Insurance for listed cottage

[Cubist]

Sound like the bulk of the house and barn are in good condition and you intend little in the way of change for its future, and none that may require formal planning permissions. Small changes though to the house or barn may be of interest or potential concern to the local CO so its worthwhile cultivating a friendly discourse ahead of time - its not safe to assume that any two COs will take an identical position on any given change and yours may harbour extreme sentiments.

The fencing should not be an issue provided it does not adversely affect any views of the property - a passing CO may just give you a problem if, say, you were to build a 10 foot ranch style fence but wouldn't bat an eye at a strung wire net at waist height.

 

[Calymene]

Sound like the bulk of the house and barn are in good condition and you intend little in the way of change for its future, and none that may require formal planning permissions. Small changes though to the house or barn may be of interest or potential concern to the local CO so its worthwhile cultivating a friendly discourse ahead of time - its not safe to assume that any two COs will take an identical position on any given change and yours may harbour extreme sentiments.

The fencing should not be an issue provided it does not adversely affect any views of the property - a passing CO may just give you a problem if, say, you were to build a 10 foot ranch style fence but wouldn't bat an eye at a strung wire net at waist height.

Thanks Cubist,

Yes that's the plan really ,to do essential repairs etc, I know that there is some cement pointing that needs replacing with lime and yet other areas where the lime pointing needs restoring but the aim is to keep the house looking and structurally much as it is now as long as it's confortable to live in and in a safe weatherproof condition, I guess time will tell.

Why the fence worried me a bit is because many of the posts are actually in or just behind the small drystone wall and look as nif they are causing as much damage as the farmers stock, I am hoping the farmer will allow me tom place the posts a few feet into his field so we can preserve and hopefully restore this old boiundry. There is an ancient hedge planted just behind and even on top of this wall , much has died out but some parts are still growing well but need bringing back to a useful state, quite a bit I can relayer to form a stock proof boundry but I would still need to protect the wall. The house is invisible from the road so even if the CO passed by he would not see anything any way but I will try to make contact, I just hope he/she is more approachable than the person that was in charge of a conservation area a previous failed purchase was in, never got to speak to them, all they did was point me to a particularly useless web site.

Cal

 

[Flyfisher]

One of the main reasons for trying to buy this cottage is to save it from being modernised in an inappropriate way, I'm going to be asking a lot of questions and for recommendations to keep it as original as I can

While I admire your enthusiasm, it would be interesting to know what constitutes inappropriate modernisation of a cottage dating back to the 1300's.

Running water? Indoor lavatory? A bathroom of any description? Open fire cooking? Electricity? Any electrical appliances?

 

[Cubist]

Hi Cal,
You may want to check whether it's you that owns that boundary to your property and is therefore responsible for its maintenance. If the dry stone wall marks the boundary and it is yours, then the farmer can place the wire fence wherever he deems fit and can claim he is protecting your wall from his livestock. On the other hand he has no obligations to you beyond ensuring his animals cannot get onto your land.

Our plot in the sticks is bounded by four, to of which belong to private owners and the third is now controlled by the Conservation team at the local authority - courtesy of a now deceased neighbour who tried to prosecute me for trespass after I hopped over the failed wire fence to clear a couple of trees that had come down over that boundary during a storm. The fourth consists of two elements that form the side of the lane running past the house, together with both sides of the bridleway that bisects the plot, leave me with circa 600 metres of mature hedges and tree that I am obliged to look after.

BTW - Your username/handle implies you may have an interest in fossils I think. True/False?

Cheers,
Cubist

 

[Calymene]

While I admire your enthusiasm, it would be interesting to know what constitutes inappropriate modernisation of a cottage dating back to the 1300's.

Running water? Indoor lavatory? A bathroom of any description? Open fire cooking? Electricity? Any electrical appliances?

