Update

[Sonyaclegg]

We have power and light. Had a day off work today and went up to the house and switched on any switch with a light bulb at the other end. It's amazing to see the house with light in it and makes it look much more homely, even if it is just a bulb on the end of flex!

I met with the Planning Officer and once we established we were there to help each other, it went very well. We discussed plans for a garage, septic tank, driveway material, and even got onto chopping down some trees and extending the garden as its too small for the size of the house. Agreement was even reached on the removal of a huge conifer; needless to say I am delighted.

The septic tank plans should be approved today and then just to get an archeologist on board before we start the digging! Wooohoooo!

 

[Moo]

What wonderful news - I'm so happy for you.

 

[Sonyaclegg]

Thanks Moo. I really did get worked up about planning. Unreasonably so and told myself that time and again but all good now. For now. Hope the Officer doesn't have a change of heart. He was good enough to tell me he was happy that we had bought it and will use it as a single residence as they had refused all applications to turn it into apartments, hotel, spa and such like.

After much emailing and ringing around, I found a company who were enthusiastic about the water spout challenge and emailed a photo their work. I all found a company for the register plates and the stonemason is returning on Sat to fix his repairs into place.

 

[angrybird]

Thats so exciting for you to get light into your house it makes it seem much more like a home (I can just dream), ive just chopped down nine 30 foot high conifers from my garden and its just like someones turned the lights on there too! only 4 more to go, give it a year or 2 to season it will be used on the fires, be prepared to get the sap/resin all over your hands its a bugger to get off!
It sounds like things are moving in leaps and bounds, keep up the good work x

 

[Sonyaclegg]

I should imagine the conifer wood will smell lovely when being used. Im good at organising and directing others as I know it would be a disaster if I were to try to take down the conifer. It's as tall as the house! It's amazing how much light they take

 

[JoceAndChris]

How lovely of you to come back to us Sonja, I've been thinking of you and your amazing project quite a bit. And wishing you so well with it, what a massive and brave undertaking.

Great news all round, gosh whatever will the ghosts make of the electricity! I think they and the house will love it! ( not that I really believe in them - I'd kind of love to have a friendly one but no signs whatsoever)

I think people often see Planning and Conservstion as these very threatening potentially blocking forces, and there's no doubt stupid decisions are sometimes made. But in the case of your house they're really going to be so delighted it 's being taken by your family, they're going to accept it's got to become a functioning building and guide you with how to achieve that.

Very glad about the tree too, our garden has become a wood and we've removed a fair number in strategic positions. The increase in light is so uplifting, and so good for the property.

 

[Sonyaclegg]

Thanks Joce. When we viewed the house, which we did three times, we didn't feel anything untoward so progressed to offer stage etc. We then had the keys for a while whilst various surveyors and tradesmen came to view and we spent a lot of time there and formed the opinion that there was nothing that would threaten us in the house. Had we felt at all uncomfortable, we would not have progressed with the sale. Since we have owned it, I have spend many an hour alone and it feels very calm and peaceful. If there is any presence in the house, I'm sure we can live side by side. However, it does have a very colourful history as far as myth and legend are concerned.

I met with the CO today and all of my fears were put to rest. We discussed all my concerns and everything was agreed. As long as the bones of the building stay the same, much like Gareth's view, then he's not concerned as we are not altering the historical fabric of the building. I can paint whatever colours I like. He didn't recall there was a condition to the PP to submit a painting scheme but I did tell him. Once we had discussed colour, he was reassured there would be no neon pink!

My view for the house is not to try to create it the way it once was as much of the historical internal fabric has gone, but to work with what is there and create a contrast with modern but classical bathrooms and kitchens etc so the old parts of the fabric can shine through as that's where the emphasis should lie. The CO agreed which was a great relief as I know we now have that common ground to go forward with.

I'm going to have a much better sleep tonight and once again enjoy what is the most wonderful project we will ever undertake.

 

[Flyfisher]

Good news about the CO Sonya. Not altogether surprising, though I imagine it's a huge relief. As Joce rightly says, I'm sure they were delighted for the house to have a new owner with sensitive plans. I suspect COs get a lot of bad press from people who've had problems with them, even though the problems are most likely borne out of wanting to do grossly inappropriate works! Anyway, it sounds as if you're over that first important hurdle and have a basic meeting of minds about your plans for the house, which is excellent.

 

[Sonyaclegg]

Flyfisher, just as well really as I ordered the kitchen a few weeks ago!

 

[JoceAndChris]

Very good news indeed, I'm so pleased you don't feel blocked. I'm sure working together on this can be a really mutually delightful thing.

Any verdict on painting the stone? It would be interesting to hear; this is a learning curve for all of us.

Glad no ghost, a very tiny number have mentioned a ghost on this forum but most people seem untroubled. My chicken supplier had her house exorcised but I suspect she was mad, in fact, no suspect about it.

 

[Sonyaclegg]

There are records of a ghost being present that go back into the 1800's. if there is one, we will make peace and live in harmony......I hope!

The CO advised we could paint with lime wash or distemper. He recognises that some of the repairs previously undertaken are not appropriate and need to be disguised. He did suggest painting the frame, so to speak, and leaving the stone mullions bare. We will try this on one window and see how we go.

We now have the full PP for the septic tank and drain field with the condition of an archeological watching brief to be on site whilst the digging takes place. I'm chasing an archeologist down. They are hard to get hold of!

I may get the house blessed as we move in but that's more to do with events in my family rather than anything in the house.

 

[Schoolmarm]

Wow your PP was fast!!

 

[Sonyaclegg]

Standard 8 weeks. I began to chase it after the public consultation ended and I'm glad I did as it not been referred to the EA but after some offers of assistance from me, it was all sorted in the end and I have the written
PP. I've made enquries with an archeologist so hopefully all the paperwork can be sorted out and we can get the tank installed in two weeks or so.

 

[Schoolmarm]

Yaaay!!

 

[Flyfisher]

Glad no ghost, a very tiny number have mentioned a ghost on this forum but most people seem untroubled.

No ghosts here, but there is one room that a family friend now refuses to sleep in after a frightening (for him) experience in which his dog woke him up in the middle of the night by barking up the chimney. I've slept in the same room many times and have often heard wildlife scampering around in the ceiling, so I assume it was something similar that spooked his dog. :lol:

 

[LadyArowana]

Glad no ghost, a very tiny number have mentioned a ghost on this forum but most people seem untroubled.

No ghosts here, but there is one room that a family friend now refuses to sleep in after a frightening (for him) experience in which his dog woke him up in the middle of the night by barking up the chimney. I've slept in the same room many times and have often heard wildlife scampering around in the ceiling, so I assume it was something similar that spooked his dog. :lol:

I firmly believe that one has a lot more to fear from the living than the dead. Can't ever recall headlines that say "Pensioner battered to death by ghostly apparition" although I suppose it is technically possible for fear to trigger a fatal cardiac event. My only encounter with a spirit wasn't a human one. We were staying in a B and B type lodge and I looked out of the window and saw a little dog, no owner in sight. I thought it was slightly unusual because it only had 3 legs. I mentioned it later at breakfast and they told me that there had been a dog like that in the neighbourhood, but that "Tripod" was long gone..... ghost dog perhaps.