute centers around the will of Sir Michael, who left a third of his £2 million ancestral property to Daniel Rippon, a former employee who has lived on the estate since childhood.
Now, Mr Rippon resides in Monreith House, the grand 18th-century mansion that has been in the Maxwell family since 1791. He is set to benefit from the sale of the property, which is currently valued at £1.89 million and is understood to be under offer from a developer. However, Sir Michael’s two nieces, Katharine and Charlotte Helmore, are challenging the inclusion of Mr Rippon in the will and the decision to sell the estate.
The twins, who inherited the remaining two-thirds of the property, claim that their uncle was suffering from dementia during the final years of his life, which they believe affected his judgment. They argue that Mr Rippon should not have been included in the will, as he was not a blood relative but rather a long-time employee.
Since Sir Michael’s death in 2021, the sisters have been unable to access the 328-acre Monreith estate near Port William in Dumfries and Galloway. They say Mr Rippon has refused to engage with them, leaving them feeling powerless over the future of the estate.
Monreith House is a Category A listed building, recognized for its architectural and historical significance. It features 15 bedrooms, ten reception rooms, and is surrounded by mature woodlands. The estate also includes two cottages. The contents of the house, including an extensive library of rare books, approximately 500 paintings, and hundreds of other artefacts, are estimated to be worth £500,000. These items are set to be sold this summer, as the sisters cannot afford the £800,000 required to buy out Mr Rippon’s share.
Katharine, 42, expressed her frustration, saying: “My sister and I were the closest family my uncle had left. Throughout our lives, he was always there for us, partly because he never had children and also because he loved us and we loved him. We offered Daniel Rippon a separate deal in the hope we could preserve the house and the estate for both our family and the region over future generations, but he's not interested. We have no control over the sale, despite it being our inheritance.”
She added, “We are in a real predicament. What is happening beggars belief. We have appealed to the executors and Mr Rippon to avoid the sale, but no one is listening to us. We are furious about what is going on, but we seem to be powerless. We want the estate kept as it is, and the more precious items should be placed in museums.”
Dr Nicholas Courtney, 81, a lifelong friend of Sir Michael and the person who held power of attorney when he became ill, defended Mr Rippon’s inclusion in the will. He said, “Daniel first arrived on the estate aged just 12 when his father was gamekeeper. Such was his loyalty to Sir Michael that he has been rewarded in the will. Michael simply could not have run the estate without him.”
Sir Michael was the nephew of Gavin Maxwell, the author of Ring of Bright Water, a literary classic about life in a remote Scottish village. In 2011, aged 67, he appeared on Channel 4’s Country House Rescue to discuss maintaining his estate and his hopes of marrying after a lifetime of being single. He never married but was known for his eccentric style before being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2013. He passed away in 2021 at the age of 78.
Mr Rippon and the executors of the will declined to comment on the matter.
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