On Tuesday I visited the Parkhurst house for the first time since it had been vacated by the previous owners. As we’d only been interested in it for the position of the stand and not for the house itself, I had not previously seen any more of the house than the small area between the front door and the French doors leading out into the garden. I took a friend along with me for company and between the two of us, we determined that there was not anything of real value that needed saving in the garden and nothing that I needed to be concerned about preserving in the house itself. The original structure may be over 60 years old but there are no special features such as pressed steel ceilings that in any way redeem it. Over the years, other bits and pieces have been added on to the house, resulting in a complete mish-mash of styles, levels, window frames and floor coverings. It is a little frustrating that we are being delayed by the Heritage Committee at this stage when there is absolutely nothing that could interest them in any way.
On Thursday I returned to the house with the architect and the contractor we have employed to demolish the house as soon as the permission to do so is granted. Between Tuesday afternoon and Thursday morning a few things had changed. The automatic garage door would not work and we managed to open the pedestrian door onto the street only with considerable difficulty. The motor for the garage door was still in place but the front door was standing wide open and had been propped in position with bricks. Inside we found that somebody had managed to gain access to the house and had removed the very old under-cover oven from the kitchen and, from the number of cigarettes that had been smoked, had spent a fair amount of time in the house, probably trying to find other bits and pieces that might be worth removing.
Contractor and Architect on site
It’s slightly disconcerting to feel that people become aware so quickly that a property is empty and unprotected and that they are prepared to go to so much trouble to get possession of such very old and well-used appliances. The contractor did not seem at all surprised by this and assured us that he would take control of the site just as soon as we had signed his contract and that he would arrange for one of his employees to move onto the property as soon as possible. Needless to say we signed on the spot…
He also explained that he can begin dismantling all the parts of the building that do not fall under the 60 year old limit and that he will start doing that on Monday.
Cottage and Shed can be dismantled immediately
home-in-the-making 