Christmas Present!

Unwrapped my Christmas present from hubby, to find a fantastic cast iron nameplate sign for the cottage..
When built in 1845, it was named 'North View', but around 1960, it was given a number, '83'..
We intend to rename it as originally known on the old deeds.

Snowy Icy Days

We have had horrendous icy cold days for the last week, but have still managed to get to the cottage and do some work.

The first thing we noticed on our return, was that the clips holding the new guttering had pulled from the fascia boards due to the heavy weight of the ice that had built up. A telephone call to the builder, and this was soon rectified and extra clips fitted.

After a visit to several local DIY stores, we were soon stocked up with a high output fan heater, a new hammer drill with chisel attachments, an electric screwdriver, a wrecking bar, hammer, and numerous other tools all to help with the work we have planned.

We have printed a project plan, which is now sellotaped to the door in the warmest room in the cottage (now known as the "bait cabin" - somewhere to get a cup of tea and warm your toes and fingers in between jobs)!

Today's visit, and the toilet cistern is frozen, so unable to flush!!! and the kitchen sink waste also frozen...not to mention the inside of the windows! -12 degrees overnight!

Google Earth

Pictures taken from Street View on Google Earth....show cottage last winter with old roof!

Snow!

Snowy day today...

thank goodness the new roof is now complete and the cottage is water tight and weather resistant! (hopefully!)

The Electrican visited today - fitted a safe socket direct to the meter box so we have power to use, and he also stripped out all of the old cables, sockets, light switches etc, ready for rewiring to commence.

Gable Pointing almost finished

Builders were keen today...well wrapped up against the cold North wind blowing
Snow is forecast for this week, and they would like to have it finished very soon!
This gable side of the cottage is on next door neighbours' driveway, only trouble is every time the  neighbours need to be in or out with their cars, the scaffolding has to be moved.

Handrail removed!

The cottage previously belonged to an elderly lady, and someone had installed a metal handrail to help with her access up and down the steps...
At last this has been removed!! the front of the cottage is much improved...although in a few years time we will possibly need to re-install a similar handrail for our own use!

Ongoing Building Work

We now have the beginnings of a shower room/wet room, doorway from kitchen and small lobby window have been blocked up, although we have sacrificed some of rear hallway to make this possible.

After removing timber cladding from kitchen walls, we have un-covered a chimney breast - unfortunately no hidden cast iron fireplace under there too!!

Ebay Purchase

I know we are a long way off from actually fitting any doors to the cottage (not bought any doors yet!) but I found these antique Victorian brass door knobs with brass back plates on ebay...and was the winning bidder - 4 sets, just need another 3 matching sets now.....

New Roof

Scaffolding has been removed today from front of the cottage, and we can now view how it looks with new slates, fascias and guttering. the left side gable is still to be pointed and roof to be tidied where it meets the stone wall.

Kitchen demolition

Surprised to find this morning that the builders have started to remove the old timber cupboards and tiles from the kitchen walls...ceiling is to come down, and all old skirting boards and door architrave to be removed from throughout the cottage.

Roof Work now complete!

The final slates have been put in place, the lead flashings finished...we even have new gutters! and it all looks totally transformed. Scaffolding should be removed early this week, then the cottage should be at least water tight for the winter weather!

One gable of cottage has been completely repointed, and the work on the other side began today.

Have agreed with builders for next stage of works, interior wall to be demolished, kitchen timber cladding, old tiles and ceiling to be removed, and also all skirting boards and door architraves also to come off, and new blockwork to create a shower room.  Hopefully, this work will all be done before christmas.

Slates on roof!

All progressing well, roof timbers repaired and replaced, hipped roof to bathroom has timbers in place, and first of slates are going onto front roof

(see more pics on relevant pages - roof /outside works)

Making progress

Hoping for nice weather

Work is progressing, but at the minute the roof replacement work is weather dependent. We hope and pray for sunny days...

The gable walls are being prepared for mortar re-pointing

 

Work Begins...

A friend called to the cottage yesterday, and kindly took pics for us to see that work has commenced.
The tiles and latts have been removed from the roof, and one gable end wall has had some of old mortar removed, ready for repointing. Hoping for some decent weather now, to enable the builders to make more progress.

Work Commences...

Work has now begun to replace the roof, but unfortunately we are not there at the moment to oversee and take pics of progress....Have friends driving by and calling in to report on work so far..
Our builder confirms that all of the tiles are removed, and most of wooden latts, hoping for dry weather so they can make a start on replacement timbers etc very soon.

Google Earth

This is an overview from Google Earth showing location of cottage. (Unfortunately the large garden to the rear of the cottage does not belong to our property!)

Garden Walls

Have spent today chopping down shrubs from small front garden, to make way for scaffolding that will be erected tomorrow.

The front garden walls are in a poor condition, can just see where original steps used to be in centre of wall,where they used to lead straight to front door, but the addition of a porch, and for easier access, side steps have been installed.

Previous Owners

Collected a file containing old conveyancing documents and deeds from the solicitor...
North View cottage was built in 1875, but legal documents don't commence until 1914, when it was sold for the pricely sum of £95.

Since 1914, it has changed hands 12 times, being owned by various tradespeople, Colliery Manager, Flour Miller, Landscape Gardener, Inkeeper, Farmer and a Welder and one person bought it, sold it and then bought it back 2 years later...

Patio Area

Decided that as the weather was dry this morning, to make a start to clear the garden rubbish from the rear patio area. This secluded area is hidden behind the bathroom extension, and we hope to replace the current kitchen window with french doors, somewhere to have our breakfast in the sunshine!

This pile of rubble appears to have been kindly left by someone nearby who has recently dug up a concrete driveway! Our yeard was nearer than the local waste disposal site!

 

and eventually........ now just need the sunshine!

Building Regs

Received confirmation today from Local Authority that our Building Regs application has been approved, and we can now obtain a start date for works to commence!! We have 3 years to complete work noted...should be sufficient time!

Building Contractor visited, with a sample of roof tile, (wasn't happy with original sample of a thick concrete tile) and we have decided to fit Marley Rivendale slate like tile in Blue/Black colour.

Garage goodies!

We have had difficulty getting into the garage and outhouse, and after speaking to the previous owner, he tells us that the door has not been opened for more than ten years! Once inside, can see the reason why, the hinge and door opener is rusted closed..no chance of opening main garage door..luckily we have access through outhouse door

Once inside, discovered an "Alladin's Cave" of treasures! Only trouble is, we will now need several skips to get rid of it all! Newspapers on top of the piles date back to 1997, so previous owner is probably correct.