Thursday 28 July 2011

Pitt Place - Chelmsford - July 2011

Once owned by Essex MP John Archer Houblon from 1810 to 1820 and a descendant of the first governor of the Bank of England this has been on the buildings at risk register for several years.

The following was taken from The Essex Chronicle.


Despite the roof missing a quarter of its tiles and the attic windows being broken and open to the elements, locals say Mrs Jill Rigler still lives there.
The Riglers bought the house from agents Cheale in 1995.
On several occasions when the Chronicle called, only the growling of a guard dog through a cat flap indicated residency, and the stable block was in use.
A neighbour said: "We get a lot of people knocking here to see if the place is for sale. We long to see it reinstated. Mrs Rigler is a very private person."
Allen Buckroyd, Baddow's village historian, surveyed the property in 2004 and was shocked this week to see how it has deteriorated since then.
Sad place "Compared to the photograph taken in 1925 it is a sad place," he said.
"It used to be vibrant then with garden parties around the lake.
"Now I can only conclude someone is biding their time to have the whole place covered with houses because there is a plan to so develop a field on the other side of the road."


The this from a later edition of The Essex Chronicle

THE former mansion home of a 19th century Chelmsford MP has been saved by a property developer. Neglected Pitt Place in Great Baddow - top of the county's at risk register two years ago - has been rescued by Douglas Carroll, who runs property developer Newells in Moulsham Street, Chelmsford.
For years the mansion was owned by teacher Jill Rigler until Newells bought it with plans to return to its "regency glory".
Baddow historian Allen Buckroyd, who watched the building deteriorate rapidly since 2004, said: "It's a house worthy of a lord of the manor and now it seems it can start looking like it again.
"It is the most wonderful piece of heritage, with stately rooms and panelled ceilings.
Mrs Rigler's son, John, said: "My mother had owned the property since 1990 but has never been in the position to take care of it in the manner it deserves.
"My mother is a very private person who sadly chose to batten down the hatches and hoped the problem would go away.
"We would have sorely loved to approach a body for a grant of some sort but would not have known where to start."















In the garden near the lake was a thatched single roomed summer house
 



 

1 comment:

  1. I spent my childhood at Pitt Place, amazing grounds and beautiful lakes. Such a shame

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