The Demise of a Big House

[mark smyth]

I did a survey on a house and property called Brookfield House. It was built way back in 1760. The Smyth family, no connection but I wish there was, lived in the house until 1993 when it was sold to a local farmer who had plans to make it into a small hotel. This fell through and he resold it, probably for millions, to a developer who will now flatten the site to make way for houses. On site there is mature woodland, a walled garden, two green houses, out buildings and what is thought to have been a school. You can imagine how it was at it's peak. It was self sufficiant. The wall of the walled garden is a famine wall built by the poor so they could earn money.

[Maggi Young]

I love the outbuildings and school... wouldn't they just refurbish a treat? And the shape of the greenhouse.... how elegant are those curves?
Must say that grey harling on the main house isn't the prettiest finish but I bet it could be improved ... and the interior will likely have lots of original features..... did you find bats in  your survey?This sort of destruction of old houses and estates happens here, too.... best thing that could be hoped for here would be that the house was converted into flats... that at least preserves it, if not all its character..... gardens are just seen as building plots, no matter how lovely they were, or even ARE...... shame, isn't it?

[Anthony Darby]

I did a survey on a house and property called Brookfield House. It was built way back in 1760. The Smyth family, no connection but I wish there was, lived in the house until 1993 when it was sold to a local farmer who had plans to make it into a small hotel. This fell through and he resold it, probably for millions, to a developer who will now flatten the site to make way for houses. On site there is mature woodland, a walled garden, two green houses, out buildings and what is thought to have been a school. You can imagine how it was at it's peak. It was self sufficient. The wall of the walled garden is a famine wall built by the poor so they could earn money.

What value did your survey come up with Mark?

[mark smyth]

Anthony it was a bat survey not a valuation

[Linda_Foulis]

What a shame!  I wonder how many millions it would take to restore the property?  Love the greenhouse.

[mark smyth]

The larger greenhouse has rasided beds inside and a huge grape. The walled garden has apples and pears. I wanted to take photos through the windows but a dog walker told me some eastern Europeans live in the house. I then felt nervous walking around the property as if I was being watched

[Anthony Darby]

Anthony it was a bat survey not a valuation

Ah. Wasn't sure as there was no mention of bats. Just a big grape and some stairs in the walled garden.

[mark smyth]

Sadly no bat roosts

[maggiepie]

What a terrible shame, I really like all those buildings, I wonder if the greenhouse could be dismantled and sent to me.

[mark smyth]

I would have thought if you can dismantle it you could take it