Self-styled aristocrat who is a former burlesque dancer turned sex therapist defends keeping menagerie of dogs, goats, sheep and pigs at her damp-ridden Grade II listed home as she fights eviction by her wealthy landlords
- Lady Patricia Ramshaw and her wealthy landlords are embroiled in eviction row
- The burlesque dancer turned sex therapist has defended keeping her 20 animals
A self-styled aristocrat and former burlesque dancer turned sex therapist has defended keeping a menagerie of dogs, goats, sheep and pigs at her damp-ridden Grade II listed home – as she fights eviction by her wealthy landlords.
Lady Patricia Ramshaw, 54, said she has been forced to live in freezing conditions in Old House in Ranworth, Norfolk, which she claims has no central heating and is riddled with damp and mould.
Her landlords, members of Norfolk’s wealthy landowning Cator family, have in turn accused her of keeping pigs which ‘destroyed’ the garden of the 18th century seven-bedroom property which is set on seven acres of land.
Lady Ramshaw has spoken out in defence of her animals which allegedly ‘destroyed’ the historic property gardens.
‘It’s all the animals not just the pigs they don’t like,’ she said.
Lady Patricia Ramshaw has claimed she has been forced to live in freezing conditions at her Grade II listed rental home in Ranworth, Norfolk
Lady Ramshaw is accused of painting interior walls in an ‘iron grey’ colour, but she says she has been living with mould and damp in the 18th century property
Lady Ramshaw keeps four dogs including three Great Danes, two horses, two pigs, a goat, several ducks and hens and a flock of sheep
Lady Ramshaw even claimed that her activities have been monitored by family members from the 100ft tower of nearby 14th century St Helen’s church in Ranworth
‘I was preparing to move out after an agreement had been reached in June 2022, so brought the horses here over that weekend.
‘Well then the Cators backed out of the removal agreement and now I can’t afford to move until they reimburse me.’
The aristocrat is said to have allowed animals to live in the £3,500-a-month rental home with her, allegedly breaking tenancy conditions which only allow her to keep two dogs.
Lady Ramshaw, who keeps four dogs including three Great Danes, two horses, two pigs, a goat, several ducks and hens and a flock of sheep, started renting the property in November 2021.
‘I was living in Reepham with a partner who became abusive, so I wanted to move somewhere with some land as fast as I could,’ she said.
The main complaint from the wealthy Cator family who own the property, which originally belonged to their ancestors in the 1700s, was that Lady Ramshaw had taken over the grounds with her ‘huge’ swathe of animals.
She said she was offered by the Cators to house her pets in some other fields of theirs, but that offer never came through so she put the sheep in their field as originally agreed.
Lady Ramshaw was served with an eviction notice in January 2022, just three months after moving in – the matter is now being heard at a tribunal
The landlords claim Lady Patricia Ramshaw has broken the tenancy agreement over the number of animals she keeps
Part of the eviction row centred on the animals that Lady Ramshaw kept
The dogs – named Jager, Nova, Lola and Yogi – live in the house with her while the others stay on a field which is part of the seven-acre property.
She admitted that the animals graze the garden and hedges and strip the bark off the trees.
However, she alleges the property should never have been rented to her in the first place after she discovered no central heating was install in the 1754 house.
‘I paid a lot of money to be hidden away in the middle of nowhere with my animals after I left a domestic violence situation,’ she said.
‘But I am currently living in two rooms of the house and heating one for me and my dogs.’
She was served an eviction notice six weeks after she moved into the 300-year-old house.
It has now culminated in Lady Ramshaw taking her landlord Sam Cator to a residential property tribunal to contest the family’s attempts to evict her.
She claimed that the Cators have not taken responsibility for maintaining the property sufficiently and are ‘harassing’ her in an effort to get her out of the house.
Lady Ramshaw even claimed that her activities had been monitored by family members from the 100feet tower of nearby 14th century St Helen’s church in Ranworth.
Jane Cator, who was called to give evidence at the hearing, claimed Lady Ramshaw had breached her tenancy agreement by bringing animals ‘in huge proportions’ onto the land
Inside the Old House in Ranworth, Norfolk, which is at the centre of an eviction row between the tenant and landlords
Mrs Cator said: ‘Your pigs absolutely destroyed the gardens’
She said that living in the ‘freezing’ house caused her to become sick with pneumonia, after moving into the home believing it had central heating.
Not only did she find out it did not, but the only heating available came from four ‘old’ oil radiators and seven new ones the landlords had provided, she said.
Lady Ramshaw told the tribunal: ‘At Christmas I had pneumonia for weeks through the cold here. I didn’t know there wasn’t central heating when I moved in.
‘It was advertised in the Eastern Daily Press newspaper as being the best house to rent in the area.
‘I visited it beforehand, it was beautiful and described as ‘cosy and warm’.
‘The week I moved in I froze. My head was throbbing from the cold.’
