Farmer's Secret Castle: Englishman Will Fight Ruling to Demolish, Willing to Head to European Court of Human Rights

An English farmer built a castle on his property. Nothing sounds wrong with that if you can afford it. But what he failed to do is abide by town building guidelines, so the castle's got to go, reported The Christian Post.

Here's a picture of the farmer's castle

Robert Fidler began the construction of his castle in 2001 on his Honeycrock Farm situated in Redhill, Surrey, England. But he never sought approval from the borough council because he was sure neighbors wouldn't want a castle next door. 

His plot was to hide the castle behind a 40-foot-high wall made of hay bales and use blue colored tarp to cover it. When the castle was complete he tore down the surrounding structures and lived on the premises for four years before the council caught him.

In 2007, the Reigate and Bandstead Borough Council ordered Fidler tear down his castle. The two sides spent six years in the court over the matter with the council eventually winning. 

"From his own evidence and submissions it was always his intention to remove the bales once he thought that lawfulness had been secured," ruled Deputy High Court Judge Sir Thayne Forbes. "It is therefore quite obvious he never intended to continue to live within a straw stack and until the straw was removed he could not enjoy a reasonable level of residential amenity, consistent with normal expectations of what a dwelling house should provide."

Fidler claims his rights for the castle and is looking into appealing the court's ruling. And if that doesn't work, he expects to take his cast to the European Court of Human Rights.

"This house will never be knocked down," Fidler said in a statement. "This is a beautiful house that has been lovingly created. I will do whatever it takes to keep it."