Another week has past and, again, we've been busy...
This week saw further progress with venturing into the 'mystery' loft, taking the plaster off in the bedrooms upstairs and the lower stairwell, removal of the kitchen and some skirting boards and internal carpentry. We continued with some further garden clearance and revealed and cleared out the lounge and master bedroom's fireplaces. We also met with the structural engineer and are now awaiting further advice to move forward with building works.
Thanks again to Liam and to Neil for their help this week.
One of the many garden residents.
Our youngest visitor yet! Poppy Johnst. & dad dropped in.
Lower stairwell, after plaster off.
Recessed bookcase, gone!
With DF removing plaster on one side of this wall and Neil pulling out the bookcase on the other we noticed this wall moving significantly. Turns out it's only one brick thick and slightly precarious in places - especially at the thinnest point between the bookcase and cupboard doorway (the thin strip of wall in the foreground.)
Kitchen, gone!
Unveiling the bedroom fireplace...
The funk of 40,000 years?
Fireplace cleared - the iron hearth has buckled under the prolonged weight of the rubble (at the front just above the base).
Success! Smashing a hole in the ceiling gives access to the loft for the first time...
The roof lining (reeds) have entirely fallen away, leaving just the roof tiles and structure. Pulling these ceilings down is going to be sooooo messy!
As I suspected, one of the chimneys has been removed (to left) to allow for windows in the second bedroom and dining room. As a result, there is a large crack in this gable end and the lintel of the top window (of second bedroom) is collapsing. We are finalising how this will be further supported with the structural engineer. I figured something was up because there are three chimney pots, but only 2 fire places.
Removal of the predominantly rotten skirting boards in the lounge caused some of the top layer of the floor to come away, revealing the original pamment tiles below.
Removal of the 1960's fire surround revealed more of the original floor. The cement laid to fix the fire surround was saturated, with one part so wet that the cement was virtually back to it's original (wet) state.
Digging out bricks in the garden for future use. I'm planning a lovely brick path and courtyard!
Our growing collection of bricks and pamment tiles found around the garden.
HA!
Wall, gone - Well done, lads!
