Home Farm, Beeby, Leicestershire, October 2019

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HughieD

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1. The History
The Grade II listed farmhouse lies in the Leicestershire village of Beeby. The house dates back to the early 19th Century and is notable for its Flemish bond brickwork and low pitched Swithland slate roof.

John Davies and his wife, Vicky, were the last residents of the farm and occupied Home Farm for a number of years. Mr Davies was a farmer (possibly dairy) and lived in the house until his death in November 2009. The house then appears to have empty since 2011.

In October 2014 a planning application for demolition of some of the farm buildings and the extension of the residential buildings was submitted. It was refused in May 2015 and again on appeal in December later that year. The local planning authority was concerned that the development would pay too little regard to the character and appearance of the Beeby Conservation Area and involve the loss of the historic farmyard context

Currently there is a new planning application pending that looks to convert the site to mixed residential and commercial use. Although it again entails the conversion and extension of the existing farmhouse for residentials use, it includes plans for the conversion of existing farm for commercial use, rather than demolition.

2. The Explore
This place has been on my to-do list for a while. It occasionally pops up on the forums, so, with a morning available to explore, I headed over to this picturesque corner of deepest Leicestershire. The house itself is very much on street and overlooked on its left-hand-side. But after a discreet entry I was in and taking pictures. On the whole the house is reasonably dry but there is water ingress in the back bedroom. There’s a lot of stuff that’s been left behind, but sadly the idiots have been in and have smashed the bathrooms up and one of the front bedrooms. God knows why they do this. In other places it’s a little too bit “set up” too. I guess this is always going to be the case with houses where there are lot of personal effects left behind. And due this this, there is an air of sadness about the place too, given this would once have been a cosy and happy farmer’s house. Hopefully, though, the current planning permission will go through and the place will get a new lease of life.

3. The Pictures

Street view with Beeby church to the left:

48938944152_04f9420be3_b.jpgBeeby 39 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Round the side:

48938205638_153014699f_b.jpgBeeby 38 by HughieDW, on Flickr

There are extensive farm buildings:

48938206148_810aba17c4_b.jpgBeeby 37 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48938945362_c2a592a026_b.jpgBeeby 36 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48938759061_bc552ed2df_b.jpgBeeby 35 by HughieDW, on Flickr

All ripe for conversion:

48938946187_8efd6a7d9f_b.jpgBeeby 34 by HughieDW, on Flickr

In we go.

48938954142_1a320fd3d0_b.jpgBeeby 04 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The first room is a bit of a mess:

48938946472_bb79831aa7_b.jpgBeeby 33 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48938953412_9c677f9924_b.jpgBeeby 06 by HughieDW, on Flickr

But the old radio was a bit special:

48931118226_3a63e0634e_b.jpgimg3592 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And the bike was very photogenic too:

48938767046_a7365a2f45_b.jpgBeeby 03 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48938759876_bd48797ebd_b.jpgBeeby 32 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48938947362_2057fe4519_b.jpgBeeby 30 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48931303157_9d94a45b72_b.jpgimg3595 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48930540268_1d4e708f30_b.jpgimg3647 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Liked this old print of Conwy Castle in Wales:

48938213148_1da11f0591_b.jpgBeeby 09 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48938213728_38ef1dce15_b.jpgBeeby 07 by HughieDW, on Flickr

On to the main lounge:

48938764381_eaabbc7769_b.jpgBeeby 12 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48938212593_d83a4ccafb_b.jpgBeeby 11 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Donkey Derby, the game:

48938952022_505b923e7c_b.jpgBeeby 10 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And the bucked-toothed donkey from Spain! Hey, that rhymes!

48931296292_50bbbedc78_b.jpgimg3603 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48938212203_ab8b6e0abd_b.jpgBeeby 13 by HughieDW, on Flickr

A picture of the local Quorn hunt, just outside the house:

48938951032_3af30c2370_b.jpgBeeby 14 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And through to the kitchen:

48938211783_5acb6a94ac_b.jpgBeeby 15 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Someone got to 104!

48931291312_96195f602e_b.jpgimg3612 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And a clue that the house has been empty since 2011:

48930557668_85ffda66a8_b.jpgimg3620 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The pantry is a bit on the cluttered side:

48931102421_72d2651006_b.jpgimg3613 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48938763306_59da46141d_b.jpgBeeby 17 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48938763511_b1aa8b5fbd_b.jpgBeeby 16 by HughieDW, on Flickr



The reception room to the right:

48938210773_936aaf6410_b.jpgBeeby 20 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Really like the fossilised limestone fireplace:

48938949702_59ae6ba85c_b.jpgBeeby 21 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Up-stairs we go:

48938948772_8124fe2994_b.jpgBeeby 25 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48938761851_166dd9df41_b.jpgBeeby 24 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48931274882_9eca76d6a0_b.jpgimg3637 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The back bedroom is pretty damp. But there’s a bit to see in here:

48938210243_0a7a10700e_b.jpgBeeby 23 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48938210493_ff10cb4395_b.jpgBeeby 22 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48931278807_320f5da302_b.jpgimg3631 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Sadly, the idiots have smashed up the front left bedroom:

