What was supposed to be a peaceful new chapter for a retired finance executive and his wife took a chaotic turn on their moving day—thanks to a long-standing neighbourhood feud and a neighbor with a passion for bell ringing and property lines.
Dream Retirement Meets Unexpected Conflict
Nicholas Partick-Hiley and his wife, Lisa, had just bought a charming £2 million mews cottage in Fulham, West London.
The plan was to enjoy a quiet retirement in their elegant home tucked away behind another property.
But things quickly fell apart when they arrived to find the front gate ripped out—by none other than their next-door neighbour, Adrian Udal.
The Man Behind the Destruction
Adrian Udal, 65, is no ordinary neighbour.
He’s a veteran bell-ringer with ties to some of the UK’s most historic churches—including the Houses of Parliament.
But on that August afternoon in 2023, he wasn’t ringing bells—he was wielding tools to dismantle the front gate and roller doors of the newly purchased Partick-Hiley home.
According to Udal, the land the gate was on technically belonged to him.
He claimed he was simply reasserting his property rights and installing his own barriers at the end of the shared driveway.
Legal Drama Unfolds
Unsurprisingly, the Partick-Hileys weren’t thrilled.
They filed for an injunction against Udal, arguing they had every right to install gates for their own security and privacy.
Their lawyers pointed out that this wasn’t the first dispute involving Udal and the property—the previous owner had apparently faced similar issues.
The couple accused Udal of deliberately plotting to remove the gate before they even moved in, describing the incident as “wanton destruction” and completely unjustified.
A Courtroom Victory for the Couple
Judge Nicholas Parfitt KC ultimately sided with the Partick-Hileys.
He ruled that Mr. Udal’s behaviour was both unreasonable and deliberately disruptive.
Udal was ordered to pay £10,000 in damages for his actions, which the judge described as “a wrongful act of wanton destruction.”
The court heard how Mr. Partick-Hiley tried to stay calm during the surprise demolition, even calling his solicitor while Udal continued tearing things down until late in the afternoon.
The couple’s internet was disconnected for weeks, and the whole ordeal left Lisa Partick-Hiley feeling uneasy in her own home.
Complicated Layout, Complicated Rights
One of the factors complicating the case is the unusual layout of the two homes.
The Partick-Hiley property sits behind Udal’s and can only be accessed by a driveway and passageway that actually runs beneath Udal’s house.
Although Udal owns the land under the drive, the Partick-Hileys hold legal easement rights to use it—including for vehicle access.
Udal, however, maintained they could walk through but not drive or park.
This led to deeper legal wrangling, with the couple insisting they had full rights to pass through with or without a car and even to install gates at the entrance.
No Warnings and a Secret Plan
The court heard that Udal gave no notice of his plans before the demolition.
In fact, the couple claimed he had quietly bought new gates back in July, weeks before they moved in, clearly intending to take control of the space.
To make matters worse, when the couple’s lawyers tried to assert ownership of the removed gates and proposed to replace them, Udal allegedly went ahead and installed his own metal gates instead—this time right up against the pavement.
The Judge’s Harsh Words for Udal
Judge Parfitt didn’t mince words.
He criticized Udal for presenting arguments based on his own “interpretation of language” rather than reality.
The judge found that the gate originally removed was placed correctly, and the couple had full rights to access and install new gates.
More concerning was the judge’s warning that Udal might continue to interfere in the future if left unchecked.
His decision to grant injunctions was partly to prevent ongoing nuisance, saying Udal’s behaviour had already caused enough disruption and anxiety for the new homeowners.
From Bells to Battles: Who Is Adrian Udal?
Though he was at the centre of a legal mess, Adrian Udal is better known for his bell-ringing credentials.
He holds a prestigious position as Secretary of the Belfry at St Margaret’s Church in Westminster—the church used by Parliament—and has rung in the New Year nearly every year since 2000.
He’s also a bell captain at St Gabriel’s Church, Pimlico, and has a fascination with antique clocks.
But that passion for history and tradition didn’t help him much in court, where his actions were seen as invasive and disrespectful to his new neighbours.
A Final Word from the Court
In summarizing the case, the judge concluded that Mr. Udal’s destruction of the gates and interruption of services amounted to both trespass and nuisance.
His conduct on the day of the move—and occasionally since—was disruptive and unlawful.
The court’s ruling not only restored the couple’s rights but also set a firm boundary for future behaviour.
What Comes Next?
Now that the court has ruled, the Patrick-Hileys are free to enjoy their property with the protection of legal declarations and injunctions.
Whether this finally puts an end to the neighbourly tensions remains to be seen—but for now, they’ve secured both their peace of mind and their front gate.