Family battles to save secret castle from demolition

A farmer who secretly built a castle and lived in it for four years while it was disguised as a stack of straw is now battling to save it from demolition.

Robert Fidler, 59, of Honeycrock Farm, in Axes Lane, Salfords, spent two years building the castle, complete with ramparts and cannon, from behind a barricade of 8ft by 4ft bales to hide it from council planners.



The father-of-six then moved his wife and son inside when the castle was completed in 2002. There they lived for four years with only straw to view from the windows.

Shocked neighbours spotted the structure, which cost £50,000 to build, after it was unveiled when the hundreds of bales and blue tarpaulin sheets were taken down in May 2006.



Mr Fidler, who lives in the castle with wife Linda, 39, and son Harry, seven, was issued with a planning enforcement notice in March 2007 by Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and ordered to demolish the building and return the land to its former use.

Mr Fidler's struggle to save his home started at 10am on Wednesday at a public inquiry at Reigate Town Hall, where the farmer will battle with Reigate and Banstead Borough Council until February 12.

Photos from here.