First sale of a legacy from 1710

Jun 20 2006

By Marsya Lennox, Property Correspondent

Priests Park Farm at Chadwick End, Solihull has remained in the same ownership since 1710 when it was built for The Foundation of Lady Katherine Leveson. As it approaches its 300th anniversary, it is making its first appearance on the market as a series of interesting lots with some re-development potential. Historically a tenanted farm, the property is being parcelled up into five lots, for sale by tender. The proceeds, likely to exceed £1 million, will be ploughed back into the work of the well-known local charity. It was founded in 1674 to provide for "20 poor women and a free school for 20 poor boys from Balsall". Lady Katherine Leveson was the wealthy benefactress, a granddaughter of the Earl of Leicester, Elizabeth's favourite, Robert Dudley. The good works, centred on the picturesque almshouses, The Lady Katherine Leveson Hospital, continue into their fourth century. Prior to that, the good lady and her sister, Lady Anne Holbourne, had restored the picturesque 13th century Temple Balsall Church after it lost its roof. When Lady Katherine died in 1674, she left her estates, including Temple Balsall to build and endow the almshouses and a free school. Early 20th century chronicler Arthur Mee visited the area in 1930 and remarked how little the local scene had changed since the 17th century, describing the hospital residents. "Here we shall always find old ladies dressed as 250 years ago, in poke bonnets and shawls. Perhaps we may envy them the peace and beauty of the place." All these important buildings remain in active use today and this sale will provide funds to maintain and improve the charity's assets, including the supported housing in Temple Balsall. Priests Park Farm provides a series of opportunities for a range of buyers. The prime lot is the old farmhouse which retains a number of good features including oak plank doors and flagged floors. There is an inglenook fireplace in the living room, carved with initials and the date 1710. There is a kitchen, store room, dining room, further unimproved room with brick thralls and flagged floor, also clay tiles on some ground level floors. There is a sandstone plinth, still obvious under some of the walls, interesting brick eaves and a central chimney stack. Upstairs is some early oak stud work with lath and plaster, four bedrooms, box room and bathroom and outside, an old bake house plus farm buildings. With the house goes a collection of outbuildings including brick stables and storage. The guide price is £495,000. Lot 4 will be as interesting to many buyers, a fine threshing barn of the mid 19th century with some magnificent pointed brick arches supporting the roof. The large building would lend itself well to conversion and has a guide price of £395,000 to include other outbuildings and some 0.65 acres. Other lots include a 1,17 acre paddock and further grass paddock of 1.23 acres, guides £30,000 and £35,000. There is also a potential development plot of just under one third of an acre, backing onto the edge of Chadwick End, therefore with possible "long term hope value", and the chance of coming out of Green Belt. Details are available from Barlow Associates at Meriden. Tenders should be submitted to Lodders Solicitors in Stratford-upon-Avon by 12 noon, Friday, July 7. Information from 01676 522552.