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Stately home sold for just £350,000
ONE of South Yorkshire's most fascinating stately homes has been sold - for just £350,000.
Faded glory: The stunning Art Deco interior of Firbeck Hall was designed by Robert Cawkwell, of Sheffield company Hadfield Cawkwell Davidson, when the stately home was bought by businessman Cyril Nicholson and converted into an exclusive country club that attracted well-heeled guests from across Britain
But it'll cost a few quid to restore to its former glory
Firbeck Hall, between Rotherham and Worksop, has suffered years of dilapidation. The 40-plus acre site's previous owners were Cambs Construction.
Sid Ellis, of support group The Friends of Firbeck Hall, said he hoped the purchase, by an unnamed buyer, would represent a new chapter in the fortunes of Firbeck - a once-glamorous country club which featured in glossy magazines in the 1930s.
"We are keen to work with any owner genuinely concerned about the condition of Firbeck Hall and who has its best long term interests at heart," he said.
"We see a major role for us as maintaining an essential link between the owner and a local community which has always regarded Firbeck Hall as an integral part of the village."
The 16th-century hall has deteriorated rapidly over the past 10 years. The Friends of Firbeck Hall have worked hard to protect the listed building, seeking advice from conservation groups and rallying support from local residents and architectural enthusiasts.
Sid said: "We hope we're moving towards a new phase as far as Firbeck Hall is concerned. It's in a dilapidated condition and if the owners aren't aware of that now they certainly will be soon."
Firbeck Hall's origins go back to 1594. Its modern heyday was in the 1930s when it was bought by businessman Cyril Nicholson, who converted Firbeck into an exclusive country club that attracted guests from across Britain. Even Vogue magazine ran a supplement on the club.
A Rotherham Council spokeswoman said: "We're aware of the sale and hope to set up a meeting with the new owner in the near future."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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