Decay and change

The rear section seems to have fallen down and the house was in a pretty rough condition when it was bought by Louise Chattock, to be turned into an owner-occupied home in 1960. By then, this building formed part of the Blackwell estate of local farms and businesses and used as accommodation for workers, either as a whole or in parts.

By 1967, when the house was listed (Grade 2), a substantial rendered brick section had been added to the back of the building, joining up with the wash house to create a C-shaped house with central entrance. Whilst many of the modifications to the old structure at this time were not too invasive, the process of covering up unsightly aspects caused damage by stopping the building from breathing, particularly:

• Cement render across the frontage trapped moisture, causing or accelerating rotting of the timber frame
• Moisture-proof carpet underlay trapped evaporation from the flagstone floor, causing the stone to flake

In addition, by continuing to overlay the fabric of the house, long-term structural problems were not addressed. However, Wisson Hill became a comfortable village home, with central heating, and a fitted kitchen installed by the 1980s. Although recognised as an old building in the Barton Conservation Plan, it was impossible to see how much original fabric remained and how much was at risk.

Sadly, changes made to the house under the previous ownership were the most damaging to the original fabric, with Listed Building Consent given to cut out a section of the unusual early modern ceiling beams, to create a larger staircase.

So by 2006 Wisson Hill was superficially modern – or as modern as is possible with no local mains drainage or gas supply – but some modernisation could have been done more sympathetically.