We've Bought an Historical Old Vicarage!

[Ally T]

So the builders are in! So far they have been stripping out. All that beautiful parquet has been pulled up (& many blocks cracked due to being tarred in), all pipes from across walls & up through ceilings are gone, radiators removed, carpets gone, fireplaces out, internal secondary glazing panels across the windows are off - it's exciting! They're half way through removing roof tiles from the Courtyard, as the big machines arrive next week to pull it down.

 

[Ally T]

And slowly we are seeing glimpses of layers of ancient wallpapers

 

[ItsMainelyYou]

It's so exciting! I actually love the older damask paper.

 

[stracci2000]

How amazing this all is! I'm looking forward to seeing the updates!

 

[marymm]

It is so interesting and enjoyable to follow along on your renovation/refurbishment -- thank you for sharing this update!!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Me luvs this "program"!!!!!!! All so thrilling!!!

cheers--Sharon

 

[SparklieBug]

Thank you so much for sharing, @Ally T! I've been thinking about your reno, and wondering how it was coming along. You will have a fab coffee table book when the renos are complete—before n' after pictures!

 

[evergreen]

Oh goodness - tarred in, really?? As in they used tar to stick down the parquet floor? I suppose it's helpful if you have a water leak that it won't soak through to the level below, but a nightmare for conservation efforts no doubt!

 

[MissGotRocks]

So exciting to see the demolition but will be super exciting to see it all go back together! Thanks so much for sharing this with us!

 

[yennyfire]

Love seeing the progress and the surprise “reveals”!! Thanks for allowing us to follow along!

 

[mrs-b]

This is awesome! Leaves Dr Pimple Popper for dead in the satisfaction stakes!

 

[WhoaNelly]

so glad you posted an update. I smile when I see these—thank you sharing your journey.

 

[Ally T]

Oh goodness - tarred in, really?? As in they used tar to stick down the parquet floor? I suppose it's helpful if you have a water leak that it won't soak through to the level below, but a nightmare for conservation efforts no doubt!

Yes, really! That black layer you can see over the floor with imprints of block in it, is bitumen. That's how they fitted it in those days, which is also why a lot of the block snapped being pulled out.

All of that tar now has to be literally excavated down to the slab underneath. Once they get down (about a foot deep) they will lay a new, more themal slab, then an underfloor heating system, then screed, which the new parquet will be fitted over. We've had to get an engineered floor, but it is literally identical parquet to what's been taken out.

 

[RMOO]

So excited to see an update! I love seeing all the pictures as you go through this process. Thank you for that, and I hope you post more along the way!

 

[Patty]

Wow! I love seeing the progress and the “during” pictures. Thanks for sharing! Our house is 116 years old, and I’ve been fascinated with what we’ve found when we’ve done work over the years. Your vicarage has so much history and I can’t wait to see you bring it back to life!

 

[wordie89]

Ally T just looked at whole thread: what an exciting, complex, and worthwhile project! I'm glad you were able to ensure your privacy (thx Ella) and still manage to safely share. What a wonderful experience for the girls to see the process. And ponies, too! Looking forward to future installments ❣

 

[yssie]

Look at those wallpapers. That's walking through time Will you save some samples?

I was describing ths thread to my husband just a few days ago, before I saw the most recent updates. I showed him some of the photos as well. We're both working a ton at the moment (too much), and the various animals and humans in our lives are having more and more health issues, and sometimes I daydream about your project... A fantastical escape. In my real life I couldn't possibly do what you're doing. I can barely be bothered to empty the dishwasher. But one day I want to have time and energy to do something once-in-a-lifetime like this!! I'm going to guess that for a lot of us this is watching a fairytale come true

 

[Ally T]

Look at those wallpapers. That's walking through time Will you save some samples?

I was describing ths thread to my husband just a few days ago, before I saw the most recent updates. I showed him some of the photos as well. We're both working a ton at the moment (too much), and the various animals and humans in our lives are having more and more health issues, and sometimes I daydream about your project... A fantastical escape. In my real life I couldn't possibly do what you're doing. I can barely be bothered to empty the dishwasher. But one day I want to have time and energy to do something once-in-a-lifetime like this!! I'm going to guess that for a lot of us this is watching a fairytale come true

Aw, what a really lovely thing to say! That's made my day! I'm glad this provides some daydreaming & escape for you. But also i'm sorry you're having a rough time with work pressures & people's health. It's really important you make sure you look after yourself & take time out. You will be no use to anyone if you burn out & break down.

It's definitely not been stress free just to even get to the point of having the builders move in, so I can only imagine it'll get worse as more things are uncovered & our already many hundreds of thousands budget gets completely blown out of the water. Last Friday when the carpentry quotes arrived, I actually burst into tears. I called Mr T & I sobbed in utter shock & disbelief. BUT....! We both know in our hearts it will be worth every single drop of sweat & every single penny. It's such a beautiful house & I feel honoured to be preserving her.

As for the wallpaper, it's all pretty rotten under there. The walls have a lot of damp that needs treating, so i'm not sure I'll get any off in a decent size. I'll give it a try though!

And of course you are more than welcome to visit if you are ever in our neck of the woods!

