Advice on rented property please.

[WiltshireKid]

We recently rented a grade 2 listed property near Swindon. It is the first old house that i have lived in (iam 16) so i would be interested on peoples thoughts. Our family are in the interior design trade, so we are renovating it quite extensively within the Landlady's restraints. (we have it on a reduced rent because of this).

In my mind are the following questions:
How old would you estimate the property is? We found a name in the plaster on the chimney in the attic: 'Sam Brown, nov. 17th 1840.'

Does the fireplace in photo 4 look original to you? We are unsure whether such a small actual opening can be original when the chimney is very large.
Note: the chimneys in photos 2 and 6 are definitley not original ones.

We are also wondering whether it would be worth opening up the fireplace in photo 5 because we dont particularly like the existing one, and judging by the size of the chimney we think it could perhaps be hiding one more fitting to the property.

And finally: Some of the beams (for example the one in photo 5) are lath and plastered: Why?

And, by the way, hello everyone

 

[WiltshireKid]

My apologies- i forgot to put the link to the pictures on
I found an previous listing for the property online....
https://www.zoopla.co.uk/property-history/95-eastrop/highworth/swindon/sn6-7pp/38203324

 

[Feltwell]

Hello Wiltshirekid,

Welcome! First thing is though - you can't just start making alterations to a listed property without getting listed building consent first, it's a criminal offence. Don't believe any nonsense you hear about "Internal alterations are OK", they're not.

No pictures on your post I'm afraid. The name in plaster is a lovely thing to find, but it doesn't tell you much beyond that the house was built in 1840 or before - Sam could have plastered that chimney breast when the house was new or a few hundred years old! But, have a look for your house on here, it may tell you more:-

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/

Old maps in your local library are a good resource as well of course.

Good to see you've got an interest in your "new" house!

 

[WiltshireKid]

Hi, thanks for your response....
I understand that things like walls and fireplaces etc cannot be changed without consent...but what is the score with things such as pulling up carpets to reveal old floorboards and repainting walls etc?
I should have posted the link through to the photos now but it hasn't come through at the time of writing this....

 

[Abi Cott]

Photos are a bit of an issue on this site, it's best to host them on another site and link to them.

Carpets and paint are safe, but doors, and wooden mouldings aren't, walls are a definite issue. The question is does it change the "architectural and historic" importance of the building.

Painting a blue wall pink probably wouldn't do that unless you were painting over original wallpaper, but changing your doors for nice modern ones might.

Contact your local Conservation Officer if you can, they will love your enthusiasm

 

[Abi Cott]

I can see the pictures now, and I probably agree about the fireplace being "not in keeping", but you definitely need listed building consent before you touch it. I have had a conversation along those lines with my Conservation Officer.

Don't be too worried though, with lots of photos applying for consent is something you can easily do.

Take lots of photos of the existing structure and apply to remove it and get an idea of what was originally there.

Stage 2 take lots of photos of what you find and propose how you would like to introduce something more in keeping.

It's a time consuming process, but mainly just filling out forms and then waiting for replies.

 

[TheForge]

It looks like either the local conservation officer is very liberal or a lot of inappropriate work has already been done to the house. PVC conservatory, possibly pvc windows etc.

 

[Kearn]

https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101023344-gateways-highworth#.XJlR5qSnzDt

Rather short entry, but would appear Georgian in origin. However, from the photos it doesn't appear much trace is currently visible. Not a lot of care or sympathy has been applied in the multitude of modernisations, many of which will likely not have had LBC since it was listed in 1979.

 

[WiltshireKid]

Hi, thanks for the replies.
Yes you are right the conservatory is indeed pvc, but most of the windows are thankfully proper wooden ones.
It is unlikely that we would be undertaking to actually go through all the process to open up the fireplace as it is not liley we will be in the house for any more than a couple of years. Most of the work we have done has been such as taking up carpets to reveal floorboards and removing the magnolia and replacing with english heritage colours. I will try to post some new photos at some stage-however we have decided that should we end up buying the house (which we hope to) then things like fireplaces etc will be attended to!