Comments by louisa venables
13:05 28 October 2009
Hi Jon,
Firstly the park is listed. I can't remember which, if it's Grade 1 or Grade 11* there isn't much chance of modernizing it. I suppose that's not quite true, as there isn't anything there at the moment internally, so when you say modernize, you could mean a modern kitchen, which is a fitting not an architectural feature and can be removed at any time!!. The plans, I presume have been passed with listed building consent, as the council I assume considered the house and buildings, as derelict. So if someone hasn't lived there for a long time, the council say, sorry that's not a house anymore, so you'll have to apply for planning permission and listed building consent to do up and I presume that this is what has happened to Piercefield.
I am not quite sure what you mean by the Sloane bit. Are you talking about the house only and then does that include the pavilion buildings, that I understand were originally connected to the house.
There are buildings in the grounds that are as important as the house, the walled garden and gardener’s cottage for instance. I love that bit.
So you are right I think to say that the restore is a little over the top, as I can imagine the Architect wanted to be involved with this once in a life time opportunity to restore such an Architecturally important building, the local conservation officer probably wants a slice of the pie too and I can imagine that they will be eager to be looking over the shoulder of anyone eventually brave enough to take this on. I understand that royalty were interested at one point, but who I don't know. As the house and park is grade 1 or grade 11* then the interior is as important as the exterior, so the money is in the reproduction of the interior architectural features. Plaster work, fireplaces,flooring etc etc, it's all very specialist contractor work and they are very expensive. We have worked on listed buildings and owned several ourselves. The only thing you can do is comply and negotiate , research and tweek out the end result. The scenarios involved with building work are vast,it looks easy on the plan, but then it can bite you on the behind when you come to carry out that operation. Have you watched grand designs, when that chap did up the scottish castle, what a man, and he didn't necessarily look up to the job, but achieved it. I was thinking of the part when they dug out the interior and an internal structural wall collapsed!!.
Anyway I could go on for ever, if you are interested in buying it, then why havn't you already, it's been sitting there for three years on the market.If you need any help, building wise,or personal support or negotiating building work, agents, architects, contractors etc etc etc, then I can help.
Or we form a group to take the burden.
LOUISA