Couple purchases $2 million mansion, previous owner strips away its most valuable assets

A couple was left shocked after finding a $2 million mansion in its worst state, which had appeared stunning when they had made the purchase. 

The mansion's entire look had changed because its most valuable assets were stripped by the previous owner.

The mansion, called Bochym Manor, had a walnut-panelled library, a Jacobean oak staircase, and its history dates back to the Domesday Book.

The house had 10 bedrooms, secret passageways, historic stained-glass windows, and 13 beautiful holiday homes.

When the couple entered the mansion, they found that the former owner Dr Mark Payne had removed the doors, windows, fireplaces, floors, guttering, and even the plumbing and electrics of the house.

What was more shocking was that the previous owner had also removed three out of the four baths and the magnificent stained-glass windows, as well as some of the panelling of the library. The panelling was carved by the firm which had rebuilt the Houses of Parliament. 

The new owner also found that the holiday homes were entirely gutted and the workmen had torn out the staircase from the estate’s clock tower.

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The mansion's entrance pillar was also knocked down by the trucks getting inside it.

"I was distraught. It was like a warzone or like a tornado had shredded the place. He took pretty much every door handle, tiles off the wall, the locks were removed," Caton said.

"There was some very random and bizarre destruction. I don’t understand the mentality behind it – it’s staggering that you can be that cruel actually," he added.

Speaking to the Mail, Caton accepted that all of their "worst fears" have become reality.

"I wanted to close the door, walk away and put it back on the market and never come back," Caton added.