Have you ever noticed this building from the northbound carriageway on the M1 at top of slip road to Junction 26 ?
SAFETY 1st IF YOU ARE DRIVING !
I look at it every time I pass by, that's hundreds of times now & I say - If I win the jackpot on the Lottery I will restore that clock !
It's at Home Farm, Nuthall & over the years it has fell into more disrepair.
So a couple of weeks ago after doing some research on the web & finding out that it was Home Farm belonging to the now pulled down Nuthall Temple, (its rubble is now under the motorway). I went in search of the clock.
When I got there, not knowing if it would be ok for me to be there, I walked up the lane to the farm & was met by the owner & his dog, he had just come out of his house. After explaining my reasons for being there, he told me quiet a bit about the farm & I notice there were more buildings to the farm than you can see from the motorway. I asked if it was ok to photograph them, which he granted.
He told me that a developer had tried to restore them, but changed his mind because of the difficulties in the requirements of Grade Two Planning Regulations, which would have cost to much money to do.
This next picture is the other side of the clock building & the rest of the buildings are formed around a courtyard.
I asked if the local conservation societies visited, which he said, they use to come & bring groups around regularly, but its dropped off now & no one is interested in saving these buildings, so they are gradually falling down. He has done some restoration work himself, but it's to larger project without a large cash injection, possibly millions of pounds. I think if it was not next to the motorway these buildings would have been restored years ago & now being lived in.
That roof won't last much longer now, especially with the high winds we are now experiencing !
These are possibly the oldest buildings from the 18th century, with an added 19th century third floor. There is a stone dated 1664 set in the granary & the owner thinks this was the site of a medieval manor house.
Looks like these cottages haven't been empty for to long a time.
It won't be long before this part comes down next !
Apparently this is where the horse-drawn carriages were kept for Nuthall Temple, now it's the home for vehicles with more than one horse power.
Front of the cottages adjoining the carriage house.
If you would like see photos & read about Nuthall Temple I have added these two links.
So if you are that millionaire with an interest in saving these buildings, I am sure the owner would be interested to hear from you !
Also used in the Shane Meadows film 24/7 starring Bob Hoskins who is seen sat below the clock face!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. Have looked this film up to get a dvd copy, but I'm not into boxing, maybe it will come on the telly. Martyn
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