Nestled among hundreds of new builds, White House Farm in a neat Bristol suburb, looks lost in time.
The 17th century Grade ll-listed property is an incongruous sight in the middle of the housing development that has sprung up around it.
The detached property, standing in half an acre of land, has not been lived in for almost 10 years, according to locals.
Its roof has missing tiles, and many of its windows have either been smashed or boarded up.
But for the first time in a decade, the historic property is for sale – with a price tag of £500k.
Very few of the new Emersons Green residents know anything about White House Farm’s history and are surprised that it has managed to survive the bulldozers that have made way for the swathes of modern housing developments around it.
At first glance, the abandoned building might appear to be a relic of little value, but in reality, it is a Grade II listed farmhouse dating back to the 17th century.
White House Farm is a 17th century Grade ll-listed property sitting in the middle of a new-build housing development
White House Farm, standing in half an acre of land, has not been lived in for almost 10 years
The roof has missing tiles, and many of its windows have either been smashed or boarded up
Bought 15 years ago by developers Persimmon Homes, the site has remained untouched due to the farmhouse’s complex heritage protection laws, while 88 new homes were built on the land surrounding it in 2019.
Now owned by Merlin Housing Society Limited, the 0.5 acre plot is up for sale again but buyers should be warned that any plans will require careful navigation of strict preservation laws.
These laws protect the building from demolition or substantial alteration without rigorous planning consent due to it’s history.
And to the east of the farmhouse is Lyde Green Common, which should only be built on in ‘very special circumstances’.
The farmhouse is believed to have been built in the 1600s, with several alterations made over the centuries, including the 18th and 19th centuries, and a few more additions in the 20th century.
Historic England lists it for its exceptional limestone rubble construction and its unique architectural features, including gable stacks, diagonal chimneys, and even a pantiled rear roof that once housed a stable.
One local, whose modern three-bed home is just a two-minute walk from the old farmhouse, said she is ‘intrigued’ by the property.
‘It looks so out of place, but maybe it’s our new homes that are out of place,’ she said.
‘I’ve been intrigued by it since I moved in a year ago, but everyone I’ve asked about the place knows nothing about it, other than it’s been allowed to fall into disrepair.
For the first time in a decade, White House Farm is for sale – with a price tag of £500k
The site has remained untouched due to the farmhouse’s complex heritage protection laws, while 88 new homes were built on the land surrounding it in 2019
Historic England lists the property for its exceptional limestone rubble construction and its unique architectural features
The farmhouse is believed to have been built in the 1600s, with several alterations made over the centuries
‘It’s such a shame it’s become a bit of a wreck.
‘Hopefully now that it’s up for sale, someone will restore it to its former glory.
‘It seems an incredibly cheap price for such a large property.’
Another local, who runs a building firm, said he is considering making an offer on the farmhouse and renovating it.
He said: ‘It would be a fantastic restoration project but I estimate I’d need to spend almost as much as the asking price getting it back to its original state.
‘Most of the windows need replacing and inside and out, everything needs doing. But it could be restored to create something really special.’
Rare architectural features include gable stacks, diagonal chimneys, and even a pantiled rear roof that once housed a stable
The property was bought 15 years ago by developers Persimmon Homes and is now owned by Merlin Housing Society Limited
The building is protected from demolition or substantial alteration without rigorous planning consent
Delia, 55, who moved into a nearby Persimmon home earlier this year, said: ‘I’m very curious about the farmhouse.
‘I might even arrange a viewing with the estate agents so I can have a look inside before it gets sold. I’m not sure I’d want to buy it, though. It looks like a lot of hard work and it could be a money pit.’
Another local, Ken, 72, moved in nearby after retiring from his job as a teacher. He said he is ‘fascinated’ by the property but has yet to find anyone in the area who knows anything about it or its former occupants.
He said: ‘It’s all a bit of a mystery. The problem is that everyone living here is a newbie and there weren’t many people living nearby before they built all these new homes.
‘I guess at one time, the land we’re all living on today was farmland belonging to White House Farm. It would all have been fields for as far as the eye can see.
‘It would have been a completely different way of life back then.
‘Whoever lived there, I hope they had happy lives.’
