Colin Cowdrey’s Son in Feud With Neighbour Over House Sale

Colin Cowdrey’s son, Jeremy, is in court with his neighbor. Jeremy claims Vanessa Gibson ruined his house sale, stating his home was worth £3.85 million. Jeremy and Vanessa first fought over the tennis court, which he says was on her property.

Jeremy claims Vanessa spread lies to get money from him. He says she lied about flooding and utility problems, and about their resolved tennis court issue. The home, Crowbourne Farm, is in Goudhurst, Kent. He says she cost him the sale.

Jeremy is suing Vanessa for roughly £350,000, including damages for malicious falsehood. He also wants an order to stop her harassment. Vanessa denies all the claims against her, stating she acted fairly and in good faith, also claiming she tried to mediate.

Crowbourne Farm has many features, including a wine cellar and a guest cottage, studio, barn, workshop, and car port. It also has ten acres, a tennis court, stables, woods, and lakes. The property was for sale for over £3.25 million. Jeremy says buyers backed out because of Vanessa; he claims he could have gotten £3.85 million.

His lawyer said Vanessa made false allegations, stating there were covenant breaches, supposedly benefitting her land. The lawyer said Vanessa claimed flooding was ongoing and that water and sewage crossed her land, claiming she had no right to claim that. There was an earlier land dispute that was resolved, the lawyer explained; Vanessa claimed it was still active. The tennis court was the subject of the original issue.

Jeremy says a couple offered £3.85 million, but backed out, as did two others. He blames Vanessa for this. Vanessa denied these claims in court and described herself as a “very private person”.

She said the flooding started in 2022 when Jeremy was worried about a nearby lake’s height. The flooding affected both properties. She said it was from his poorly maintained lake.

The judge denied Jeremy’s request to increase damages to £550,000, but allowed a claim for aggravated damages. The judge noted Vanessa was trying to get money. She made false claims when he sold his property, hoping to get paid to stay silent.

Colin Cowdrey was a famous cricketer, the first cricketer made a peer, and known for his style. Some called him a genius. Jeremy worked as a stockbroker for twenty years, then became a film producer working on ‘Summer in February’ with Dan Stevens.

Colin Cowdrey had two other sons, Chris and Graham, who played cricket for Kent; Chris also played for England. He had a daughter named Carolyn. The case will return to court later for a full trial.