Crowland’s historic Manor House, which dates back to around 1690 could be set for a new lease of life.
Planning documents relating to the East Street building’s upkeep have been submitted to South Holland District Council.
They state Mr and Mrs Iain and Barendina Smedley are looking to save the Grade II listed building, considered to be ‘at risk’ by Historic England for the last decade.
A Written Scheme of Investigation by H and R building surveyor says the interior ‘predominantly reflects how it presented itself from the mid 18th century with limited later alterations’.
It continues that: “Manor House is not in a habitable state at this present time. The building has been unoccupied since late 2024, although while in occupation prior to this date it was arguably not fit for habitation due to multiple defect issues. “Various owners have sought to repair the building over the last 40 years but to date none have succeeded in achieving this to completion and poor repairs undertaken over those 40 years have also become an issue.
“The current owner purchased the building in late 2024.
“They are undertaking a phased scheme of repairs to facilitate putting the building back into a good and habitable condition.”
“Phased repairs will be carried out to address structural issues, secure the building in a wind and watertight state, repair its historic fabric and facilitate functioning services.”
The documents state that the Manor House was owned by The Orby family who were the Lords of Crowland Manor and were associates of King Charles II.
“Robert Hunter who married into the Orby family and who lived at the house for a period in the early 18th century had held the role of Governor of New York and Governor of Jamaica providing Manor House with links of an international context,” they continue.
As part of the Crowland Estate it was sold to the Marquis of Exeter in 1831, who lived at Burghley House, and then to Lord Normanton of Hampshire in 1869 before being taken out of the estate and sold off in 1927 to a Mr Pank.
The local farmer lived there until his death in 1955 and it has been divided into apartments since. A separate application has been submitted for the first phase of redevelopments to spruce up the outside of the building.
