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downsmail.co.uk Plans ‘will save historic manor’
THE development of the Wierton Place Victorian manor house near Boughton Monchelsea will preserve it for generations to come, its architect claims. Guy Hollaway (right) said the
conversion of the main building and parts of its grounds were nec- essary to finance the overall scheme. The proposal for 22 homes was approved by Maidstone Borough Council (MBC). The applicant orig- inally submitted plans in 2011 and have been subject to local chal- lenges and objections. Mr Hollaway said he was “de- lighted” at the outcome and joked: “It’s only taken five years!” Hythe-based Mr Hollaway told Maidstone council’s planning com- mittee: “I took on this project be- cause I thought I could save an historically-important building. I didn’t realise how complicated it would turn out to be. “At the heart of the scheme is the preservation of this historical asset. All these structures require a lot of thought and a thoughtful re- sponse.” The main house will contain
seven apartments and the glasshouses – which will be sym- pathetically restored – will become a further four homes. The present bungalow and garage block – described by coun- cil officers as “inappropriate” – and the ballroom will now make way for six dwellings. Five “enabling” houses on the car
Birthday peal
for Queen THE bells will ring out over Otham to celebrate the Queen’s birthday in June. The church campanologists
have been practising, ready to ring between 10am and noon on Sun- day, June 12. The bells at St Nicholas’s Church were augmented from three to six in 2012 and a dedica- tion board is to be erected. Details will include the weight of each bell, the founder and year of cast- ing, ranging from 1400 to 2011. The bells were rung to mark St George’s Day and in celebration of parishioners Dot and Clive Hooker’s 50th wedding anniver- sary. The peal attempt also com- memorated the late Elizabeth Marchant, the late wife of David, and donors of the treble bell. The Queen’s 90th birthday cele- bration on June 12 will be fol- lowed by a barbecue. All the parish is invited but entrance is by ticket only so that the catering can be planned.
10 Maidstone South May 2016
park site will provide much of the cash needed to preserve original features atWierton Place. Mr Hollaway added: “These are extraordinary buildings and they are really expensive to restore, so much more expensive than a new build, especially in order to get the craftsmanship you need. “There is a lot of work and a lot
of detail. The profit that comes from the enabling homes goes to- wards the restoration of the listed buildings.” He said the timber in the glasshouses, for instance, was “re- coverable” but the glasswas not. “The materiality will be of the highest quality,” said Mr Holl-
A new future for nightclub
WIERTON Place was once a substantial family home with a terraced garden and ornate Victorian glasshouses. Once a country club, it now exists as a nightclub with some accommodation. Despite its recent use, many of the original Victorian features have survived. Wierton Place is thought to date back to the 1760s but the main part which remains today is the result of remodelling, extension and alterations made a century later. It was given grade II listed status in 2002.
away. “We want to bring these buildings back – not just for tomor- row but for generation after gener- ation after generation.” Local resident Lee Prebble told
the council planning committee that 1,200 local people objected to the plans as well as “serious objec- tions” from the Victorian Society.
Boughton Monchelsea parish councillor Jonathan Gershon said his group had raised concerns over 25 years with the borough author- ity, which he claimed “represents a substantial period of neglect”. The borough planning officers
had recommended that the appli- cation made by Wierton Place
Arts fair
YALDING Art Group is staging its annual Arts and Crafts Fair in the Village Hall, Lyngs Close, on Sun- day, May 15. The fair is open from 11am until
4pm, when there will be artwork from members on display in the lobby, as well as a wide variety of craft stalls from around the county. The group will also have its work
Students OliverWood and Amelia Colechin taste sausages with Heck's Ellie Keeble and Ben Stones
Tasty lesson for pupils
THERE could be “wurst” ways to spend an afternoon than tasting a selection of sausages, as students at Cornwallis Academy can con- firm. A tasty selection of bangers were on offer in food technology les-
sons, thanks to a visit from British sausage farmers, Heck. The family-run business delivered a presentation to year 9 students
about their company, before challenging the group to come up with their own innovative recipes. Angela Broome, head of food technology at the school in Hubbards
Lane, Linton, said: “It was great to welcome Heck to the academy. They gave the students a real insight into the company, including its high standards when it comes to ingredients.”
on display at the new Riverside Pop-up Gallery, next to the Post Of- fice, during the month ofAugust. For further information, visit
www.yaldingartgroup.weebly.com
Homes plan
PLANS have been updated to de- molish a disused business park and neighbouring bungalow – to make way for six new homes. TheValedene Industrial Park site
on the Headcorn Road, near Sutton Valence, has lain unused for several years. The scheme would see the removal of the sustainable homes code whichwas scrapped last year.
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