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Overstone Hall
Listed building in Northamptonshire, England From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Overstone Hall is a partially ruined 19th-century country house located in Overstone, Northamptonshire, England. The building is designated as a Grade II listed building[1] for its special architectural and historic interest but has remained largely derelict since suffering extensive damage in a major fire in 2001.[2][3]
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History
The house was built in the early 1860s for Samuel Jones-Loyd, 1st Baron Overstone and Lady Overstone, designed by architect William Milford Teulon in French Renaissance style.[4] It was used as a girls' boarding school from the 1920s until 1979.[5] Overstone Hall became derelict after being destroyed in a fire in April 2001.[6] Part of the building unaffected by the fire was used for retirement flats from 2008 to 2014. In March 2023, another suspected arson reportedly occurred.[7] In 2019, plans to restore the building into apartments had been rejected by the council.[8] In April 2023 it was reported that the owners of the building were applying for its demolition. West Northamptonshire Council is yet to make a final decision.[3] The Victorian Society opposes the plans.[9] 80 people objected to the plans of the historic site's owners, Barry Howard Homes.[10]
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Later use and decline
Following a period of family ownership into the early 20th century, Overstone Hall was repurposed in the 1920s. It served as a girls' boarding school and was later used as a teacher training college.[2]
The hall was most recently occupied by Overstone Park School. In 2001, a major fire caused significant damage to the structure, after which the building was left unoccupied. Since the fire, Overstone Hall has remained derelict and has continued to deteriorate.[2]
The Victorian Society, a national charity campaigning for the preservation of 19th-century architecture, has identified Overstone Hall as one of the ten most endangered Victorian buildings in the United Kingdom.[11]
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Redevelopment plans
In 2023, a local developer submitted plans to convert the surviving shell of the building into residential flats. The proposal also included constructing up to 100 new homes in the surrounding parkland, with the intent to use proceeds from those developments to fund restoration of the historic structure.[12]
According to the planning application, the restoration would involve roof repairs, wall stabilisation, and the conservation of surviving architectural features. The proposal has drawn mixed reactions from the public. While some residents support efforts to preserve the building, others have raised concerns about the impact of new development on the surrounding area.[13]
Architecture and grounds
Early visual records of the interior survive in the form of watercolours held by the Victoria and Albert Museum. These depict rooms such as the library prior to the fire of 2001.[14]
Future prospects
Overstone Hall remains vacant and in deteriorated condition. Local authorities and developers continue to explore viable funding and planning options that would enable restoration while maintaining the building’s historical character.[2][12][13]
See also
References
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