Monday 21 November 2011

Sepia Saturday 102

Alan's theme image this week shows an Alabama, Roadside Store in mid-30's with absolutely bags of choices. The thing that struck me was the House Mover sign as dragged a memory from the back of my mind something that I'd seen on the television somewhen in the deep distance.  A quick google search showed that May's task had received considerable publicity.  Whilst, many may recall the event or have knowledge of them, I think it is an House Moving tale that will stand another airing.

It is the story of a little old spinster and her mission to preserve her house.  Without going too deeply into her life, because this can be found in great detail in the book about her by her niece. "A Lifetime in the Building: The Extraordinary Story Of May Savidge and the House She Moved."  After the death of her intended in 1938,  May withdrew into herself and in 1947 bought the mid 15th Century Ware Hall House, at 1 Monkey Row, Ware, to restore.



May taught herself many of the building skills, and apart from employing a local builder to repair the roof she did the brickwork, plastering. carpentry, glazing and decorating herself.  In 1953 the Council told her that the was to be demolished to make way for a new road - an Act of Vandalism by todays' Standards.  For the next 15 years she fought against the Council's Plans.  In 1969, when she was 58, she decided it was time to move.  She acquired a plot of ground in Wells-Next-The -Sea, Norfolk and set forth to move the house one hundred miles from the hands and bulldozers of the Council

With help from a local firm of demolishers to dismantle the massive timber frame, she set about numbering every brick, every stick of timber, and every slate was meticulously numbered and stored.  Rubbings were made of the brickwork to ensure that the right bond was made.


With Planning Permission obtain, May began transporting her Home.  It took 11 lorry loads to bring the materials to Norfolk so that reconstruction could begin.  She had the help of  a local carpenter to fix the Massive timber frame to the foundations, and from then she was on her own.  As with the demolition she had night in the cold under the stars, but until she was able to move in, lived in a caravan.


The rest of her life was given to the rebuild, after ten years the property was made water tight and she was able to move in, but some brickwork still needed to built and walls had to be plastered.  She carried on through her seventies and into her eighties.  Whilst, climbing ladders and knocking-up cement was beyond her when she reached her eighties she was still able to install a wood-burning stove.

She died in 1992, just short of her 82nd. birthday, the house was willed to her niece, but it was little more than a shaky shell with a roof on it.  Throughout her life May had been a hoarder and her hoard provided the funds for the building works to completed - so even after death she assured the future of the building.










14 comments:

  1. What a story. That's one way to move a house, but probably not the best way.

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  2. An overwhelming task, the detail is mind-boggling, logging in every piece of material, and the rubbings of the brick. Exhausting to think about. That is one determined woman,and she achieved what she set out to do. But I'd go for that other approach, lifting the whole thing up and moving it whole.

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  3. What a woman! This is the moving story to cap them all and an inspiration for the 'little' people determined not to be put upon by the local councils. These days the NIMBYs just whinge.

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  4. A marvellous story of fortitude and 'courage under fire’. However, Grand Designs it was not and you have to ask yourself is she wasn’t just a weeny bit .........eccentric.

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  5. Stubborn is what I'd call her - but deserves a certain respect for standing up to the "Planners".

    She does makes the rest of us seem normal (whatever that may mean)

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  6. I was sorry to read it was just a shaky structure with a roof on it. I'm glad it's a functional house now. She never lacked something to do.

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  7. I have never come across this story. All hail the great British eccentric - long may he or she do things that others call mad. Wonderful value for money Mike.

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  8. A wonderful story -- I enjoyed reading it and seeing these pictures.

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  9. I Could Do With A May When I Visit B&Q!

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  10. Absolutely astonishing! May was obviously a girl with a lot of "go" in her. Great post, Mike :-) Jo

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  11. What a wonderful post, I am fascinated about this extra-ordinary woman so I have just ordered your niece's book from my library.

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  12. A great story of perseverance and determination. As the owner of an antique house who has undertaken similar, albeit smaller scale, restoration I can understand the desire to preserve and protect such a house.

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  13. That is the most delightful story. I admire May's determination. What a fabulous woman.

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  14. Wonderful story for such a charming house. A gem, both May and her house.

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