Latest news with #Stanmore
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Mansion left 'gutted' by works 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". Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Harrow Council
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
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 was originally built for the owner of the adjacent Clutterbuck Brewery – Lord Clutterbuck – and remained in the same family for several 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 refurbishment was halted by conservationists and enforcement in December that year, and has ceased ever since, according to the Local Democracy Reporting 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 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 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 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 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".
The Independent
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Princess Eugenie reflects on her scoliosis diagnosis and spinal surgery
Princess Eugenie has opened up about her childhood scoliosis surgery while visiting a hospital in support of patients with spinal injuries. The 35-year-old royal, a patron of Horatio's Garden, which creates peaceful garden spaces for spinal injury patients, visited the charity's Salisbury District Hospital location this week. 'Horatio's Garden's mission is to reach every spinal injuries unit in the UK. I'm happy to be on that journey with them. It needs to happen,' she told the Telegraph. Princess Eugenie - who is 12th in line to the throne - then reflected on her own surgery at age 12 and recalled her recovery at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, where she spent 10 days on her back after surgeons inserted titanium rods into her spine to correct curvature caused by scoliosis. 'I couldn't get out of bed or do anything for myself', she said, adding that she felt 'very embarrassed' ahead of the operation and later struggled with the emotional impact of post-surgery care. It was four months before she was able to return to school. She also spoke about the emotional impact of surgery, recalling how it was her mother, Sarah, Duchess of York, who helped her see her surgical scar as a 'badge of honour'. Eugenie said: 'She'd (Sarah) turn me around and say, 'my daughter is superhuman, you've got to check out her scar'.' At her 2018 wedding, Eugenie wore a dress that revealed her scar to raise awareness of scoliosis. Eugenie said she often received messages from anxious parents whose children are about to undergo spinal surgery, and she makes a point of offering encouragement and reassurance to help them through the experience. She added: 'I tell them not to feel ashamed, not just of the scar but of the whole experience; bed pans, the lot.' Now a working mother of two, Eugenie juggles charity work alongside her role at international gallery Hauser & Wirth and said she and sister Beatrice feel a strong sense of duty to help others because of guidance from their grandmother, the late Queen. She said: 'My mum always taught me that giving back to others is the most important thing in life. 'Bea and I feel very strongly about this. 'My grandmother's sense of duty was also instilled from a young age; we watched my parents, my granny and other family members working very hard.'
The Independent
18-05-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Princess Eugenie tells of her childhood scoliosis surgery
Princess Eugenie has opened up about her experience of scoliosis surgery as a child amid her ongoing support for patients with spinal injuries. The 35-year-old is patron of Horatio's Garden, a charity that creates peaceful garden spaces for spinal injury patients, and visited the charity's garden at Salisbury District Hospital this week. In an interview with the Telegraph, she reflected on her spinal surgery at age 12, and expressed strong support for the charity's work. She said: 'Horatio's Garden's mission is to reach every spinal injuries unit in the UK. I'm happy to be on that journey with them. It needs to happen.' The princess, 12th in line to the throne, recalled her own recovery at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, where she spent 10 days on her back after surgeons inserted titanium rods into her spine to correct curvature caused by scoliosis. She told the Telegraph: 'I couldn't get out of bed or do anything for myself', adding that she felt 'very embarrassed' ahead of the operation and later struggled with the emotional impact of post-surgery care. It was four months before she was able to return to school. She also spoke about the emotional impact of surgery, recalling how it was her mother, Sarah, Duchess of York, who helped her see her surgical scar as a 'badge of honour'. Eugenie said: 'She'd (Sarah) turn me around and say, 'my daughter is superhuman, you've got to check out her scar'.' At her 2018 wedding, Eugenie wore a dress that revealed her scar to raise awareness of scoliosis. Eugenie said she often received messages from anxious parents whose children are about to undergo spinal surgery, and she makes a point of offering encouragement and reassurance to help them through the experience. She added: 'I tell them not to feel ashamed, not just of the scar but of the whole experience; bed pans, the lot.' Now a working mother of two, Eugenie juggles charity work alongside her role at international gallery Hauser & Wirth and said she and sister Beatrice feel a strong sense of duty to help others because of guidance from their grandmother, the late Queen. She said: 'My mum always taught me that giving back to others is the most important thing in life. 'Bea and I feel very strongly about this. 'My grandmother's sense of duty was also instilled from a young age; we watched my parents, my granny and other family members working very hard.'
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Princess Eugenie tells of her childhood scoliosis surgery
Princess Eugenie has opened up about her experience of scoliosis surgery as a child amid her ongoing support for patients with spinal injuries. The 35-year-old is patron of Horatio's Garden, a charity that creates peaceful garden spaces for spinal injury patients, and visited the charity's garden at Salisbury District Hospital this week. In an interview with the Telegraph, she reflected on her spinal surgery at age 12, and expressed strong support for the charity's work. She said: 'Horatio's Garden's mission is to reach every spinal injuries unit in the UK. I'm happy to be on that journey with them. It needs to happen.' The princess, 12th in line to the throne, recalled her own recovery at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, where she spent 10 days on her back after surgeons inserted titanium rods into her spine to correct curvature caused by scoliosis. She told the Telegraph: 'I couldn't get out of bed or do anything for myself', adding that she felt 'very embarrassed' ahead of the operation and later struggled with the emotional impact of post-surgery care. It was four months before she was able to return to school. She also spoke about the emotional impact of surgery, recalling how it was her mother, Sarah, Duchess of York, who helped her see her surgical scar as a 'badge of honour'. Eugenie said: 'She'd (Sarah) turn me around and say, 'my daughter is superhuman, you've got to check out her scar'.' At her 2018 wedding, Eugenie wore a dress that revealed her scar to raise awareness of scoliosis. Eugenie said she often received messages from anxious parents whose children are about to undergo spinal surgery, and she makes a point of offering encouragement and reassurance to help them through the experience. She added: 'I tell them not to feel ashamed, not just of the scar but of the whole experience; bed pans, the lot.' Now a working mother of two, Eugenie juggles charity work alongside her role at international gallery Hauser & Wirth and said she and sister Beatrice feel a strong sense of duty to help others because of guidance from their grandmother, the late Queen. She said: 'My mum always taught me that giving back to others is the most important thing in life. 'Bea and I feel very strongly about this. 'My grandmother's sense of duty was also instilled from a young age; we watched my parents, my granny and other family members working very hard.'
