, The sad looking building above is going to be our new home, it has been owned by the Youth Hostel Association since 1950, it finally shuts its doors in June 2011. The YHA looked after the property structurally but unfortunately it had fallen into disrepair internally.
We first viewed the property in October 2010 but due to Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent, we did not finalise the sale until early July 2011.
We are excited and daunted by taking on such an iconic house, it is an amazing Grade 1 Listed building, one of Saffron Walden's most historic properties.
I am sadly late with the start of this blog but as they say better late than never. BT conspired against an early commencement and I have decided juggling three properties allows for no spare time, so having finally dealt with the move. I am now hoping to keep this blog up to date as renovating this amazing building will be an enthralling journey, already the changes have been quite dramatic.
The builders started work on Monday 4th July, within the first week the stripping out was well under way with carpets, partitions, old showers, boilers etc all filling numerous skips plus the garden very quickly became a car park for various tradesmen. The picture above is the mens shower room before demolition, the image below of the boiler and shower room without partitions taken during the first week of renovation.
Uncovering these amazing beams was quite a highlight although we realised they were there, to see the room emerge in first few days was very rewarding. The second week, a very necessary clear up took place with several skips and bonfires. Further stripping out of electric cable and pipework carried on throughout the week, unfortunately we seem to have created quite a building site, it is extremely dusty which I suppose is to be expected. Mid July we left the various tradesmen alone and disappeared to Cornwall. On our return we found a new boiler, some new radiators, further stripping out in the ladies shower room on Bridge street. Electrics and Plumbing slowly creeping around the building with hanging wires and pipes in mid air!!!
The first week of August was momentus in that work started on the outside of 1 Myddylton Place, the decorators started gently brushing the timbers, removing a unpleasant brown stain possibly linseed oil, the external beams are much improved. We have started collecting match pots for inside and outside walls, all quite confusing, maybe we could open a sub branch of Farrow and Ball!!!!
Oh i remember when my class was on a school trip in England and we stayed at that hotel.. memories, sadly it's now gone and became a beautiful home for you guys. But best luck to you guys
ReplyDeleteI stayed at this YHA several times over the year when I was on cycling tours ,the first time in the late 40s the last in 1984.It was a hostel that I loved more so because it was so basic & historic.It did have a ghost in the women's dorm who used to pester me at night by pulling at my bedclothes,always said The Lords pray and it would stop.The YHA had access to so many very historic buildings in which I had the honor of staying over the years.I love Saffron Walden tnough I am horrified to see that much building is intended.I hope that you have successfuly completed your update to this house with altering too much it's atmosphere.Happy life there.Marcelle Garner.
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