Report - Withcote Hall - Feb 18

[Bikin Glynn]

I'm sure most of you in here will know this place but its living proof that somewhere can be kept out of the limelight & goon free!
The hall is now wrapped in scaffold & has a site compound set up out front.
This is great really it looks like this will be getting a proper restoration job not one of your half efforts that will go on for ever with no end in sight!

Withcote Hall is a Grade II* listed building that is on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register as being unoccupied and in a very bad state It is an early C18 country house, incorporating an earlier building.
Henry Smith was an English Member of Parliament and one of the regicides of King Charles I was born here in 1620.

I cant actually find much other history about the hall but until I look back through pics I'd forgotten how lovely this is, I had a strange urge to go back but guess its too late now!
Big thanks to HughieD for giving me the heads up on this place many moons back, I did 2 solo visits & most the pics are from my first visit on a freezing morn.
Sorry for the amount of pics again ;-)

In case u were wondering yes that damn dog was there during my visits constantly barking on the lawn behind the hall but no one seemed bothered.
In addition I had a cat inside following me around on my first visit lol

The most bizarre toilet in the attic, presumably servants living quarters at one point. Not sure how u would sit on it under a 45 deg roof lol

Being an old steel erector I do appreciate a good podger!

Ok Im just teasing I know u are all expecting the staircase pics so here they are!

Thanks For Looking

 

[xplorer.x]

Some nice shots there. Good report.
Although I have seen this pop up on YouTube before..

 

[Yorrick]

This is great really it looks like this will be getting a propper restoration job not one of your half efforts that will go on for ever with no end in sight!

If only
Looking at the planning application from over a year ago, when @Urbantombraider dragged me along, the consultant hadn’t gone into enough detail about how they were going to preserve and restore it. They still haven’t and it’s still pending.

 

[Bikin Glynn]

If only
Looking at the planning application from over a year ago, when @Urbantombraider dragged me along, the consultant hadn’t gone into enough detail about how they were going to preserve and restore it. They still haven’t and it’s still pending.

Strange they have spent a substantial amount on not just scafolding but a site office & compound thus implying work is intended if they still dont have planning ironed out.
It certainly needs something doing quick, as you are no doubt aware, parts are in a really bad way!

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Some nice shots there. Good report.
Although I have seen this pop up on YouTube before..

Thats annoying but inevitable. not the first report on here either but its survived really well!

 

[xplorer.x]

Thats annoying but inevitable. not the first report on here either but its survived really well!

Agreed. It is good how it's not had much coverage as a whole.

 

[HughieD]

Nice set 'o pix mate. Looks like you had much better weather on your visit(s) than I did!

Just wondering, does it need to be NP now it is all scaffolded up and getting done up?

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Nice set 'o pix mate. Looks like you had much better weather on your visit(s) than I did!

Just wondering, does it need to be NP now it is all scaffolded up and getting done uo?

Up to admin I guess

 

[Seffy]

Ooh that I do like. Yes to pianos also

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Ooh that I do like. Yes to pianos also

Its a beautiful place for sure. Rumour has it an old lady lived there alone until not that long ago, this is possibly true as u can tell which rooms were habitable with things like toothbrushes still out while rooms around them quite literally are falling in on themselves!

 

[Yorrick]

Just wondering, does it need to be NP now it is all scaffolded up and getting done up?

At the polite request of the owner. She doesn't mind people looking, but would rather it wasn't all over the web.

 

[Bikin Glynn]

At the polite request of the owner. She doesn't mind people looking, but would rather it wasn't all over the web.

Blimey if I’d of known that I’d of asked for a look around. She still alive then?

 

[Yorrick]

Research on the planning app says she lives in the cottage at the end of the drive.

 

[HughieD]

At the polite request of the owner. She doesn't mind people looking, but would rather it wasn't all over the web.

Duly noted.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Beautiful architecture there. Stunning shots of the ceilings and railings. Really well composed. Like this alot. Hoping its being saved., if not what waste Good it documented though