Meet the Real Housewives star who spent £25m on a 1,000

Release time：2024-04-30 07:47:34 Source：Global Gateway news portal

When a Canadian reality TV star and her plastic surgery tycoon husband bought a historic Kent castle, locals feared the worst.

How could the couple, Ann and Stephen Mulholland - who own 11 homes including a penthouse in Las Vegas and a pile in Hawaii - possibly fit in?

Has there ever been a slightly more odd combination than the glamorous pair and the Grade 1 listed, 1,000-year-old, 19-000 square-foot, 140-acre medieval Lympne Castle?

Previously photographed dancing in a bikini with topless billionaire Richard Branson on his Necker Island, Ann - reportedly worth £500 million - admits it was a 'crazy' decision.

They are spending £25 million on the property in the village with just 1,575 people.

Dr Ann Kaplan Mulholland own 11 homes including a penthouse in Las Vegas and a pile in Hawaii

Locals in the local village pub, shops and park admit they had 'no idea' what would become of the property (pictured), which is a longstanding tourist attraction

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 has fame in Canada, where Ann is known as being a glamorous and successful businesswoman and found fame in the reality TV series The Real Housewives of Toronto

Locals in the local village pub, shops and park admit they had 'no idea' what would become of the property, a longstanding tourist attraction.

Early assumptions were 'wild parties' and locals being completely shut off and kept out after buying it for £5.5 million last year.

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. 

Ann and Stephen have fame in Canada, where Ann is known as being a glamorous and successful businesswoman and found fame in the reality TV series The Real Housewives of Toronto. Stephen is a celebrity plastic surgeon and medical entrepreneur.

They admit they have been totally wrong. Locals and tourists have been placed at the centre of everything the couple want to and are doing with the place.

The castle and grounds have been thrown open for various community events including Christmas events, hog roasts, Halloween gatherings and a murder mystery night.

Ann, 63, said: 'It's been so interesting. We thought we were buying a castle and we ended up buying a job.

'It was a slightly crazy decision. Who says 'let's buy a castle'. But we wanted to do something different. This certainly is different.

'I just love the place. This is more than a home, it's a community. We feel very blessed and privileged to be here.

'The energy of the place is amazing. We're trying to be very respectful of our undertakings which we have here. This is a big part of the community and we want that.

'We were not aware of any concern around us coming here before we moved. I'll be honest we probably didn't have much time to take any of that in if we are.

'But we're working hard and will continue to work hard to make this a place for everyone.'

Ann said it was important to find the 'lay of the land politically'.

She added: 'It's such a beautiful property. It came about very quickly. We put in a slightly lower offer as we knew we would have to spend a lot of money on it. And then it got accepted.

'We sat there and suddenly we're the owners of a castle. We knew that would be different but no idea how much.

'All of our homes are stunning. But we bought this very quickly in the end. It came as a shock to us. We just looked at each other and said OK this is happening basically.'

That was February 2023 and the project is still in full swing.

They later realised renovating the magnificent property could cost more than £20 million.

Locals and tourists have been placed at the centre of everything Ann and Stephen want to and are doing with the place

The castle is surrounded by stunning walled gardens which add to the historic character of the property 

The TV personality lives a hectic, jet-set lifestyle, with 11 stunning and palatial homes around the world, including Las Vegas and Hawaii

The famous family will continue the castle's long-established use as a magical fantasy, fairy tale wedding venue

It was rife with rotting wood, needed rewiring and much, much more work than maybe first expected.

READ MORE: 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

Now they have thrown the doors open to members of the local community and they want it to continue to be a tourist destination.

There is even filming for a reality TV show soon which demonstrates and shows the scale of the project they have undertaken.

When Mail Online visited this week, Ann was in the middle of another glamorous photo shoot.

She was only going to be in the area for 24 hours before catching a flight to Japan.

Would this jet-setting lifestyle be more suited to someone who lives in London, rather than the heart of the Kent countryside?

She said: 'It is very surreal. It's not a regular life. But we love it here. London is London. There's far more here. Opening it up to the public is very special and will continue to be.

'We're working on an event where the gardens get opened up for the community and have a mini farmers market.

'We're going to open a bistro and have cooking lessons. We want the locals and tourists to be at the heart of everything.

Ann plans to hire local people and suppliers and is looking forward to embracing and supporting the local community

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

'We've got it back open as a wedding venue. We're taking our undertakings here very seriously. This is more than just us. Both me and Stephen are learning.'

Despite wanting to get the community involved, tourism will be part of it and the events will be a money-spinner.

It is no wonder Ann can see a commercial opportunity here.

She is reportedly worth £500 million selling consumer loans for private medical procedures and from the sale of her fintech company, iFinance.

Stephen was a pioneer in the cosmetic surgery industry in Canada and operated on many A-listers. He also started a medical spa that he sold for a large profit and is the co-founder of a medical device firm, InMode, which has a market value of $1.7 billion.

Reports suggest Ann takes $1.6 million in rental income each year, $2 million from an insurance company she started and she invests widely and has an annual personal expenditure of $1.5 million.

She frequently flies first class travel - and thousands of followers on Instagram to boost.

Designer clothes and expensive jewellery are a way of life.

Ann added: 'Here, we're very willing to invest in the community. We want to give back.

'We're going to be investing a lot here before we see a financial return. It's challenging and we're learning everyday but we are loving it.'

Ann is reportedly worth £500 million selling consumer loans for private medical procedures and from the sale of her fintech company, iFinance

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

A glance at the castle's history and perhaps the couple are right at home after all.

For hundreds of years it was part of the Archbishop of Canterbury's estate before it was sold privately.

Then it was a hospital for injured Canadian soldiers in the First World War and then a British Army lookout station over the Channel in the Second World War.

For decades after, under new owners, it went through a period of being bohemian.

It hosted the Rolling Stones and was rented by Paul McCartney, who recorded Wing's final album Back to the Egg, on site.

Despite early concern - locals in the village are united in support of everything the couple are doing there.

Especially in the County Members Pub which sits just outside the castle gates in the village.

Decorator Roy Thomas-Wallace, 46, told us: 'Last year there was a great Halloween event they put on. A lot of the village went up there, it was great for the kids.

'It was a lovely gesture. There was uncertainty on what would happen there when we heard there were new owners. They have been great.

'It was a great gesture. The village feels like the castle is part of the community again. We're blessed to have something so special there.'

Reports suggest Ann takes $1.6 million in rental income each year, $2 million from an insurance company she started and she invests widely and has an annual personal expenditure of $1.5 million

Off-screen Ann previously worked in finance with a focus on consumer credit scoring. She founded iFinance, a North American consumer fintech company

Michael Redwood, 54, said he did 'fear the worst' when the couple took over ownership.

He said: 'I was judgmental and thought it would become closed off and that would be it. I was totally wrong. I expected wild parties.

'It's been great. We were up there at Christmas. There's always events on.

'It's wonderful.'

Retired engineer Bob Corner, 77, said: 'It's quite clear they have both had a colourful life. Nobody was quite sure what to expect.

'But it's been wonderful to have it properly open again. They would be more than welcome to come in here for a pint and some food if they wanted to.

'It would be good to have a chat with them. They seem very down to earth.

'There was a quiz night they hosted as well which was great.'

Paramedic Ryan Murray, 30, said it has been great for local children to be able to see behind the castle walls.

He said: 'The transformation of the area has been incredible. It's brilliant to see.

'We love it. It's special having somewhere like that on our doorstep so to be able to have it in the community is great.'

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