Hi Flyfisher,

I suppose it's a personal thing, if the outside looks old and period then I personally think the interior should refect that look as far as possible otherwise I might as well just go and buy one of those little airtight modern boxes. I find some restored houses sit uncomfortably with their ultra modern fitted interiors, in my eyes at least, some of the high end kitchens full of shiny stainless steel surfaces and dozens to tiny lights just don't look or feel right and spoil the feel of the property, for me at least. I know some modernity is essential and welcome, clean potable water, electric, shower room, cooker or microwave of some description but have seen so many that to me are just overdone, for me buying and living an older property is about enjoying its age and admiring it for what it is rather than hiding it behind all sorts of shiny modern materials or trying to convert it into something that it isn't.

Cal

 

[Calymene]

Hi Cal,
You may want to check whether it's you that owns that boundary to your property and is therefore responsible for its maintenance. If the dry stone wall marks the boundary and it is yours, then the farmer can place the wire fence wherever he deems fit and can claim he is protecting your wall from his livestock. On the other hand he has no obligations to you beyond ensuring his animals cannot get onto your land.

Our plot in the sticks is bounded by four, to of which belong to private owners and the third is now controlled by the Conservation team at the local authority - courtesy of a now deceased neighbour who tried to prosecute me for trespass after I hopped over the failed wire fence to clear a couple of trees that had come down over that boundary during a storm. The fourth consists of two elements that form the side of the lane running past the house, together with both sides of the bridleway that bisects the plot, leave me with circa 600 metres of mature hedges and tree that I am obliged to look after.

BTW - Your username/handle implies you may have an interest in fossils I think. True/False?

Cheers,
Cubist

Hi Cubist,

The cottage is in the middle of almost nowhere, just a few scattered cottages and is on an almost triangular plot a tiny lane is on one side and then one field wraps around the other two sides. From what the present owner says the farmer is a pleasant chap and hopefully will be easy to talk to so I hope we can come to some pleasant arrangement even if that means I have to try and buy a couple more acres from him to make it easy for us both to keep the boundry safe and secure for both his livestock and my plant collections. I will have to wait for the solicitors to come back to me with details of the boundries etc, they are not too good at communicating though!

And yes you are correct one of my interests is Paleontology and strangly there is a world renowned site for trilobites within walking distance of this cottage. Other interests of mine are entomology and botany, both of which should be good in the area as there is also a reseve for some rare plants again within easy strolling distance.

Cal

 

[Cubist]

That farmer wouldn't be a chap called Selway by any chance?

 

[Calymene]

That farmer wouldn't be a chap called Selway by any chance?

To be honest I cannot remember his name, will have to ask the vendor again, it's one thing that I am hopeless at, remembering peoples names. The cottage is in south Shropshire on the edge of the area of outstanding natural beauty and close to the Welsh border.

Cal

 

[Flyfisher]

Hi Flyfisher,

I suppose it's a personal thing, if the outside looks old and period then I personally think the interior should refect that look as far as possible otherwise I might as well just go and buy one of those little airtight modern boxes. I find some restored houses sit uncomfortably with their ultra modern fitted interiors, in my eyes at least, some of the high end kitchens full of shiny stainless steel surfaces and dozens to tiny lights just don't look or feel right and spoil the feel of the property, for me at least. I know some modernity is essential and welcome, clean potable water, electric, shower room, cooker or microwave of some description but have seen so many that to me are just overdone, for me buying and living an older property is about enjoying its age and admiring it for what it is rather than hiding it behind all sorts of shiny modern materials or trying to convert it into something that it isn't.

Cal

Yes, very much a personal thing, which is why I was interested. The 'good old days' might be old but I seriously doubt they were anywhere close to being 'good' - unless one was a King or Queen or a very close relative.

While I share your distain for 'little airtight modern boxes', I suspect the issue is more of an economic one than an 'old vs new' one. I say that as I've seen a number of new build houses that I'd jump at the chance to live in. Their defining characteristic is that they are 'self builds' rather than 'new builds', ie individual bespoke houses built specifically for the owners and typically in a 'non-estate' location, rather than cheek-by-jowl with tens or hundreds of identical boxes houses.

