Saving up to write a Lord of the Rings blog. One of these days soon (I hope). Gonna be hard though - 24 years since I first read it/saw the (other, crap) film, 21 since the radio series (which I still listen to regularly) and my second reading, and now post-the-(current, wonderful)-film and 80 pages from the end of the book again - a lot of history and feelings and thoughts a-waiting. Perhaps I shall find time on the train tomorrow.
Registered our house with Amazing Space, in the hope that it may one day feature in a film, TV program, pop promo, ad, or, err, something. Does this sound impressive enough, dya think?
Stone-fronted detatched Victorian (1850s) brick schoolhouse, recently converted to residential use.
On the first floor is the old school hall, approximately 35′x20′x15′ high with an antique sprung maple dance floor throughout and windows to 3 sides including a large (12′x9′) stained-glass window to the front (North-West) - probably original Victorian, though with an art-deco feel. Tall windows to the rear (South-East) look out across neighbouring rooftops to give a view of most of Sheffield. The North-East wall contains two brick-fronted fireplaces equally spaced. A further stained-glass window, in a similar style, is in the landing outside the hallway.
The front double-doors lead into a large hallway, where a wide elegant staircase sweeps up to the first floor. Most of the ground floor is taken up by 4 bedrooms, formerly classrooms, all around 14′x10′x12′ high. The two to the rear have wooden platforms which serve as mezzanine floors.
Inside 2 converted garages to the side of the house is the kitchen - 16′x14′x15′ at its highest point (the roof slopes and contains a single Velux window). 3 sides of the kitchen are taken up with murals and trompe l’oeil, giving the impression of a Parisian street scene merging into a Mediterranean beach scene.
To the rear of the property is the old school yard, containing original outhouses, toilets (including grade-II listed victorian pot urinal) and cellars. Part of the yard has been converted to raised decking, although there are plans to remove or alter this. The yard is surrounded on all sides by the original brick walls, topped by high wooden fences.
The original estate agents’ brochure for the property, with pictures, can be found online at http://www.sumption.org/oldschoolhall/brochure.html and directions by car from the M1 or central Sheffield are at http://www.sumption.org/directions/
Lawks-a-mercy! The fadeless splendour of the Cardiacs’ lyrics are now laid plain upon a website for the world to see. Now there’s a fine thing. Not sure about the general health or otherwise of their cow though. And very disappointed to find the Whole World Window is not yet included. Skates on, chaps!