THE maverick Manchester developer Colin Shenton, who was declared personally bankrupt after Shenton Estates went under in 2000, has a new venture.
"When they have all left we can sit, entertain and relax in these elegant and peaceful surroundings and feel really content that I booked that viewing."
He and his partner Gareth Harold are now living in colonnaded splendour in Gunby Hall, one of the finest country houses in Lincolnshire.
They have told friends it was a long held ambition to have a home in the English countryside and that they are refurbishing the house and the gardens which run to nine acres.
But it turns out that the house is owned by the National Trust and the couple, selected as leaseholders after a six month selection process, have been tasked with coming up with viable business options to increase visitor numbers and revenue.
In a three page feature in the glossy Lincolnshire Life magazine Mr Harold says: “We took the approach that this was to be very much a joint venture with the trust, and we undertook detailed research of the locality, the house and its potential so that we could identify how we can make the house pay its own way.”
You can read the full article and see the photos here.
This will be interesting reading for any creditors still owed money from when Shenton Estates collapsed owing £600,000. Mr Shenton has never disputed that he diverted company funds for his personal use at a time when Shenton Estates was failing to pay creditors.
While the personal bankruptcy has been discharged Mr Shenton is still disqualified from being a company director.
He has been doing property deals around Manchester for two decades and is still trying to get various projects in the city off the ground, most notably a super club in the old Mash & Air building on Chorlton Street. He is currently facing opposition from neighbours.
He apparently makes regular trips from his country pile back into the city.
Never shy of publicity Gunby Hall and its current tenants will be featured on Country House Rescue when the next series airs in the spring.
Colin ShentonAs Mr Shenton explained to Lincolnshire Life: “Hopefully, it will be another way of making people aware of the house and who knows, they may come up with a dynamic idea that we haven’t thought of which we will readily embrace if it is right for helping to secure the long-term future of Gunby.
“Meanwhile, we are really enjoying this as our country home and sharing it with our visitors during the day. When they have all left we can sit, entertain and relax in these elegant and peaceful surroundings and feel really content that I booked that viewing.”
If you cannot wait till spring to see them you could always call in. The house is open to visitors on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons. Click here for details.
You can follow @jillburdett here.