She added: ‘They told me I could get it really cosy and warm, but I was frozen. I ended up living in one room and they gave me some plug in electric radiators to keep warm.’
Mr Cator’s mother Jane Cator who was also called to give evidence at the hearing claimed Lady Ramshaw had breached her tenancy agreement by bringing animals ‘in huge proportions’ onto the land.
She also accused her of subletting the property on AirBnB and painting interior walls in an ‘iron grey’ colour.
Mrs Cator said: ‘Your pigs absolutely destroyed the gardens.’
Lady Ramshaw’s ‘Lady’ title came from an ex-boyfriend of hers, who bought her the title as a gift as part of her burlesque persona, Lady Pea
The dispute largely centred on Lady Ramshaw’s calls to be reimbursed for her rent, and a £13,000 utilities bill
The Cator estate claims it originally gave Lady Ramshaw permission to move in two dogs and a handful of sheep, on the condition that animals would not enter the property’s arboretum.
Lady Ramshaw was served with an eviction notice in January 2022, just three months after moving in, leading to negotiations between the parties about the terms.
But talks broke down, with a dispute largely centring on Lady Ramshaw’s calls to be reimbursed for her rent, and a £13,000 utilities bill.
Lady Ramshaw said: ‘The week I moved in I was trying to organise with the landlord where the animals were to go.
‘We had a meeting about the heating, then from Dec they started trying to evict me. I’d paid a year of rent in advance.’
The tribunal hearing heard how an original agreement was made that would have seen Lady Ramshaw repaid.
Lady Ramshaw claimed during the hearing that Mrs Cator had frequently turned up at the property without warning ‘on at least 20 occasions’.
She claimed she had once witnessed Mrs Cator watching over her from Ranworth church tower, although the Cators vehemently denied the suggestion.
Lady Ramshaw asked in the tribunal: ‘You write that you were on top of the church tower and that you saw me. How do you think that came across?’
Mrs Cator replied: ‘I did not say I saw you. I say I saw a very large pig in front of the house.’
Lady Ramshaw pictured in the Old House in Ranworth, Norfolk
Lady Ramshaw keeps four dogs including three Great Danes
Disputes over the state of the property and colour of the walls are subject to a tribunal hearing
She added that when she had visited the church tower it would have been to remember loved ones.
When asked why she wished to evict Lady Ramshaw, Mrs Cator said: ‘Because of the damage your animals were doing to the property.’
James Castle, representing the Cators, said: ‘The claimant believes all of this has been part of a grand conspiracy to force her to leave. But that is not at all consistent with her evidence.’
He added that Lady Ramshaw had ‘zero respect for the property and zero respect for the world around her’.
Lady Ramshaw said she later arranged for her 20 sheep to join her at the property, after the Cator family allegedly promised her some land to put them on.
She insisted that the only animals living inside the house with her were her Great Danes and her daughter’s chihuahua.
Lady Ramshaw also makes a living selling artwork, mainly featuring nudes and horses
Lady Ramshaw said she had been told not to allow her sheep on the house’s Arboretum of woodland trees
Lady Ramshaw keeps 20 animals including four dogs
Tribunal judge Stephen Evans said a written decision would be issued in the next four weeks.
He added: ‘This is not going to be the kind of case where both parties come out shining in glory.’
Former dermatology nurse Lady Ramshaw, 54, who claims to work as a sex therapist is a self-styled aristocrat who was born plain Patricia Ramshaw in Newcastle.
She claimed today that she adopted the title ‘Lady’ around four-years-ago after being bought an old Scottish title as a gift by a friend.
However she said she could not remember the full name of the title and could not remember what she had done with the paperwork.
READ: ‘Kind hearted’ widow, 83, was murdered by homeless man she took in – after she asked him to leave when he became violent and controlling, court hears
Lady Ramshaw who is known as Pea decided to use the prefix ‘Lady’ after calling herself Lady Pea while burlesque dancing and deciding she liked the sound of it.
Land Registry records reveal the house is currently owned by widow Jane Cator, 64 who is a Deputy Lieutenant of Norfolk, and her 33-year-old daughter Jessica Campbell.
The house was the former home of Mrs Cator’s mother-in law Jacquetta Cator who died aged 91 in June 2021, and the family decided to rent it out after her death.
Lady Ramshaw said Mrs Cator’s son Sam who was acting as the landlord began the first of three bids to evict her on December 22, 2021, but the legal application was withdrawn.
She said she later had the house assessed by Broadland Council which concluded it was a hazard due to the lack of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, a worn carpet on the stairs, and no central heating.
Lady Ramshaw said a fresh attempt was made to evict her after she ran up a £13,000 electricity bill in two months, using the portable heaters, but that was also withdrawn.
She claimed that at one point the Cators had agreed to refund all the rent she had paid, as well as the £13,000 bill in exchange for her leaving.
But after £17,000 of her rent was refunded, she said the agreement was withdrawn
Lady Ramshaw claimed to have found evidence that the house did not have an appropriate electrical certificate.
