You’d think that living in a castle would come with a fairy-tale ending—but for one British woman, it’s become more like a courtroom drama.
Sally Nightingale, once in the spotlight due to her very public divorce, is now fighting another legal battle—this time over a letter she wrote that a property developer says ruined his reputation.
A Castle, A Breakup, and a Nickname That Stuck
Sally Nightingale, 66, didn’t exactly plan to become the custodian of a 900-year-old Cumbrian castle.
But when her 24-year marriage to millionaire lawyer Christopher Nightingale came to a messy end in 2009, she walked away with the keys to Appleby Castle.
It wasn’t just a marital split—it was the kind of split that made headlines, especially after she claimed her ex had altered financial documents with Tipp-Ex.
That earned her the memorable nickname: the Tipp-Ex divorcee.
Back then, the estate was more of a burden than a blessing. Sally called it a “poisoned chalice.”
But over the years, she threw herself into reviving the ancient property.
Today, Appleby Castle includes a hotel, a museum, and a popular wedding venue.
It’s now on the market with a price tag of £6.75 million.
A Developer, a Planning Battle, and a Libel Dispute
But life in a castle is far from peaceful.
Things took a legal turn last year when property developer James Carlton—through his firm Chancellor Developments Ltd—bought the estate’s historic stable block.
He submitted plans to Westmorland & Furness Council, hoping to renovate and convert the site into housing.
Carlton’s team wanted to restore decaying parts of the Grade I-listed stables, spruce up three vacant homes, and transform the old single-storey horse stalls into four new residences.
His proposals even asked for listed building consent, meaning possible demolition work on protected land.
That’s when things got complicated.
The Letter That Sparked a Court Battle
In December, Sally submitted a written concern to the local planning department.
Her note wasn’t labeled as a formal objection—but it certainly raised eyebrows.
She mentioned that the new owner had removed a stack of historic flagstones, resulting in what she called the “irreversible loss” of part of the building’s historical character.
Carlton saw red.
According to his legal team, that statement implied he—or his company—had carried out unauthorized, damaging work on a protected structure.
He says the remark deeply harmed his professional reputation, especially since it was published on the planning authority’s website where anyone could read it.
Developer Says His Name Was Dragged Through the Mud
James Carlton is no novice when it comes to property deals.
His lawyers describe him as an experienced and prolific developer who’s led multiple high-profile projects.
He claims Sally’s comment didn’t just stir trouble—it brought his name into disrepute and exposed him to public embarrassment and disdain.
Now, he’s suing her for libel, seeking damages up to £10,000.
His legal filings say her letter could have a serious impact on the planning process and jeopardize his company’s project altogether.
Sally Stands Her Ground in Her Defence
Sally, however, is standing firm.
She says the letter wasn’t meant to accuse anyone of wrongdoing—it simply reflected concerns she felt the council should be aware of.
She argues the letter doesn’t blame Carlton or his company for removing the flagstones, and that it merely represented her honest opinion about work that had taken place on the site—possibly by previous owners.
She denies causing reputational harm and insists she was only fulfilling her civic duty by pointing out what she believed was the loss of valuable historic material.
Her legal response to the libel claim stresses that her note wasn’t an objection but an informative submission.
The Divorce That Keeps Casting Shadows
The backdrop to all this, of course, is Sally’s much-talked-about divorce.
She and Christopher Nightingale once had a fairytale life with homes in Hong Kong, Singapore, and three castles between them.
Their split was messy.
She says she was promised £1.5 million in company shares, but Christopher gave her just £83, claiming the shares sold for a mere £330.
Her lawyers didn’t buy that—especially after discovering that Christopher had used Tipp-Ex to alter bank statements.
They believed the real proceeds from the share sale were closer to £6 million.
That drama ended in a confidential out-of-court settlement after hours of negotiation.
What Happens Next?
Now, Sally is preparing for yet another legal fight, this time in the High Court.
The libel case, filed in May, is still in the early stages.
Both sides have filed their paperwork, but no court date has been set yet.
Unless the parties strike another private deal behind closed doors, the next chapter in this real-life castle saga will be played out in court.
It’s a legal battle where history, heritage, and reputation are all on the line—and Appleby Castle is right in the middle of it.