48938761391_b54f2ab788_b.jpgBeeby 26 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48930548453_eb773e0b17_b.jpgimg3635 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The bedroom front right is in better condition:

48938209228_0b0a43f7b2_b.jpgBeeby 27 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48931084291_6dc15eab4a_b.jpgimg3642 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And this teddy is crying out for a new home:

48938208933_45db455f4e_b.jpgBeeby 28 by HughieDW, on Flickr

48931083046_d6ed2c3857_b.jpgimg3643 by HughieDW, on Flickr

And back downstairs and out to a sort of workshop at the rear of the house:

48931079161_e60134fe25_b.jpgimg3652 by HughieDW, on Flickr
 
Despite the mess it's still fairly full of interestingness.
Umm I'm now back smoking - thanks for that :(

The fireplace is made of Frosterley Marble. It's not true marble but still called that. There are large deposits in Weardale up in the North Pennines and especially in the Frosterley area. Other examples of it can be found in Durham Cathedral - columns and a large font are made of the stuff. I made myself a bedside lamp and the base is a piece that I polished up.
Using the marble was a big industry in late Victorian times.
 
The farm was definitely dairy and I think the milking machinery was still in place in early 2010 - hence the Alfa-Laval instruction book in image Beeby 22. Having relatives living nearby, I know the area well.
 
Hello. My husband Robert was the son of Vicky ,they lived at home farm from 1984. We left for Canada in 2010. It's a really shame and heartbreak to see this once beautiful home standing derelict. Also to see so many personal belongings abandoned. The bike in the scullery was my bike. The picture is of Prince Charles passing through Beeby with the Quorn Hunt, that once had pride of place over the fire place.

The home was passed down through the Fairbrother family, there was a dairy where they used to make Stilton Cheese. Charlotte Fairbrother won many trophies for her Stilton Cheese. There is a small feature in the book from the Author Trevor Hickman called the Stilton Cheese story. John Davies was the grandson of Charlotte Davies and they also had connections to the Saddle Inn in Twyford. Lots of history to this once beautiful home and I sincerely hope it can be preserved in the best way possible.
 
Hello. My husband Robert was the son of Vicky ,they lived at home farm from 1984. We left for Canada in 2010. It's a really shame and heartbreak to see this once beautiful home standing derelict. Also to see so many personal belongings abandoned. The bike in the scullery was my bike. The picture is of Prince Charles passing through Beeby with the Quorn Hunt, that once had pride of place over the fire place.

The home was passed down through the Fairbrother family, there was a dairy where they used to make Stilton Cheese. Charlotte Fairbrother won many trophies for her Stilton Cheese. There is a small feature in the book from the Author Trevor Hickman called the Stilton Cheese story. John Davies was the grandson of Charlotte Davies and they also had connections to the Saddle Inn in Twyford. Lots of history to this once beautiful home and I sincerely hope it can be preserved in the best way possible.

Thank you for those fascinating comments. I'm sorry that it found its way into this state. I think now it's about to be renovated so fingers crossed it becomes a happy home once again...
 
Hello. My husband Robert was the son of Vicky ,they lived at home farm from 1984. We left for Canada in 2010. It's a really shame and heartbreak to see this once beautiful home standing derelict. Also to see so many personal belongings abandoned. The bike in the scullery was my bike. The picture is of Prince Charles passing through Beeby with the Quorn Hunt, that once had pride of place over the fire place.

The home was passed down through the Fairbrother family, there was a dairy where they used to make Stilton Cheese. Charlotte Fairbrother won many trophies for her Stilton Cheese. There is a small feature in the book from the Author Trevor Hickman called the Stilton Cheese story. John Davies was the grandson of Charlotte Davies and they also had connections to the Saddle Inn in Twyford. Lots of history to this once beautiful home and I sincerely hope it can be preserved in the best way possible.
Who owns the property now please?
 
Hello. My husband Robert was the son of Vicky ,they lived at home farm from 1984. We left for Canada in 2010. It's a really shame and heartbreak to see this once beautiful home standing derelict. Also to see so many personal belongings abandoned. The bike in the scullery was my bike. The picture is of Prince Charles passing through Beeby with the Quorn Hunt, that once had pride of place over the fire place.

The home was passed down through the Fairbrother family, there was a dairy where they used to make Stilton Cheese. Charlotte Fairbrother won many trophies for her Stilton Cheese. There is a small feature in the book from the Author Trevor Hickman called the Stilton Cheese story. John Davies was the grandson of Charlotte Davies and they also had connections to the Saddle Inn in Twyford. Lots of history to this once beautiful home and I sincerely hope it can be preserved in the best way possible.
Please don't stop there, what an interesting story, you must have so many memories of such a fascinating atmospheric house. I've never seen a house with so many unusual fireplaces, they look as though most of them were used too. Can you guess at why all the birthday cards were still on display? I'm sure many on here who dearly love these old places would enjoy more memories, if you are prepared to share them with us. It would be preserving them for posterity, putting flesh on the bones of Hughies excellent pictures. I too live in an unusual old house and a one of my best days was when an old woman came up the drive to announce her grandfather had built it. I later met a guy who had grown up here in the 60s who brought a load of old photos and an afternoon of stories.
 

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