Grade 2 listed building in Sherborne collapses!

I'm saddened to report that a key part of the Sheafhouses, the heritage building that stands in the middle of Old Park, has collapsed in the last few days.

This structure is listed Grade II. (List Entry 1090429) It was built in 1831, replacing an earlier agricultural building next to this site. The building was built as an agricultural storehouse, but significantly also to house animal stock. There are some fine internal animal pens in the northern section, along with some intriguing witch marks on the window ledges The part that has collapsed was used in the 1930s for an experimental project by Lord Sherborne to grow mushrooms. As part of that effort, water was supplied to the buildings.

The part that has collapsed is on the eastern side of the little square. I'm actually surprised that it's not the western part that's collapsed, because the Western part is in a very poor state, and frankly, is about to fall down imminently.

The building has been failing for a couple of decades. Its condition is well known to the village and the owners, the National Trust. It doesn't take a structural engineer to see the deterioration. There are holes in the roof, and the beams are badly rotted.

At the National Trust "walk and talk" three years ago that walked up to the Sheafhouses, the deteriorating condition was discussed and those present were assured by the NT that conservation of the building was being planned. Nothing has happened.

Please don't berate the local NT staff here in Sherborne for this. I'm sure that they're as distraught about this situation as we are. Fundamentally, funding from central National Trust budgets should be applied if they wish to conserve this Grade II listed building that they are responsible for. The fact this collapse has happened is of no surprise, I repeat. I'm sure I'm not alone in interpreting the message that the National Trust appears to be sending us on this.

I understand that the Parish Council have been informed and are very actively addressing the issue. I also understand the National Trust have been informed. The Gardens Trust have also been informed.

We shouldn't underplay the heritage significance of this particular site. Although the buildings are only 200 years old, this was the site where shearing probably occurred during the Middle Ages, when just about all the sheep in the Cotswolds were brought to be washed and sheared. There's a huge opportunity, in my opinion, to recognise the historical importance, indeed the historic national economic importance, of the wool trade, and the Sheafhouses potentially offer a venue to mark that bit of history. It's not just history of Sherborne that's being lost here. It's the history of the nation, crumbling to a pile of ugly rubble, viewed across what was once two beautiful lakes and now is dull swamp.

For those of you unfamiliar with Sherborne (an increasing number of recipients of these blog posts are not just locals), here's a map showing the Sheafhouses are central to the parkland viewed from the village.

A final point. There is no public footpath to the Sheafhouses, and frankly, what remains is dangerous. Please don't go there. We should also be conscious that the Sandy Hill Mob cattle graze the area around here, and that's the livelihood of a key Sherborne family and business.

Let me know your thoughts.