Restoration hope for crumbling farmhouse facing future as ruin

For two decades a battle has been fought over dilapidated listed Elmswell Old Hall, on a private estate at Garton near Driffield, which was once the home of the agricultural diarist Henry Best.

In December 2009 the matter looked finally to have been laid to rest when East Riding councillors went against officer recommendations and voted eight to four for the building's partial demolition and consolidation as a ruin.

The application was then referred to the Secretary of State, who declined to intervene.

However changes in planning rules means that the matter now has to be reconsidered and on Monday councillors will be asked whether they want to back an application from Elmswell Heritage Ltd, or a rival bid from The Spitalfields Trust, which wants to restore the building as a home.

Elmswell Heritage Ltd's application would see the remains of the roof removed along with the chimney stacks, walls lowered and doors and windows infilled.

In contrast the Spitalfields Trust wants to restore the building and envisage a "blend of brickwork with lime rich pointing, traditional windows, a reclaimed old pantile roof and chimneys restored to their original height and gables raised in matching brickwork".

English Heritage is urging the council to encourage the owners, the Mackrill family, to negotiate the sale of the building to the trust "so that this long-running sale can be concluded by the repair and re-occupation of the building."

Trust spokesman Oliver Leigh-Wood, who will be attending Monday's meeting, said the council "was supposed to be looking after the heritage of East Yorkshire" adding: "If the council sadly turn down this application for renewal of an existing permission it is a very sad day for the people of Yorkshire."

Helen Kirk, of the Yorkshire Buildings Preservation Trust, who has been fighting for nearly a quarter of a century for the building to be preserved, said they would consider an appeal if councillors didn't back the restoration plans.

She said a new Government directive put an onus on the council to enable the building to be bought back into use.

She said: "If councillors are not prepared to do that they will be acting in a manner which is totally contrary to that required by PPS5, the new Government directive which came out last summer, which requires them to look after the listed buildings in their area."

However the Mackrill family remains adamant that they will not sell, and Conservative councillors have indicated they believe it is the end of the road for the proposals.

At the last planning meeting Coun Bryan Pearson estimated that the case had cost ratepayers more than 100,000 - including the cost of an abortive compulsory purchase order which cost East Riding Council 25,000.

Solicitors for the family say they will go for a judicial review "if required". In their submission they state they "strongly oppose the application and have no intention of voluntarily allowing the applicant to carry out any development."

Planners are recommending refusal of the application by Elmswell Heritage Ltd, and approval of The Spitalfields Trust bid.

The building, which is in the top six per cent of listed buildings nationally, is thought to be one of the first brick-built buildings in East Yorkshire. In 1961 it was inherited by a Mackrill as part of the Elmswell Estate and tenants continued to occupy the hall until 1965.

It later fell into disrepair and little action was taken to restore it, apart from minor repairs.

Two years ago a judge granted a stay of execution following an appeal by the owner against a compulsory purchase order issued by East Riding Council.

The council later withdrew from the case.

Alexandra Wood