A woman who previously managed a pub and inherited the £2.5 million estate of farmer Tony Martin is seeking approval to develop housing on his property. Jacqueline Wadsley, aged 52, became the sole heir in Mr. Martin’s will after he fatally shot a teenage intruder at his farmhouse back in August 1999.
Now, Jacqueline and her husband David, aged 45, have put forward a proposal to transform five dilapidated barns into ten new residences on the land located at Bleak House Farm in Emneth Hungate, Norfolk. They have requested consent from King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Council under permitted development rights, which allow for the conversion of agricultural structures into homes without the need for full planning permission.
The relationship between Mrs. Wadsley and Mr. Martin blossomed when they met at the Hare and Hounds pub in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, where she worked. Mr. Martin, who was released from Highpoint Prison in Suffolk in 2003, formed a close bond with Mrs. Wadsley, often described as a “father and daughter” dynamic. They shared meals, with Mrs. Wadsley preparing Sunday lunches, and Mr. Martin assisting her family with various tasks.
Following Mr. Martin’s passing at the age of 80 in February the previous year, Mrs. Wadsley and her husband were appointed as executors of his will. Plans submitted to the council outline their intention to refurbish the barns, described as functional agricultural buildings with modest appearances. These barns, situated near Bleak House farmhouse where the fatal incident occurred, consist of a mix of steel-framed and brick structures with metal cladding roofs.
Mr. Martin, who faced legal consequences for the shooting incident, never returned to Bleak House after his release from prison. The property has remained abandoned, overgrown with vegetation, and in disrepair since the tragic event. Despite the development proposal, the main house and another dilapidated cottage on the site are not part of the renovation plans.
The estate left by Mr. Martin, valued at £2,573,973 in the UK, was eventually entrusted to Mrs. Wadsley after accounting for expenses. The project to convert the barns into residences is outlined to maintain the existing appearance while enhancing walls, roofs, doors, and adding windows to create habitable spaces.
Throughout Mr. Martin’s final years, Mrs. Wadsley provided substantial support, including assistance with medical care and accommodations, indicating a close and caring relationship with the late farmer. The conversion project envisions clusters of barns amidst grasslands and mature trees, with minimal alterations to the external appearance during the transformation process.