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Article: The unwary shall inherit a [pounds sterling]95,000 bill for repairing the local church.
- Article from:
- Daily Mail (London)
- Article date:
- June 27, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Solo Syndication Limited. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: ANDREW LOUDON
A COUPLE who inherited land near a church must pay nearly [pounds sterling]100,000 for repairs to the building, the House of Lords ruled yesterday.
Andrew and Gail Wallbank will have to sell their farm to raise the money after five law lords overturned an appeal judgment which had gone in the couple's favour.
Mr Wallbank, 62, and his 55-year-old wife were caught by an obscure law with roots in mediaeval times - the 1932 Chancel Repairs Act.
In inheriting a field called Clanacre from Mrs Wallbank's father, they also inherited his liability as a 'lay rector' of the 12th century church of St John the Baptist at ...