A third attempt was made by the Cator family to evict her in Norwich County Court last week when a judge granted them a possession order, she claimed.
But she said she was not at the hearing because she did not know it was going to take place. As a result, she has launched a bid to get the judgement set aside.
Lady Patricia Ramshaw has claimed she has been forced to live in freezing conditions at her Grade II listed rental home in Ranworth, Norfolk
Lady Ramshaw was served with an eviction notice in January 2022, just three months after moving in – the matter is now being heard at a tribunal
In a separate move, she took the Cator family to a property tribunal, claiming that she had been harassed by Mrs Cator constantly visiting her house, and accusing her landlord of failing to carry out improvements.
The second day of a remote two day hearing with the judge sitting in Cambridge took place on Tuesday this week, and was adjourned for judgement at a later date.
Lady Ramshaw is representing herself while the Cator family have expensive lawyers, which means she could potentially have to pay their legal costs if she loses.
In a separate case, she claims to have submitted papers to Norwich County Court, demanding £90,000 as compensation for catching pneumonia at the house last winter, and for the refund of the rest of the rent she has paid.
Lady Ramshaw said she had been told not to allow her sheep on the house’s Arboretum of woodland trees, but felt she had no alternative as her flock did not have enough grass to eat elsewhere on the land during last year’s drought.
Lady Ramshaw has horses, goats, sheep, pigs, ducks and four Great Dane dogs called Jager, Nova, Lola, Yogi which live in the house with her
Lady Ramshaw said she had been told not to allow her sheep on the house’s Arboretum of woodland trees
She added: ‘The gardens here are important to the Cator family. Jane Cator would wander up and down here to see the garden.
‘When I let the sheep graze on the Arboretum, she let them out on to the road. The police had to get a drone up so I could recover them.
‘She was here one morning at 8am and I had to go out in my nightie to see her. After that, I told her not to come anymore.
‘In one letter to me, she wrote to say she had been to the top of the church tower and saw that I had a big pig.
‘They are making out that I am a rogue tenant trying to get money out of them.’
Lady Ramshaw said her sex therapist business specialised in ‘teaching menopausal women to feel sexy’ and helping ‘manopausal men’ with testosterone therapy.
She also makes a living selling artwork, mainly featuring nudes and horses, and claims to be a Shamanic practitioner, helping people understand issues they may have and dealing with animal spirits.
Lady Ramshaw has horses, goats, sheep, pigs, ducks and four Great Dane dogs called Jager, Nova, Lola, Yogi which live in the house with her
Lady Ramshaw keeps four dogs including three Great Danes, two horses, two pigs, a goat, several ducks and hens and a flock of sheep, started renting the property in November 2021.
Norfolk’s Lord Lieutenant Philippa Dannatt, the wife of former Army chief Lord Dannatt, who has known Mrs Cator for 40 years has written a letter of support for her, describing her as ‘resourceful, fair, loyal and kind’ and with ‘the highest degree of integrity’.
The letter adds: ‘Despite being widowed twice, she has shouldered all the considerable responsibilities for her family, commanding deep respect across the county and beyond.’
She added: ‘Jane is widely and warmly respected by all those with whom she comes into contact, from every walk of life.’
The aristocrat at the centre of the bitter tenancy row is a former burlesque dancer turned sex therapist.
Her ‘Lady’ title came from an ex-boyfriend of hers, who bought her the title as a gift as part of her burlesque persona, Lady Pea.
Lady Ramshaw has since gone into sex therapy, helping women going through menopause reconnect to their libido.
She has run a company doing just that for eight years and last year launched a new company, She Matters Ltd.
A drone image of the 18th century, seven-bedroom Old House which overlooks Ranworth Broad in Norfolk and is a the centre of an eviction row
Lady Ramshaw is fighting a bid by her landlord to evict her from her Grade II listed rental home over accusations her 20 animals were doing ‘damage’ to the property
Lady Ramshaw said: ‘Menopausal women often feel sexy and lost, I help them feel beautiful and get their sexuality back.
‘My team include a psychiatrist, we look at hormone replacement therapy and I teach the sex coach side of it, teaching you how to feel sexy again.’
She has dubbed herself a ‘sex expert’ and trained in the study of sex through medical courses as well as studying trauma, meditation and dance like Burlesque.
Her study of spiritual sexuality took place in the Mexican jungle, where the first task was to strip naked and ‘achieve an orgasm’ next to 200 other naked women.
She said: ‘In Britain, we’re scared of sexuality.
‘I worked in dermatology for years, and I realised when looking at the intimacy that so many people switch off from feeling sexy at a certain age.
‘People see sex as scary, I learnt in Mexico not to be embarrassed by sexuality, even though I was very embarrassed at the time.
‘The lips, breasts, womb, vulva, these are areas we just don’t go to, explore, or talk about.
‘We either cover them up or become page three’s. There’s no happy place for women to own their sexuality- I am trying to change that.’
The Cator family have been contacted for comment.
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