The Rookery: 'Gutted' Stanmore mansion to be restored
A 17th Century Grade II listed building in north-west London is set to be restored to its former glory after works carried out by the owner left it "literally gutted".Harrow Council's planning committee has approved plans for the complete restoration of The Rookery, a Georgian mansion house and stables in Stanmore.It was originally built for the owner of the adjacent Clutterbuck Brewery – Lord Clutterbuck – and remained in the same family for several generations.In recent years a series of "unlawful works" were carried out, the committee was told, including using décor described as "fake old" and removing original plaster from the walls, which had done "harm to the listed building".
A new owner of The Rookery took possession of the site in 2022. Listed Building Consent, required to make changes to a listed building, was not obtained before work began.The refurbishment was halted by conservationists and enforcement in December that year, and has ceased ever since, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.Consent has now been granted for internal and external alterations to take place, including a full interior "strip out" – much of which has already taken place – and renewal of the decoration.The plans outline how the building will be restored to "match the historic details" and "recreate the historic features" where genuine, according to Harrow Council's planning officer.
The Rookery was described as of particular historic and architectural importance due to its age and association with the brewery, as well as its traditional architectural features and historic fabric.The planning officer said the restoration work would provide a "unique opportunity" to find out more information about the significance and historic development of the building as the modern surface fabric is removed.Asked if the building could be restored to its original state, the planning officer said it was "the best proposal [in] the moment we are at".
No enforcement action was served when the works were discovered because officers sought "to get a better understanding of what had happened", but prosecution was still be an option, according to the committee chair Marilyn Ashton.She described the application as "a positive" in respect of moving things forward but called the building's current condition "a big disappointment" and that "accepting what's happened and being pragmatic doesn't make it all right"."Having studied the report very clearly, one might infer that we have still got the option of prosecution because it is actually quite a serious problem to do this to a Grade II listed building. It isn't just one room or just a small feature, the whole place has literally been gutted."She added there was "not much left of its historical value but hopefully we can put some of it back to make it look at least something like how it was".
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
19 minutes ago
- BBC News
Rail inspired landscaping plan revealed for MoD hub in Blackpool
Blackpool's railway heritage has inspired new "public art" landscaping designs to be provided as part of a new £45m office block, close to the town's railway was announced on 19 May that construction had begun on the new office building for more than 1,000 Ministry of Defence (MoD) civil move will be at the heart of the Talbot Gateway regeneration scheme in the have now emerged in planning documents that show the designs include a green landscaped area, referred to as a "rain garden", with benches designed with the town's railway heritage in mind. 'Boost sustainability' These proposals will now be considered by the council. Designers Re-form Landsape stated: "The planting will function as a rain garden and will work in harmony with the recolonised railway character."It could include "a reclaimed railway track" where "surface water will be able to run into the planting areas through breaks in the edge" with "simple, robust" seating."Alongside providing positive visual interest to the scheme, the public art will also boost sustainability by providing a sustainable urban drainage system and reusing existing materials," the plans site has lain empty since the Apollo building was demolished in 2014 but is now to get a new lease of new office development represents the fifth phase of the £350m Talbot Gateway development, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.A £100m civil service hub has already been built on Cookson Street for the Department for Work and Pensions. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
19 minutes ago
- BBC News
Skydive to fund domestic violence refuges in the Black Country
The boss of a Birmingham-based IT firm is jumping out of an aircraft to help a local charity build 10 safe houses for families fleeing domestic Bayliss, CEO of Hubtel IT, is doing a skydive in support of Black Country Women's Aid's The Key to a New Life comes after the charity said it was forced to turn away over two thirds of requests for refuge last year, although those people were offered other support. Mr Bayliss, 47, will take to the sky from 14,000 feet at Langar Airfield in Nottingham on 21 June, joined by 10 staff members from the charity and two colleagues from Hubtel - Julian Brettle and Mike Leach. The CEO of Hubtel, which provides cyber-security services for the charity, said: "The terror I feel when I think about doing this is brought into sharp perspective by the reason we're doing it. "Domestic abuse affects so many people, and unlike our skydive, it takes place behind closed doors when no-one else is looking."Black Country Women's Aid's work to highlight it and help victims is critical. Leaping from a plane is the least we can do to support them."Sara Ward, CEO of the charity, said: "When Black Country Women's Aid was first established nearly 40 years ago, it was with a refuge. "Since then, our services have grown to meet local people's needs, but refuge remains at the heart of what we do."These new flats will provide safe and secure spaces from where families can heal together and rebuild their lives." Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
19 minutes ago
- BBC News
Anti-social driving a big concern in Bradford
Anti-social car use, including drivers revving their engines or catcalling from their vehicles, is a significant concern for residents in Bradford, police have council is considering plans to extend a public space protection order (PSPO) to clamp down on driver behaviour that causes a nuisance, but is not necessarily order was first introduced by Bradford Council in 2019 and more than 400 motorists have been fined since Supt Richard Padwell from West Yorkshire Police said the anti-social use of vehicles "continues to be one of the most significant concerns for our communities, as is frequently evidenced in community safety meetings and surveys". He said the existing PSPO, which also targets car meets, "significantly contributes to maintaining public safety, reducing anti-social behaviour and ensuring that the communities of Bradford are safe from this type of activity."Alison Lowe, West Yorkshire's deputy mayor for policing and crime, said officers found that "anti-social behaviour related to driving disproportionately impacted women and girls".Lowe said she believed the PSPO would "support our targeted work" to tackle issues around women's Council asked the public for its views on the proposed extension earlier this year, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.A total of 942 people responded, of which 97% said anti-social vehicle use was "a big problem" or "a fairly big problem".Most people supported the will discuss the proposed extension at a meeting on Thursday. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
