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Richard Hammond's new Welsh life: mansion, swimming, bats

Hammond reportedly paid £1.99m for the Llanwenarth estate, where survey footage shows two bat varieties in a barn; he says he'll share it.

On air: Chip Darnell and Gloria Vance on BBN Originals
Published
Photo: David Merrett · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
▶ As it aired · Pop Culture

Watch it as it aired: Chip Darnell and Gloria Vance on this story, from BBN Originals at 9:33 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are BBC's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Richard Hammond
Photo: David Merrett · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

The real story

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What BBN said about it

  1. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorFormer Top Gear host Richard Hammond has settled into a Georgian mansion near Abergavenny in Wales, and he's taken up wild swimming and running, the BBC reports.

  2. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe estate in Llanwenarth cost one point nine nine million pounds, according to the Daily Post.

  3. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorAnd survey footage shows at least two varieties of bat leaving a stone barn he meant to refurbish.

  4. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorTwo kinds of bat. So who gets the barn?

  5. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorHe's reportedly said, and I quote, if I have to share it with the bats, I'll find a way of sharing it with the bats. That is a concession speech delivered before the talks began.

  6. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorI think that's lovely. A man, a mansion, and a barn full of neighbors. Love it. Love all of it.

  7. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorYou're describing a tenant dispute with wings. Your Home and Style says work is underway on a large garage for his historic cars.

  8. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnd a padel court and pavilion to replace the tennis court. Does the pavilion have a bat clause?

  9. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorHe told the Telegraph he won't move again, and he called the Brecon Beacons the other side of his fence.

  10. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorVerdict: a forever home, subject to the bats.

  11. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe bats have not yet been consulted on the padel court.

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The story so far

  1. Pottery judge and partner to wed in the chapel they renovated on TV · BBC
  2. Spotify lyrics for Dolly Parton's Welsh Jolene listed in Irish · BBC
  3. Richard Hammond's new Welsh life: mansion, swimming, bats (this story)

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