Stuart Wyndham Murray Threipland was facing "severe financial pressures" when he took his own life on the day his estate and 13-bedroom castle at Dunbeath went on the market for offers over £25 million, an inquest in England has been told.

The 76-year-old landowner and businessman left notes for his family saying he "couldn't forgive" himself for the "mess" he had created and that he was "taking the coward's way out".

The inquest at Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner's Court heard that Mr Threipland felt he was "losing control" and that he and his wife, Claire Rose, had been in the process of selling their estate to alleviate financial pressures.

Mr Threipland, known as Tertius, was found with a fatal gunshot wound next to his vehicle on the Wilton Estate in Wiltshire – a property owned by his stepson, William Herbert, 18th Earl of Pembroke.

He died on June 12, the same day property agents Savills announced Dunbeath Castle and estate had gone on the market.

His wife told the inquest in a statement that he had planned to take his life two days earlier, on Saturday, June 10. Using an app that allows users to locate friends and family, she had found him with a shotgun across his lap in an area of the Dunbeath Estate that he was "very fond of".

She explained: "He said if I had been two minutes longer he would have shot himself."

The inquest heard that Mr Threipland told his wife he felt he was "losing control" by having to sell the estate. She thought she had "convinced him ending his life would be a bad idea".

The couple returned to Wilton the day before Mr Threipland died, the inquest was told. Using the same app, Mr Threipland's wife tracked him to a part of the estate where he was found on his back with a gun beside him.

Gallery1

1 / 2

2 / 2

Senior coroner David Ridley referred to letters found in Mr Threipland's nearby vehicle.

In a note for his three children, he wrote: "I cannot forgive myself for the mess I have created. I'm taking the coward's way out."

Other notes related to his financial concerns.

Recording a verdict of suicide, Mr Ridley said: "The financial difficulties Mr Threipland was experiencing were clearly causing him significant anxiety. He didn't want to let his employees or his family down."

He also said: "There were unquestionably severe financial pressures on Mr Threipland and he felt it should be an individual's decision to take their own life. Sadly, that is what he did."

The senior coroner expressed his "sincere condolences".

In a statement, the Earl of Pembroke referred to Mr Threipland as his "second father" and called a "kind, charismatic, energetic and very determined man".

In a statement on June 20, Mr Threipland's family said: "Stuart Wyndham Murray Threipland sadly died on 12th June 2023 at Wilton. He will be hugely missed by all his family.”

Companies House records show that Mr Threipland resigned as director of a number of companies on the day of his death. He had also resigned as director of Kitagawa Europe, a machinery manufacturer, exactly one month before, on May 12.

Mr Threipland and his wife bought Dunbeath Castle and estate in 1997.

As well as the category "A" listed cliff-top castle, the sale includes 20 houses and cottages, a 500-acre farm, a sporting lodge with nine bedrooms, a deer forest, grouse moor and fishing rights. In all it extends to some 28,500 acres.

Announcing the sale on June 12, before the news of Mr Threipland's death emerged, Savills' Evelyn Channing said: “The current owners have invested a great deal of time, love and capital into Dunbeath Estate over the last 26 years and are now keen to see it develop and prosper further under the ownership of a new custodian who shares their enthusiasm for Caithness and has an exciting vision for its future.”

Mr Threipland had been in touch with the John O'Groat Journal and Caithness Courier three days before his death.

We had initially emailed him on April 19, asking if he wished to comment on speculation that Dunbeath Estate may be for sale.

He replied the same day, explaining that he had told people locally that he and his wife were "taking a responsible look at the future for Dunbeath Estate and for the people who work on it". No decisions had been made, he continued, but "we think it right that we look at all the options available and then come to a reasoned decision as to the best way forward".

Mr Threipland added that he was happy to keep us informed "if anything material arises".

On Friday, June 9, Mr Threipland, true to his word, emailed again to say that "we are expanding our search for options regarding the future of Dunbeath Estate... mainly due to our own age concerns and wishing for the best opportunities for the estate and its employees going forward".

He was keen to let us know that Savills would be “going public" on a marketing plan early the following week.

Having been assured that there would be local coverage of the sale announcement, he sent a further message that same day saying "Be kind", followed by two exclamation marks.

• Samaritans is a charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope or at risk of suicide. Call free on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org for support.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.