The demolishing of the Woodhouse is happening right now(see comment on post, woodhouse 1730-2010) , so thought it was time to post the authorities decision to allow demolition.
Below English Heritage have kindly allowed me to share the English Heritage advice report in response to my application and the reasons for it being denied. It’s quite detailed and has some fascinating new information on it´s possible use in WWII as a look out post and that maybe the remodelling of the tower dates from this period. For me this at least was not a reason to demolish it, but actually added historic value to the place. I understand that it was difficult case and that it was a difficult one to preserve and renovate, but if only the authorities had reacted earlier and were more open-minded in their criteria(it´s not all country houses!).
The Ministry of Culture didn´t think it was relevant to protect. I disagree, it was an impressive, highly interesting and unusual historic house, badly managed in the middle of an ancient wood. A little piece of magic and mystery has been taken away, I repeat this was an old historic house in middle of ancient wood= that´s special. It was a hidden treasure on Tamworth´s footstep for so many reasons .
At times it feels like some sort of Chairman Mao cultural revolution policy is in place in the area in terms of it´s past.
Disclaimer: This blog is not responsible for the views held in Abe and Ernst´s protest.
Here´s a link to UKurbanex´s photo archive on the woodhouse, many of them interior photos. There´s some great pictures there, those photos are now historic! There´s even photos of the Woodhouse cellar. Ok the place needed tidying up and there was some really dodgy paintwork but with some imagination…..
Hi
I have just seen your posting on the demolition of the Woodhouse at Hopwas. I am so sad. This was my childhood home. After the war my Dad and Grandad bought Hopwas wood and the Woodhouse and made the house habitable and the gardens were lovely. Our family name was Price and we lived at the Woodhouse between 1950 and 1959. Ultimately it was not viable to live off farming the timber and we had to move on. Some things you might like to know, we understood that the house dated back to the Civil War and that at one stage Oliver Cromwell’s army passed through Lichfield and Hopwas on the way to a battle. We believed that Oliver Cromwell’s horses had been stabled in the building described as a barn. Another story is that in fear of Cromwell’s army, the authorities at Lichfield cathedral gathered up their precious silver and threw the treasure into the well at the Woodhouse. There was a floor tile in the hall marked ‘well’. I often asked my Dad to open up the well and look for the treasure but I guess he had other things to do! The house was ringed by old yew tress to ward off evil. My mother believed the house was haunted. We loved living there. How sad that it has been demolished. I am very upset.
I have lived in Cheshire since 1959 but I still dream about the Woodhouse.
Best wishes
Wendy
Thank you Wendy for your invaluable story on living at the Woodhouse and the stories around it,this is a lot more than a comment! I’ve sent you a message by email.
Best wishes
Mark