God Help Us!

At 58 years old my dad still likes climbing trees and my brother is definitely up the tree. Good job, as the trees are coming down.

Quick and painless! (mostly). Peeling back the lath and plasterwork revealed the 1900s brickwork and 1970s newspaper! Here’s some before and afters. And here it is ready to be whisked away.

After   a week of owning our own home, we had already cleaned the house, created temporary vehicular access, cleared the jungle and did the obligatory trip to Ikea. We have bought all the stuff necessary for the kitchen (most importantly the Microwave!). My brother and his girlfriend believe they have green thumbs and have started buying plants, including a fairly impressive Bonsai Tree. Meanwhile, let’s get rid of the trees outside and rip the plaster off the walls.

In the beginning, (1887) Reginald Stanley, the local brick maker and businessman gave a part of his land to the local Wesleyan Methodists who built the octagonal church visible from the road today. In fact, Stanley’s mother laid one of the founding stones in memory of her husband, in a ceremony that involved tea and an evening meeting which raised £150, £15000 in today’s money! Note to self, as the new owners maybe we should sell tea and hold an evening meeting Over the years a function room was added (1903) followed by a 20th-century kitchen and toilets. By 2009 the original chapel had been converted into a modern 4 bedroom property (with a massive function room attached!) In 2020, we bought it!