Grade II listed former farmhouse in Fountains Farm restored to former glory
Harlow Council / Fri 6th Oct 2023 at 06:24am
AN historic building in Harlow has received a major overhaul as part of the council’s priority to fix council housing.
The Grade II listed Fountains Farmhouse in Fountain Farm, which was constructed in around 1700 and is located within the Tye Green conservation area, has undergone a number of improvements to bring it back into use and make it habitable again. The house was previously home to the warden for the Fountains Farm residential scheme, but ceased to be used for the warden in 2017 and has remained vacant since.
The existing timber sash windows, which contribute to the character and significance of the listed building, were in an urgent need of repair, with sections of the timber sills and weatherboard that were rotten; these have all been renewed. The existing render on the external walls was generally in good condition, although there were a few exceptions with minor cracking, due to structural settlement, present. This has also been rectified.
Various other works were required, and undertaken including:
• Structural repairs including underpinning to strengthen the foundations
• Damp works
• Repositioning the boiler and flue
• Replacement of sanitaryware
• An overhaul of the roof with repairs to guttering and the existing defective lead flashing
• Replacing the kitchen
• Full redecoration throughout
• Grounds maintenance including installation of new fencing
The home has now been relet to a Harlow family from the council’s Housing Needs Register who are settling in well.
Councillor David Carter, cabinet portfolio holder for housing, said:
“I am very pleased with the results of the work carried out to this historic building, which has stood here in the Harlow area since the 18th century. It’s another example of the council delivering on its priority to fix council housing, and the works that have been carried out really have restored Fountains Farmhouse to its former glory.
“This is a beautiful home which has been let to a family on our Housing Needs Register, who get to live in one of Harlow’s historic Grade-II listed buildings.”
H
2023-10-06 06:41:34
What about maintaining the pond that’s been neglected that’s on the grounds
Kim Oconnor
2023-10-06 08:00:21
We should see more of this good work. Instead of ripping our old building down , you should be thinking of savings what we have left. And put a stop to developers having the upper hand. And putting people before profit, like this project. Well done ,its allways been a beautiful house.. need to attend the smelly pond now.
Pat Roberts
2023-10-06 08:15:33
I live near Fountains Farm and am delighted with the way it has been refurbished and restored. I have already raised the issue of the pond, which was once a delight, with local councillors, who are on the case!
Pat Roberts
2023-10-06 08:16:23
I live near Fountains Farm and am delighted with the way it has been refurbished and restored. I have already raised the issue of the pond, which was once a delight, with local councillors, who are on the case! This has come up as duplicate comment. It is not!
Tony Edwards
2023-10-06 08:21:53
Great to see that this work - which was started under the previous Labour administration has now been completed. In 2020 the Tories were complaining that this was a waste of money - see Your Harlow 23/10/2020 "Council slammed for spending money on 500k Council House". Now they are praising the renovation - such is politics!
Nicholas Taylor
2023-10-06 09:41:30
Credit where credit is due when the Council took the decision to renovate the house rather than demolish it. Would be interesting to hear how much the final cost was. It is a pity they did not take the same approach with Sherards House, where four homes could have been created, instead of which they took the decision to demolish the 100+ year old house.
AuntyBoo
2023-10-06 12:49:42
While I'm all for keeping our historical buildings in good shape I do have to wonder why the refurbishment was required again. We lived opposite Fountain Farm and in the mid 1980s and it was stripped back to its bones and rebuilt. The Warden at the time was moved into one of the Fountain Farm bungalows. The fact that this building has basically stood the test of time since the 1700s has had to undergo TWO refurbishments in just 40 years makes me wonder if the original work done in the 80s was not done to the proper standard needed for a historical build or the last tenants didn't care for the building as they should have. All of the works that were done on the building recently had been done 40 years ago and all the internal things like kitchen, bathroom etc etc should not have needed replacing. I would be interested to know what the inside looked like before it was deemed it needed all this work AND decorating! We were left to do our own decorating after being given the keys to a council property.
Cliff Phillips
2023-10-06 14:03:44
The value of this house if sold would have funded far more properties for Harlow's needy. To me it's just another example of the complete lack of common or business sense.
David morton
2023-10-06 14:13:40
Lovely old property brought back to life, like one reader commented it'd be nice if this was extended to the neighbouring pond.
Nostradamus
2023-10-06 15:40:31
Cliff any new build is likely to be done at lowest cost lowest quality and using whatever today's equivalent of crumbly concrete with a short lifespan. The restoration of this property is restoring something that's got character that reflects the local Essex village architecture better , more than most buildings in Harlow and stood the test of time despite neglect. Something to be valued.
Graham
2023-10-06 18:58:38
Nice to se e.but the same cannot be said about sherrards house a beautiful old building which is to be knocked down and badly designed houses put there they do not match any other building's in the area, the local residents opinion was completely ignored,This beautiful house could have turned into flats and bungalows build around it, some on the council,
Colin Graham
2023-10-06 18:59:22
Nice to se e.but the same cannot be said about sherrards house a beautiful old building which is to be knocked down and badly designed houses put there they do not match any other building's in the area, the local residents opinion was completely ignored,This beautiful house could have turned into flats and bungalows build around it, some on the council,
Edna Graham
2023-10-06 19:00:22
Nice to se e.but the same cannot be said about sherrards house a beautiful old building which is to be knocked down and badly designed houses put there they do not match any other building's in the area, the local residents opinion was completely ignored,This beautiful house could have turned into flats and bungalows build around it, some on the council,
James Leppard
2023-10-10 21:28:22
Tony, you claim Labour were about to start this? Just as Cllr Durcan claimed he was about to jet up a partnership for regeneration of the Town Centre, but couldn't recall with whom. When this administration assumes office in 2021. Fountains Farmhouse looked a complete wreck, but hey, credit where it is due. Thanks for spraying some W4O lubricant on the front door lock. Made all the difference.
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