 

[yssie]

Aw, what a really lovely thing to say! That's made my day! I'm glad this provides some daydreaming & escape for you. But also i'm sorry you're having a rough time with work pressures & people's health. It's really important you make sure you look after yourself & take time out. You will be no use to anyone if you burn out & break down.

It's definitely not been stress free just to even get to the point of having the builders move in, so I can only imagine it'll get worse as more things are uncovered & our already many hundreds of thousands budget gets completely blown out of the water. Last Friday when the carpentry quotes arrived, I actually burst into tears. I called Mr T & I sobbed in utter shock & disbelief. BUT....! We both know in our hearts it will be worth every single drop of sweat & every single penny. It's such a beautiful house & I feel honoured to be preserving her.

As for the wallpaper, it's all pretty rotten under there. The walls have a lot of damp that needs treating, so i'm not sure I'll get any off in a decent size. I'll give it a try though!

And of course you are more than welcome to visit if you are ever in our neck of the woods!

You’re doing such a wonderful and *honest* job with the preservation, too. You and your husband clearly feel a calling for this. It’s never about keeping everything exactly as is, is it… It’s about making the place yours whilst paying homage to everything that it was before it was yours, and… Things like the new engineered floor, the taking out the old wallpaper and fireplaces, the combining bathrooms - I hope you never, ever feel guilty about those decisions!! They’re just the newest chapter in this gorgeous old girl’s life story

When I read your updates it’s so clear that you and Mr. T are exactly where you were meant to be, doing exactly what you were meant to do! And I also feel very sure that those horrific quotes (I can kind of imagine!!) will pay for themselves in pride and love… And some good wine might help with the swallowing them down in the meantime

 

[Ally T]

And just like that, the main courtyard has been pulled down & the foundations are going in for my beautiful new & fairly substantial kitchen.

Also, when they started to pull away the skirting boards from the groundfloor, they found they were made from carved concrete & cemented to the walls. ACTUAL CONCRETE!?!?!! So unfortunately they took everything behind off with them, down to bare brick. That old saying "they don't build houses like they used to" pops to mind!

 

[Ally T]

More progress here. We have full foundations & the steels are in for the oak trusses in the kitchen extension, plus a garage & gym block that is now having actual walls built. It's so exciting!

But more exciting than that, a couple of weeks ago whilst pulling out the old linen cupboards upstairs, the builder found some balls of sheep's wool insulation, two old negatives & a really old photo. One negative is of a house we don't recognise from any in the surrounding villages & one of an old church without a roof. The photo shows two very smartly dressed chaps in Bowler hats on a beach. The picture has 1910 on the back in pencil, but no mention of location.

 

[SparklieBug]

Wow! How fascinating! These old images really kindle my curiosity. The old house looks so beautiful. I suppose it could anywhere in the country, perhaps someone brought the photo/negative from their previous home? Or a childhood home? Heh! It's all speculation, though, hmm?

So happy for you that your home is rising up from the ground!

 

[Ally T]

Wow! How fascinating! These old images really kindle my curiosity. The old house looks so beautiful. I suppose it could anywhere in the country, perhaps someone brought the photo/negative from their previous home? Or a childhood home? Heh! It's all speculation, though, hmm?

So happy for you that your home is rising up from the ground!

The Clergy used to be very prominent members of society here at that time, mingling with the wealthy, famous & royalty. They would often be invited to stay at Country piles or castles etc, so this house could be anywhere. We're presuming from the size & style of the negatives that they are around the same date as the photograph. Perhaps one of the chaps in the picture took them.

 

[ame]

Late to this thread but WOW. I cannot wait to see this all said and done, it's incredible.

 

[RMOO]

Oh, this is so cool. I'd have those negatives printed into B & W matte finished photos and frame & hang them together somewhere in the building, a narrow stairwell wall of a little niche of a hallway.

 

[Ally T]

Oh, this is so cool. I'd have those negatives printed into B & W matte finished photos and frame & hang them together somewhere in the building, a narrow stairwell wall of a little niche of a hallway.

This is a perfect idea! We can put them somewhere up the servants staircase at the back. It's narrow & plain & boring, so would add a nice focal point.

 

[Gemzy]

More progress here. We have full foundations & the steels are in for the oak trusses in the kitchen extension, plus a garage & gym block that is now having actual walls built. It's so exciting!

But more exciting than that, a couple of weeks ago whilst pulling out the old linen cupboards upstairs, the builder found some balls of sheep's wool insulation, two old negatives & a really old photo. One negative is of a house we don't recognise from any in the surrounding villages & one of an old church without a roof. The photo shows two very smartly dressed chaps in Bowler hats on a beach. The picture has 1910 on the back in pencil, but no mention of location.

The image of the two gents on a beach is, I'm pretty certain, taken at Kynance Cove in Cornwall. The large rocks around there are named, think this is Lion Rock.

 

[Ally T]

The image of the two gents on a beach is, I'm pretty certain, taken at Kynance Cove in Cornwall. The large rocks around there are named, think this is Lion Rock.

That's amazing! Shall have a mooch around & try to find some images of the rocks!

 

[Ally T]

The image of the two gents on a beach is, I'm pretty certain, taken at Kynance Cove in Cornwall. The large rocks around there are named, think this is Lion Rock.

Well would you look at that! What an amazing eye you have!

 

[SparklieBug]

How great is this?! One image kinda-sorta solved!