Personally, I value location more than the house itself but it's not easy to find modest homes set in a few acres of land away from other people and those that do exist seem to be older houses (though I dare say there are many exceptions and I don't claim an exhaustive survey of the matter!). So while I'm more than happy to live in a c.500 year old house, it's not the main reason I live in it and while I would not choose 'shiny stainless steel surfaces' for a kitchen, I'm certainly not going to forgoe all the modern appliances and other luxurioes that we're privileged to have access to in the 21st century. I think it's possible to do that AND enjoy the age of the house and admire it for what it is.

 

[Cubist]

You'll be somewhere near the Mortimer Forest then and a reasonable chance the reserve you mention may even be the one that neighbours my place.

 

[Lacan07]

Hi Flyfisher,

I suppose it's a personal thing, if the outside looks old and period then I personally think the interior should refect that look as far as possible otherwise I might as well just go and buy one of those little airtight modern boxes. I find some restored houses sit uncomfortably with their ultra modern fitted interiors, in my eyes at least, some of the high end kitchens full of shiny stainless steel surfaces and dozens to tiny lights just don't look or feel right and spoil the feel of the property, for me at least. I know some modernity is essential and welcome, clean potable water, electric, shower room, cooker or microwave of some description but have seen so many that to me are just overdone, for me buying and living an older property is about enjoying its age and admiring it for what it is rather than hiding it behind all sorts of shiny modern materials or trying to convert it into something that it isn't.

Cal

I agree, I often say to friends if you want your off white, super flat walls then buy a 20th century house. I know there are likely plenty of Victorian properties out there that get bodged and modernised to within inch of their life and still give no bother to the owners and how lucky they are, but for the rest of us owning an old property can often be a compromise, especially if like me you were brought up in a mid 60's semi built by master craftsmen. You might as well enjoy your old house for what it is and dress it for how it used to be, otherwise whats the point.

 

[Calymene]

Yes, very much a personal thing, which is why I was interested. The 'good old days' might be old but I seriously doubt they were anywhere close to being 'good' - unless one was a King or Queen or a very close relative.

While I share your distain for 'little airtight modern boxes', I suspect the issue is more of an economic one than an 'old vs new' one. I say that as I've seen a number of new build houses that I'd jump at the chance to live in. Their defining characteristic is that they are 'self builds' rather than 'new builds', ie individual bespoke houses built specifically for the owners and typically in a 'non-estate' location, rather than cheek-by-jowl with tens or hundreds of identical boxes houses.

Personally, I value location more than the house itself but it's not easy to find modest homes set in a few acres of land away from other people and those that do exist seem to be older houses (though I dare say there are many exceptions and I don't claim an exhaustive survey of the matter!). So while I'm more than happy to live in a c.500 year old house, it's not the main reason I live in it and while I would not choose 'shiny stainless steel surfaces' for a kitchen, I'm certainly not going to forgoe all the modern appliances and other luxurioes that we're privileged to have access to in the 21st century. I think it's possible to do that AND enjoy the age of the house and admire it for what it is.

I agree with you Flyfisher, I was talking about those new housing estate type properties really and like you have seen a few new bespoke builds that I like but usually with little to no garden or grounds. Like you it's the location for me rather than the property in the first instance and finding one that is affordable with some land too, that is in a local you like with a cottage that also appeals is not easy these days. This cottage is not perfect for me but it's by far the nearest I have come to finding my ideal. It looks up a valley between hills, is secluded but not isolated in any way and has much potential. I too like much the 21st century has to offer but still don't have a TV or mobile phone, yet can build a computer in an hour or so if I have to and usually manage to repair most problems with them easily.

Cal

 

[Calymene]

Cubist,

This cottage is further north, on the north western part of the AONB not too far from Bishops Castle, Churchstoke and Montgomery.

Cal

 

[Calymene]

I agree, I often say to friends if you want your off white, super flat walls then buy a 20th century house. I know there are likely plenty of Victorian properties out there that get bodged and modernised to within inch of their life and still give no bother to the owners and how lucky they are, but for the rest of us owning an old property can often be a compromise, especially if like me you were brought up in a mid 60's semi built by master craftsmen. You might as well enjoy your old house for what it is and dress it for how it used to be, otherwise whats the point.

