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Artist’s impression of the new front of the home |
New Manor... How home of murdered OAP could look
THIS image shows how the home of murdered pensioner Allan Chappelow could look if the new owners get permission for a major renovation project.
The Grade II-listed house in Downshire Hill, Hampstead, gradually fell into disrepair as its owner became more reclusive. Known as The Manor House, it has been empty since his Mr Chappelow’s death and was sold by his relatives for £4.1million.
But plans revealed at a special open day held this week in Hampstead Town Hall reveal that the new owners want to make the home look as it would have done when it was first built early in the 19th century.
The remains of the building will be demolished. Much of it has collapsed after a devastating fire ripped through the basement and ground floor three weeks after Mr Chappelow’s body was discovered by police in June, 2006.
The home will have a new basement area and a different layout inside, which architects say is to suit modern needs, but the facade will be identical to what it replaced and historic iron work has been saved and will be put back.
Historic buildings architect Stephen Levrant said that while Mr Chappelow’s lack of care for the building and a series of bodged attempts including using sticky tape to hold gutters in place had made the house worse, it had been badly built in the first place. He added: “It was put together by a cowboy builder to start off with, using poor quality bricks and cutting corners wherever they could. I only work with historic and listed buildings and never in 35 years have I had to put in an application to demolish one.” |
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