Kate & Sam Outbid Elizabeth Hurley

Posted Thursday, August 1, 2002 at 4:26 PM Central

by Heather Koehler

Kate Winslet and boyfriend Sam Mendes now have a place to call home together. The couple doled out $4.5 million for a historic manor in the little village of Church Westcote in Gloucestershire.

The home and its 20-acres must be quite extroardinary, as new 'mum' Elizabeth Hurley was in the bidding war with the pair, who's final bid was $.4 million over the asking price.

A neighbor says it will cost more than $2 million to renovate the property before it is fit to move into. "It's a wonderful house, full of character. But they'll have to spend a small fortune to put it right, It has been neglected and the place is in a pretty sorry state."

Only a few weeks ago, Kate and Sam were turned away from an apartment after other residents voted against letting the famous couple move in. It didn't take long for the lovebirds to find another nest.