Prince Charle's favoured architect takes telecoms tycoon to court over alleged breach of contract

Architect William Bertram is suing millionaire entrepreneur Martin Dawes for £844,000, for breach of contracts on work to turn his home into a showjumping facility.

It is claimed Bertram’s agent served a 50-page claim document on Dawes on 30 July and 16 lever arch files of supporting documents on his solicitors a day later, but Bertram says Dawes failed to follow the court’s pre-action protocol and acknowledge receipt of the claim in time.

The High Court writ also says Dawes failed to file a letter of response or make a counterclaim within 28 days of 31 July, according to the court’s procedures.

Dawes has spent more than £14m turning his historic home Dinmore Manor, in Herefordshire, into showjumping horses.

But he has had a long running dispute with builders Treasure and Son over payment, which has ended in court scenes.

Bertram has worked as architect to the Prince of Wales and the Duchy of Cornwall for many years, designing projects from multi million pound houses to affordable housing.

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