Real Housewives of Toronto star buys £11 million Grade I listed Lympne Castle in Kent – and plans to film a reality TV series following its £15 million renovation
- Dr Ann Kaplan Mulholland, Toronto, bought the lavish Lympne Castle in Kent
- Read More: Ann Kaplan’s marriage vow to keep Kent castle open for weddings
A Real Housewives of Toronto star has revealed how she bought the £11 million Grade I listed Lympne Castle in Kent and plans to film a reality TV series following it’s £15 million renovation.
Dr Ann Kaplan Mulholland, Toronto, snapped up the 1,000-year-old Medieval castle with her husband Dr Steven Mulholland after it was put on the market for £11 million.
The self-made entrepreneur, whose net worth is more than £500 million, is one of the stars of The Real Housewives of Toronto and is a household name in her native Canada.
Ann and her husband, who is a plastic surgeon, threw caution to the wind after their right children flew the nest and decided to buy a bolthole in Britain.
The loved-up couple bought the historic, castle in Kent which overlooks Romney Marsh and the English Channel towards France.
Dr Ann Kaplan Mulholland, Toronto, has revealed how she bought the £11 million Grade I listed Lympne Castle in Kent and plans to film a reality TV series following it’s £15 million renovation
Ann snapped up the 1,000-year-old Medieval castle with her husband Steven after it was put on the market for £11 million
Ann said: ‘I was drawn to the beauty of its architecture, the magic of visiting (let alone owning) an actual castle (turrets and all) and the beautiful English countryside, visiting Lympne Castle was like fulfilling a dream.’
The magnificent castle measures 27,000 sq ft and comes with fortified towers, 20 bedrooms, a sumptuous wood-panelled Great Hall, a restaurant and kitchens, four cottages, walled gardens, a vineyard, orchard, stables and 139 acres of wood and pasture land.
As well as Lympne Castle being a glorious home for the Kaplan Mulholland clan, the famous family will continue the castle’s long-established use as a magical fantasy, fairy tale wedding venue.
Ann raced to the rescue of dozens of brides who had been told by the previous owners that their forthcoming nuptials at the castle had been cancelled due to the venue being sold.
Not only has she agreed to honour those weddings that had been booked before she took over, she has given the brides and grooms a 20 per cent discount on their big day.
Ann said: ‘What bride would not want to be married in a castle? Just over an hour from London by car, Lympne Castle offers a true fantasy experience.
‘From the moment you enter through the large gates presenting stone walls and turrets to when a lady-in-waiting greets you, the whole experience transforms you back in time hundreds of years.’
The couple are also completing a deal with a major TV network to film a docu-reality series about Lympne Castle and their forthcoming adventures to transform the venue.
The magnificent castle measures 27,000 sq ft and comes with fortified towers, 20 bedrooms, a sumptuous wood-panelled Great Hall, a restaurant and kitchens and four cottages
The famous family will continue the castle’s long-established use as a magical fantasy, fairy tale wedding venue
The castle is surrounded by stunning walled gardens which add to the historic character of the property
They plan to invest £15 million undertaking a grand renovation of the castle, which has played host over the years to A-List guests such as Paul McCartney – who recorded an album there with Wings and Mick Jagger.
Ann explained: ‘We are refurbishing the castle – the goal is for each piece, each turn, each encounter to be an experience.
‘I say that if you are going to buy a castle, go all in!’
The TV series will be a combination of much-loved historical drama Downton Abbey meets Escape to the Chateau, where Dick and Angel Strawbridge transformed a once damp and derelict 19th Century folly into a stunning family home and wedding venue.
The castle comes with walled gardens, a vineyard, orchard, stables and 139 acres of wood and pasture land
They plan to invest £15 million undertaking a grand renovation of the castle, which has played host over the years to A-List guests such as Paul McCartney
Ann and her husband, who is a plastic surgeon, threw caution to the wind after the youngest of their eight children, flew the nest and decided to buy a bolthole in Britain
Ann’s ultimate ambition is to transform the castle into a one-of-a-kind Medieval tourist destination, conference and events venue.
She said: ‘Imagine, as a guest, being transported back in time to experience visiting a castle centuries ago – but with the fun music and atmosphere, with knights of the realm greeting you, and jesters, stewards and ladies dressed in clothing from back-in-the-day.’
Ann plans to hire local people and suppliers and is looking forward to embracing and supporting the local community, and giving the castle a new lease of life to preserve it for generations to come.
She said: ‘We will be giving back and supporting the county of Kent, the act of giving will be encompassed in our culture at the castle.’
The TV personality lives a hectic, jet-set lifestyle, with 11 stunning and palatial homes around the world, including Las Vegas and Hawaii
Ann’s ultimate ambition is to transform the castle into a one-of-a-kind Medieval tourist destination, conference and events venue
The TV personality lives a hectic, jet-set lifestyle, with 11 stunning and palatial homes around the world, including Las Vegas and Hawaii.
She is a public speaker, social media influencer and a published author with six books under her belt.
She is also well-known for her philanthropy and supports many charitable causes such as SickKids, CANFAR, Starlight Children’s Foundation, Transforming Faces and ACT.
She has also written a 476-page coffee table book called Fashion Cares with proceeds to the Elton John AIDS Foundation and other worthy causes.
Ann plans to hire local people and suppliers and is looking forward to embracing and supporting the local community
Off-screen Ann previously worked in finance with a focus on consumer credit scoring. She founded iFinance, a North American consumer fintech company
Lympne Castle: The Grade I listed country estate built on a Roman tower which was once home to St Thomas Becket
Lympne Castle is a 15th Century moated manor built on the site of a former Roman tower – part of a former fortress known as Stufall. Remains of the fort, while situated on private land, are still visible to this day.
The first part of the castle, which sat on the edge the cliff overlooking the Romney Marshes, was built in the 1080’s for the Archdeacons of Canterbury.
Perhaps one of its best-known residents was St Thomas Becket – the former Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He engaged in conflict with Henry II over the rights and privileges of the Church and was murdered by followers of the king at Canterbury Castle.
The building belonged to the church until 1850 after Archdeacon Croft died and was sold to Major Lawes of Dover who rented it out to a farmer.
The property had to undergo some serious renovation by Sir Robert Lorimer in the 20th Century on behalf of Francis John Tennant after falling into disrepair.
According to The Times, in 1962 the property was then purchased by Harry and Deidre Margary for £30,000 before Robert Taylor bought it from the couple in 2000.
Off-screen Ann previously worked in finance with a focus on consumer credit scoring.
She founded iFinance, a North American consumer fintech company, taking it from start-up to one of the largest consumer finance companies in Canada.
She holds a DBA (Doctor of Business Administration), MBA (Master of Business Administration), MSc (Master of Sciences) and an ICD.D (Corporate Governance Designation).
Lympne Castle is open for weddings and civil ceremonies, with packages starting from £15,000.
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