Meaford Hall, Staffordshire

Thereafter it was variously occupied by the United States forces, and by a school and latterly it served as the headquarters of the building company Percy Bilton Ltd.

Following a period of unoccupation and neglect the hall – much reduced in size[1] – was restored by a new owner and was reopened on 14 February 1997, the bicentenary of the Battle of Cape St Vincent.

At some point it was acquired by Craig Johnson, who undertook a number of developments, including addition of a leisure suite.

[3] In April 2008 Johnson was one of 21 people to be jailed in connection with a £138 million VAT carousel fraud, with the defendants sentenced to a total of 133 years – one of the largest thefts from public funds that has been brought to court after a Customs investigation.

In November 2008, Johnson was ordered to repay HMRC £26 m, with £8 m due within 12 months from the sale of Meaford Hall.