The farm I grew up on has a 40 acre wood running alongside it. And just off the edge of that and the land that dad farms is a derelict house. My brother and I always used to explore it when we were children.
The other day we went over to visit mum and dad and my brother and his family and I persuaded us all to go for a walk with the intention of having a look at the house again. I always had dreams of doing it up, it's completely cut off from services, about 500 yards away from a beautiful river and on the edge of the wood I used to play in as a child. But the landlords would never sell it, the house itself being tied into another tenancy.
It's probably been 15 years since I last looked round it, I think I took my wife to see it (before we were married), since then it's taken a sudden step towards complete destruction.
When I last went the roof was still on it and you could, carefully, climb the stairs. Now the roof is gone on half of it, exposing the timber frame that was covered by brick cladding. I was fascinated looking at the beams and seeing the structure under it. With it's age I'm under little doubt that the timbers for the cottage would have been felled in the wood alongside it, probably hewn or sawn to shape and then used to make the frame.
This would make the perfect home for someone, even off grid, such a shame to see it go back to the earth like it is, but it has it's own kind of beauty in doing so. With the brick falling away to expose the beautiful oak frame and wattle and daub panels. A woodman's dream cottage I think. And I've had many a trout from that little river at the bank, as I'm sure the past residents of this place had as well.
That house was built to last in an old school way, and it is now time for it to go. I wonder if happy people lived in it. The location sounds great, next to a river and fishing opportunities.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing house. And it's amazing it is still standing, even in it's current state of disrepair. Can't help but wonder what it was like when folk lived there.
ReplyDeleteIt is glorious even in its ruin.
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful but what a shame it has been left to disintegrate.
ReplyDeletePerhaps some of the materials could be salvaged? It must have been glorious in its time.
ReplyDeleteWow - what age? Buildings like that could possibly have been saved by somewhere like the Weald and Downland Museum: https://www.wealddown.co.uk/ They have quite a collection, that illustrate building techniques like those - through many centuries.
ReplyDeleteIf those timbers and that cooker could speak? Thanks for showing us the beautiful and sad old house Kev,
ReplyDeleteThat house has so much to say. I think it is best left to continue moldering. Thanks for sharing.
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