Fri, 01 June 2007 12:00:00 ET
When traced back, Isaac Slade of band The Fray inherits the blood of Sir Benjamin whose mansion is waiting to be handed over.
The Fray lead singer Isaac Slade is set to receive a British country mansion worth £7.5 million from a long-lost relative. Childless British aristocrat Sir Benjamin Slade selected the 'How to Save a Life' singer as a potential heir following an 18-month worldwide DNA search to find a relative to claim his estate.
Denver-born Isaac's bloodline traces back to Sir Benjamin through the Worcester side of the family. Isaac's relatives started the Slade School of Fine Art, in London, before moving to the US.
The rocker admits he was blown away when he first visited Maunsel House, a 13th Century property in Somerset. Isaac said: "As we drove up I thought, 'Oh my God this is amazing.' I'd love to live here. But for now it's just great to see the house and spend some time with this crazy guy." The rocker and his wife, along with the band's guitarist David Welsh and wife Janell, will stay in the home for two nights to get acquainted with the property.
Sir Benjamin, 60, has desperately been searching for an heir to take over his nine-bedroom house, because the large estate is too big for him to maintain. The mansion boasts a ballroom, library, bar and five reception rooms in addition to 1,500 acres, six cottages, three lakes, 430 cattle, 13 peacocks, four Labradors and six pigs.
After Sir Benjamin's relatives in the UK declined his offer to inherit the house, the aristocrat piloted a Discovery Channel Show called 'I'm Really a Royal' in 2006 to find the rightful owner of the enormous estate. Sir Benjamin received 15,000 applications for DNA testing but is pleased The Fray rocker may soon be the new owner. He said: "I've got a good feeling about the boy. Hopefully he's the one."
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