Eccentric aristocrat Sir Benjamin Slade has launched a public quest for a bride and heir to continue his family line and help manage his sprawling 1,300-acre Somerset estate.
Approaching 80 next May, the seventh Slade baronet is offering £50,000 a year to find a partner who meets his exacting—and unusual—criteria.
A Very Specific List of Requirements
Sir Benjamin’s prospective bride must be at least 20 years younger than him and skilled with a shotgun.
Beyond that, she should enjoy ballroom dancing, bridge, and backgammon, while also having administrative abilities to help “run two castles.”
Legal or accountancy training is preferred, and a driving licence is mandatory, with a helicopter licence considered a bonus.
But the eccentric aristocrat doesn’t stop there: he rules out Guardian readers, Scorpios, Scots, drug users, alcoholics, and anyone under 5’6”.
Applicants from countries starting with “I” and containing green in their flags—including Ireland, India, Italy, Ivory Coast, and Iran—are automatically excluded.
An Heir and a Spare
Sir Benjamin emphasizes that his bride’s most important task would be to produce an heir, ideally two sons.
“Two sons saves the situation; three would be better,” he explains.
He maintains that women are essential for running a large household.
“Jane Austen said if you got a big house, you need a wife,” he said.
He also cited tax reasons for marrying a younger woman and promised a financial share after his death so his inheritance could pass to distant relatives.
A Lifetime of Romantic Adventures
Despite his late-life focus on finding an heir, Sir Benjamin has had no shortage of romantic escapades.
His colorful love life has included multiple high-profile relationships, many ending in bitter legal battles over cats, dogs, and property.
He married Pauline Myburgh in 1977, divorcing in 1991 after 14 childless years, famously citing frustration with her 17 cats.
Later relationships with Fiona Aitken and actress Kirsten Hughes also ended in court disputes, with Kirsten leaving him “in Lady Chatterley-style” in 2011.
Recent Family Drama
In 2020, Sir Benjamin met Sahara Sunday Spain, a 30-year-old American poet and composer, through a co-parenting agency.
She became pregnant via IVF with sperm frozen decades earlier.
Despite planning two weddings, Sir Benjamin canceled both ceremonies, leading Sahara to move to France and give birth to their daughter, Violet, in October 2021.
Sahara has publicly criticized Sir Benjamin, saying he has shown little interest in Violet and that his behavior was “devastating.”
She added that accusations of her being a gold digger were “laughable,” emphasizing that Sir Benjamin is land-rich but cash-poor.
Estate and Financial Challenges
Adding to the drama, Sir Benjamin’s Somerset estate, Maunsel House, was placed in receivership in June 2024 due to financial troubles.
The property, which includes a Grade II-listed manor and 1,300 acres, is now on the market with a guide price of £3.5 million, raising questions about the future of his search for a bride and heir.
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