Having already broken new ground in ways which would have been unimaginable in the extended Royal Family barely a generation ago – divorcing his wife, Penny, and subsequently marrying James Coyle, a Glaswegian air cabin services director – Lord Ivar Mountbatten betrays no sign of playing it safe.
Indeed, I hear that the 61-year-old – a great-nephew of the late Earl Mountbatten of Burma – has just announced that he’s putting Bridwell Park, his Grade I Georgian house in Devon, on the market for £5.5 million.
But would-be buyers should take note of one highly unusual detail: Lord Ivar and James appear to have every intention of remaining at the property, come what may.
‘Our aim is to find an investor to join us,’ explains Ivar, adding that he and James will ‘carefully review how we can make best use of the house and the parkland’.
It’s what he describes as ‘a strategic decision which forms part of our wider plans’.
Those plans have already encompassed the staging of events which might have startled even old Uncle ‘Dickie’ Mountbatten and his spirited wife, Edwina.
Last year, for example, Bridwell hosted the Queer Spirit Festival for the first time – which was evidently a success and returns in August, when it will again lay on all manner of attractions, including fire circles, bands, ‘drag’, clowns and what’s described as a ‘Sacred Sexuality Temple’.
Lord Ivar Mountbatten (left) and his husband James Coyle (right) have put their country estate, Bridwell Park, on the market after battling rising costs
Bridwell Park is just the latest stately home to be put on the market. Last week, I reported that Dorfold Hall, in Cheshire, was on sale for £11.4 million, having belonged to the same family for 400 years.
In a statement this week, Lord Mountbatten said that the site in Uffculme, Devon, – which features a Georgian house, orangery and chapel across 100 acres of landscaped late 18th century deer park – would be placed on the open market.
He wrote: ‘James and I would like to advise our visitors, Friends of Bridwell members, subscribers, event clients and suppliers of news that Bridwell will this week be placed on the open market with both Knight Frank Commercial and Residential divisions.
‘This is a strategic decision which forms part of our wider plans. Our aim is to find an investor to join us as we carefully review how we can make best use of the house and the Parkland.
The estate in Devon was closed to the public until 2015 when it was opened up to visitors but Lord Mountbatten admits it’s failed to cover their rising costs
‘This movement will not impinge on the warm welcome we take great pride in extending to visitors of The Orangery Cafe and the Community Events we and our clients look forward to hosting at Bridwell this year – to include The Mix Music Festival, Uffculme Show and Country Fair, Queer Spirit Festival and our annual Community Bonfire & Fireworks Celebration.
‘I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their continued support as we feel hopeful for the next chapter for Bridwell.’
In early 2023, in a bid to cover the park’s overheads, he introduced admission fees.
However, these were scrapped in February this year – after the additional fees failed to bring in as much cash as first thought.
Lord Mountbatten said: ‘Sadly, there is no getting away from the fact that membership and general admission income hasn’t strengthened our position as much as we hoped or needed.
‘From February 1, I will be lifting all admission charges to the Orangery Cafe and Parkland.
‘My aim is to keep the wolf from the door by maintaining healthy visitor numbers across the seven day week and to encourage everyone in our local and wider community to feel welcome to visit us.’