Home Hall . . . Why did we buy it?

We had lived in the village for about five years and had walked past the almost derelict building several times, particularly when looking for sloes for that sloe gin! It looked pathetic, hidden behind the hedge. Most windows were broken; frames and sills were rotten; some of the decorative wooden beams on the front were missing; birds were nesting in holes, gaps and crevices; the grass was two feet high; the front hedge was ten feet high! It broke my heart to see a building beginning to deteriorate.

The rear view of the house in January 2007, just after a 9' x 4' section of clay lump wall had fallen out. . .the day before we completed on the sale of the house!	Rear view with the very ugly 'privacy' wall!

 I had seen such a building go like this before. In the village were we had moved from, five years ago. The owner, a builder, had applied for planning to knock down a 1930’s double bay fronted, detached house. The planning was refused. So he let the kids play with it. The shrubs and wild plants were allowed to take over the garden and front drive; windows were smashed; eventually it was set on fire. Then, of course, planning permission was granted, the bull dozers moved in and…I think it was about six, or seven houses were built! Great plan! BUT not for GREAT HOCKHAM!