Vandalism by children is being blamed for a second application to Worcestershire County Council for permission to demolish Harrington House at Badsey. Two years ago, the then Minister of Housing told the owners – three businessmen from the village – that the building was of special architectural or historic interest and that it could not be pulled down to make way for development. Now, Evesham Rural District Council is asking Mr H M Watson, the County Planning Officer, if he will lift the preservation order which protects the property.
Harrington House, which hides the views from two sides of the Manor House, was described this week as being a “shambles” because of the vandalism it has suffered during the past two years. Mr A F Oliver, vice-chairman of the RDC Planning Committee, said, “The building has reached a stage where it is past repair. It has become an eyesore in the village. Knocking it down will open up an improved view. Two years ago it was not as bad as it is now. And anyway it is not a particularly good example of a good building. But over the two years children have been in there smashing windows and causing a good deal of damage. You have only got to look at it to see why we think it should now come down. It is a shambles.”
Mr D A Jelfs, Clerk to Badsey Parish Council, said: “We want the building demolished and the whole site cleared up. Children have got in and knocked the place about and I believe that inside it is very dangerous. The parish council is delighted about the latest moves. It’s what we’ve been asking for.”
Mr G H Westwood, Clerk to Evesham RDC said: “We have always taken the view that Harrington House was not so architecturally important as to be worth preserving and we feel that by demolishing it the improvement to the view of the Manor House will be a great advantage. We have not changed our attitude. Now we learn that children have been getting in and playing in it and so on and the condition of the building has been brought to our notice.”
One of the owners, Mr E L Mustoe of the Round of Gras, Badsey, said: “We should have liked it down in the first place and the position is still the same. We boarded it up to try to keep the children out, but that didn’t work. It is a shambles, but it is restorable.”
A planning inquiry to decide whether the house should be demolished was held on November 13th 1968. The Ministry Inspector, Mr A J Harris, heard the evidence and looked over the building and he concluded it was of little architectural merit and what merit there was had been destroyed by clumsy and unsympathetic remodelling internally. The Minister over-ruled him and said: “In spite of the alterations the building remains a characteristic vernacular example which makes an important contribution to the street scene as a whole.”