Richard Hammond reportedly stayed in his beloved man cave on his sprawling £7million Bollitree Castle estate in the wake of his split from estranged wife Mindy.
The Top Gear star, 55, confirmed the end of their 28-year marriage on Thursday – and reports have already emerged Mindy, 59, wants to keep the Herefordshire castle in their impending divorce.
Richard and Mindy bought the castle in 2008 and the Top Gear host spent 15 years restoring a listed granary barn on the grounds into his dream ‘clubhouse’.
Last year, Richard hinted at tensions in the marriage when he gave fans a tour and admitted he had managed to ‘sneak’ his prized motorbike collection back into the space after it was ‘decided’ they had to be removed.
He said: ‘My wife swears blind it is haunted and so it is more for me and the chaps.’
The presenter is now said to have moved to a rented property in a nearby village where he runs his ‘Smallest Cog’ car restoration garage.
Richard Hammond reportedly stayed in his beloved man cave on his sprawling £7million Bollitree Castle estate in the wake of his split from estranged wife Mindy
The Top Gear star, 55, confirmed the end of their 28-year marriage on Thursday – and reports have already emerged Mindy, 59, wants to keep the Herefordshire castle (pictured in 2023)
Last year, Richard hinted at tensions in the marriage when he gave fans a tour of a granary barn he converted in the grounds of the castle and told fans: ‘Mindy doesn’t like coming in here’
During the tour, Richard showed off the kitchen that could transform into a bar and explained how he wasted a huge amount of money on a swimming pool that no-one uses.
He said: ‘This is not a man cave, I hate that phrase. If I call it anything, I call it a clubhouse for family, friends and business use.’
The open plan living area houses Richard’s impressive collection of motorbikes, while the white wash walls have illustrations of The Simpson’s Mr Burns and Cruella De Vil.
But the television star admitted as the renovations became more impressive, ‘it was decided the bikes couldn’t live here anymore’.
He said: ‘It was decided for me the bikes couldn’t live here anymore because we hosted parties and they were stored elsewhere… since which they have been slowly sneaking back.’
Richard went on to proudly show off some of his collection which included a 1930s Supreme, Brough Superior, CBX, 1929 BMW.
The barn boasts a fully fitted kitchen which closes off to caterers with folding doors, to transform the island into a bar with ice machine.
Upstairs, there is a mezzanine level that has a handrail made up of mechanical parts and several bedrooms.
The Grade II-listed property, built in the 18th century, has six bedrooms, a swimming pool and 20 acres of land
After their split, the presenter reportedly slept in the conversion before moving to a rented property in a nearby village where he runs his ‘Smallest Cog’ car restoration garage
The open plan space houses Richard’s impressive collection of motorbikes while the white wash walls have illustrations of cartoon characters (pictured with daughter Izzy)
The television star admitted as the renovations became more impressive, ‘it was decided the bikes couldn’t live here anymore’, but they slowly started ‘sneaking in’
The barn boasts a fully fitted kitchen which closes off to caterers with folding doors and a meeting room with cosy snug
Izzy showed off the grand staircase in the castle in this mirror selfie
Richard has a huge motor collection and said he was keen to rip up a swimming pool he didn’t use in the barn to show off more
The couple’s eldest daughter Isabella, 24, still lives on the estate, working with her father, while younger daughter Willow, 22, lives in Gloucestershire
Izzy has taken up for her father’s passion for cars
According to reports Mindy is eager to secure Bollitree Castle, the £7million abode in Weston under Penyard, Herefordshire the couple purchased in 2008
The 20 acres has meant Richard has had ample space to build on his motor collection
On Thursday, the Top Gear star shared that he and his spouse have split after 28 years of marriage, writing in a statement they will ‘always be in each other’s lives’
There is also a gym and swim spa – but Richard admitted he was tempted to tear it all up to house more motorbikes because it is unused.
The renovation was still not yet complete a year ago, with the Top Gear star revealing his plans to create a library upstairs and a space for a model railway track.
But according to The Sun, Mindy is eager to secure Bollitree Castle, the £7million abode.
The Grade II-listed property, built in the 18th century, has six bedrooms, a swimming pool and 20 acres of land.
The couple’s eldest daughter Isabella, 24, still lives on the estate, working with her father, while younger daughter Willow, 22, lives in Gloucestershire.
MailOnline has contacted representatives of Richard Hammond for comment.
On Thursday, the Top Gear star shared that he and his spouse have split after 28 years of marriage, writing in a statement they will ‘always be in each other’s lives.’
He said in a statement: ‘A little update from us; this Christmas we were together as a family and this year we will still be a family but just structured a bit differently.
‘Our marriage is coming to end, but we’ve had an amazing 28 years together and two incredible daughters.
‘We will always be in each other’s lives and are proud of the family we created.
‘We won’t be commenting further and sincerely hope that our privacy and that of our children will be respected at this time. With Love, Richard and Mindy.’
It comes after Richard was seen without his wife on New Year’s Eve nursing a pint of Guinness at a Hereford pub.
The Grand Tour host was happy to take selfies with fans at the Wye Inn, Holme Lacy Road, but onlookers couldn’t help noticing he was there without his family.
A source told the Mail: ‘Richard popped in for a quiet drink with a few mates and work pals from his Smallest Cog workshop.
‘His garage in Rotherwas is well known for restoring classic cars and he is clearly sticking close to home at his stunning pad in Weston under Penyard, near Ross-on-Wye.’
Mindy had previously warned that Richard was on his ‘last chance’, eight years before the couple announced their marriage was over, but is understood to have since filed divorce papers.
According to the publication, she demanded the divorce after a source claimed she ‘wanted him gone’.
A source told The Sun: ‘Richard is very upset about all this. It seems he has tried hard to rekindle the relationship but to no avail. There is no speculation that any third party is involved.’