14 DAY TRIAL // A man from Honeycrock Farm in Redhill, Surrey, in the UK has built an entire castle without authorities knowing about it. Unfortunately for him, he has been ordered to demolish it.
It appears that 61-year-old Robert Fidler never got a permit from the local planning authority before constructing his castle.
Instead, he figured he could take advantage of legislation stating that, if nobody objects to the building in four years’ time, he gets to keep it.
The beautiful Tudor-style building featured above is equipped with a cannon and battlements, and has cost £50,000 (€57,500 / $77,200) to build. It was covered in straw bales for four years, during which time it was inhabited by Fidler's family.
Authorities have decided that the house was only completed when the straw bales were removed, and he has to tear it down. The owner's High Court appeal to the initial 2007 demolition decision has been thrown out.
According to the Daily Mail, Fidler now plans to take his case to the Court of Appeals and even the European Court of Human Rights, if it should come to that.