Saving a threatened building

[AMc]

I always find it staggering that the owners of certain buildings will allow them simply to crumble away. Who has so much money that they can afford to allow several hundreds of thousands of pounds to just sit and rot? :?

I agree that seeing a building crumble is a terrible thing but it is possible to end up owning a building which you can't afford to maintain (asset rich and cash poor). You can buy a building which a change in circumstances makes it impossible to occupy or renovate and then it becomes difficult to sell because of the cost of repair, the situation getting worse the longer you wait.

As far as I can tell our house was owned by the same family for a long time, the owner eventually becoming infirm, retreating into one part while the rest decayed. The house stood empty for a while which is never good for a house. The new owners started to refurbish it but ran out of time/money/energy and when they split up the house was half done. As a result the stuff we're working on now hasn't been occupied for perhaps 20 years or maintained for longer and shows it - it meant the vinery couldn't be saved. If we'd been more clued about the cost of repairs then we probably wouldn't have bought it, so I can see how an owner could end up with a building they can't afford to sell and can't afford to keep either.

Best of luck saving this property countrycott.

 

[countrycott]

Best of luck saving this property countrycott

Thanks, AMc - I think I'm probably getting into a big can of worms here, :shock:
but, I can't stand idly by and not do anything. If the worst happens, it won't be through lack of trying anyway.

Will keep you posted on here...its early days.

 

[Penners]

Will keep you posted on here

Yes, please be sure to do so. Good luck.

 

[countrycott]

Just a quick update on this thread, this week I've had a small triumph and the feeling of support is good....

I sent details of this case to SAVE and SPAB and
SAVE have today featured it as their 'Building of the Month' for April, with the information I supplied to them.
It seems the selling agents have just now received an offer, but it remains to be seen what the new owners
have planned for the future of this great building.

SPAB have passed details to their local area officer, and they too will list the building on their
quarterly list of historic buildings for sale.

I'm hoping now that there will definately be an eye kept on the building by more than just me, but if anything looks like going pear shaped with the
sale or plans for useage of it, I'll be on the case again straight away.

Thanks to all for your interest and pointers etc.

 

[Jon Maine]

Pat on the back for you well done, lets hope something comes of it.

 

[Penners]

Well done, cc! It's great that you took the trouble to try and do something to avoid the loss of this building. Congratulations.

 

[Jon Maine]

It is no surprise that pubs like this have been closing, my step son is 18 tomorrow and we got him a grate of beer yesterday at the supermarket at the rate of about 40p a pint.

Shame, I actually only tend to drink beer in a pub even though I can buy it cheaper in cans, for that social thing.

When I am at home it tends to be wine or spirits!!

 

[MdB]

For those that were wondering what building was being talked about (like me) here it is:
http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/building_of_the_month.php (I guess only available during April)

 

[Penners]

Thanks MdB. In the photos the original building actually looks in fairly good nick - what we can see, anyway. The rear additions look pretty run down.

Nice to see that it's 'under offer'.

 

[countrycott]

Sorry, MdB and Penners...I meant to post a link before and then couldn't log in for some reason, so MdB beat me to it.

Yes Penners you're right I'm afraid the back section looks even worse than can be seen on those pics, when you get round to see it properly.

Being used as a Coaching Inn, the side/rear single storey part was of course originally stabling, which then got turned into
a skittle alley, I'm guessing during the 1960s or thereabouts. This space has largely been unused for years and so is indeed 'run down'.
There are still some timbers and an A frame showing in this section so it still has some worthy history to save and restore.