Roman Abramovich’s Ex to Demolish, Rebuild her English Country $30 Million Estate

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Irina Abramovich, the ex-wife of Russian oligarch and owner of the Chelsea soccer club Roman Abramovich wants to rebuild the English country estate that she got in their divorce. She hopes to demolish the $30 million mansion there in order to build a new house.

Fyning Hill is a 1, 500 acre estate located in Rogate. Irina Abromovich won the property as part of a 2007 divorce settlement from Roman which was estimated to have been worth more than $240 million.

The house, which was built in the 1920s, has seven bedrooms.

The secluded estate which has helped its owners maintain their anonymity in the past comes with stables for 100 horses, two polo pitches, a swimming pool, a tennis court, a clay pigeon shoot, a rifle range, a trout lake and a go-kart track.

It once belonged to Jordan’s late King Hussein. Abramovich bought it in 2001 for £12 million ($20 million.)

Irina has filed an application with the local government to make changes to the estate which would include razing the house.

But local residents object to the plan as they feel that the old farmhouse currently there is an inextricable part of the local area’s historic character.

One such resident, Joanna James, was quoted in the local Midhurst and Petworth Observer as saying, “The farmhouse exudes charm and character of the quintessential English countryside. The plans for the new property show something not in keeping with the idyllic surroundings 
and will not reflect an English country setting.

“There was a plaque on the cottage dating back to the French revolution when a noble family from France found peace in this little haven. Families of the farm are named on local war memorials, ” James said, asking, “Why destroy something beautiful?”

Because it’s there?