changes made to the grounds

In 1978 when the Pearn's first moved in -


and in 2001 after 23 years of refurbishment



• Conifers cleared from front of house within a month of arrival; rose-arch-cum-carport erected and drive widened removing old wooden gateposts all in early 1980's
• Trees planted in late-1970's along garden frontage with the Park road and frontage holly hedge much improved by eradicating sycamore.
• Early 1980's removal of caravan hardstanding and build of patio.
• Total remake of patio in 2000 following removal of cottage yard; yardwall; total renewal of all drains and new conservatory.
• Discovered filled-in 6ft diameter well outside cottage while preparing new conservatory footings. Fully re-instated to 12ft depth. note photo records old outhouse wall line and drains
• Allowed big sycamore trees to establish along boundary mixed hedge with playing fields - then felled these in late 1990's much improving boundary mixed hedgerow with new plantings.
• 20+ years of evolution of flower/shrub beds including circular raised bed; improvement to holly hedge boundary and added line of trees along border with no:76.
• established 3-tier pond - passing through many stages of use.

changes made to the fabric of the main property
• Stripped roof in mid-1980's and remade with 25% make-up of reclaimed Welsh slate adding c50cm of overhang.
• Fully repointed in late 1980's.
• Fully dampproofed the cottage to fully incorporate as part of the house after years of using the downstairs cottage as an outhouse.

changes made to garages / outhouses etc
• Double garage built in c1982 using reclaimed bricks from the Firs demolition.
• Early 1980's removed XXgallon rainwater tank and cobbled together outside toilet;coal store and potting shed all within yardwall into a makeshift conservatory utilising reclaimed metal windowframes and a leanto roof from cheap glazing bars and georgean-wired glass,
• Demolished conservatory retaining the vine. Rediscovered previous outhouse and drainage history while establishing footings for new conservatory. Built new conservatory using reclaimed bricks but incorporating one millennium brick.

changes made to the downstairs
• Asphalt and vinyl over broken quarry tile on dirt floor in kitchen and minor modifactions all in late 1970's then total gutting and establishing new kitchen with an Aga (Rayburn removed in early 1960's) in late 1990's.
• Lounge gutted; part replastered; new Victorian-style fireplace instated all in early 1990's
• Tv&music room gutted; diagonal chimneybreast removed; new ceiling established with cornice all in 2000. This room was previously a larder; small room and corridor. In early 1990's the ex-larder small window was replaced with a large full wall window.
• The hallway Victorian mosaic encaustic floor previously carpetted over was restored in the 1980's.

changes made to the upstairs
• Showerroom established in late 1980's from junk lumber room.
• Bedrooms part replastered during 1990's. Oriel window overlooking garden replaced much smaller window in 1999.

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