Hello Lacan07

I too was brought up in a sixties semi built by old school builders and chippies who knew their trade inside and out, the chap who put in the last brick on the gable signed and dated it for posterity. I just need a place that is quiet where I can think, paint, draw and work in the garden and on the house of course. Where I am now is just getting too busy and noisy with the everyday things going on plus the hundreds of houses being built in the area, it's just too busy for me. This little cottage certainly needs work but most of all it needs a bit of love to make it into a home again, I am actually looking forward to finding old real wood furniture and fittings that I think will suit its character. It's internal walls are at strange angles in places and the plaster between the beams and frame is anything but smooth, I love it.

Cal

 

[Flyfisher]

I agree with you Flyfisher, I was talking about those new housing estate type properties really and like you have seen a few new bespoke builds that I like but usually with little to no garden or grounds. Like you it's the location for me rather than the property in the first instance and finding one that is affordable with some land too, that is in a local you like with a cottage that also appeals is not easy these days. This cottage is not perfect for me but it's by far the nearest I have come to finding my ideal. It looks up a valley between hills, is secluded but not isolated in any way and has much potential. I too like much the 21st century has to offer but still don't have a TV or mobile phone, yet can build a computer in an hour or so if I have to and usually manage to repair most problems with them easily.

Cal

Your location sounds rather lovely I also find TV to be a complete waste of time and we have no aerial, dish or set-top box as a result. I do confess to having a Netflix subscription though it is infrequently used and therefore probably works out more expensive than visiting a cinema when I do watch a film. As for mobile phones, when I retired I decided I wouldn't buy one but my resolve only lasted a few months because the damn things are just too useful. These days, I mostly use it to listen to Radio 4 when out and about in the garden or outbuildings. And on the subject of outbuildings, having spent the past 15 years or so doing various works on the house, I'm now firmly convinced that spacious outbuildings are far more important than a few extra bedrooms. Indeed, I think I could live quite happily in a one-bed house with a decent kitchen and bathroom as long as I had enough workshop and storage space

 

[Calymene]

Your location sounds rather lovely I also find TV to be a complete waste of time and we have no aerial, dish or set-top box as a result. I do confess to having a Netflix subscription though it is infrequently used and therefore probably works out more expensive than visiting a cinema when I do watch a film. As for mobile phones, when I retired I decided I wouldn't buy one but my resolve only lasted a few months because the damn things are just too useful. These days, I mostly use it to listen to Radio 4 when out and about in the garden or outbuildings. And on the subject of outbuildings, having spent the past 15 years or so doing various works on the house, I'm now firmly convinced that spacious outbuildings are far more important than a few extra bedrooms. Indeed, I think I could live quite happily in a one-bed house with a decent kitchen and bathroom as long as I had enough workshop and storage space

I think it's perfect, it's an area I know well and have been visiting since I was knee high, firstly with my parents and later as somewhere I could escape to that was quiet. it's also in a dark skies area so I am hoping that the celestial view will be far better than I have now. I watch DVD's, often boxed sets, pick them up for pennies at charity shops, watching Star Trek Enterprise at the moment, hated it first time I watched it but now think it was one of the best apart from how they ended the series. Radio plays a big role for me too, again found a tiny Roberts radio, brand new in a charity shop for a few pounds, fits in shirt pocket, stereo for FM, mono for MW and LW but great sound and batteries last for a couple of weeks between charging.

You sound very like myself, have three bedrooms in present house, only one is used as such, others are studies/art rooms/library/storage, lounge is storage and for my two Guinea pigs enclosure, several sheds and greenhouses too, garage is full of Morris Minor and straight six Siddley from 1929. Sounds a mess and is to most but I am happy, hopefully I can utilise the barn at the new cottage if it happens as storage and workshops for the cars and grey Fergie tractor, the upper story may become an art studio come place to study, the floorboards are ancient , wide and amazing but sadly a few are rotten in places but hopefully most are salvagable. I just hope I will have enough cash left over to make both the cottage and barn both sound and safe for the future. The barn has it's share of problems, one sole plate may need replacing unless it could be replaced by extending the low wall supporting one side of the barn upwards to replace it which seems to have been done on part many years ago. going to need a lot of guidance and help but think I will enjoy the ride.

Cal

Cal