Follow up: 1930s art deco house in Minster On Sea, Sheerness, Kent under threat of demolition
You might remember the original listing for this 1930s art deco house in Minster On Sea, Sheerness, Kent. At the time, only the outside shot was available, but thanks to Nick, we now have interior shots. There’s some bad news too – this house might be getting demolished in the near future.
Nick managed to get inside and has offered up some additional (and corrected) information. The actual layout of the place is a ground floor with kitchen through to scullery with attached WC, a sitting room, dining room with doors to garden, a large entrance hall with ‘vast’ storage and coat hanging walk-in wardrobe plus a further WC.
Upstairs, you’ll find a large landing, four bedrooms (not three), bathroom, large storage area and access to the flat roof. He also points out that it is built of stock brick and render, with floors and roof made up of standard construction timber joists – the roof timbers are nearly 2ft deep.
Ok, that’s the technical stuff out of way, now to the sale itself. It seems that the guide price (between £80,000 and £90,000) has attracted the developers, who want the land. That means this place could be flattened after the auction on 24th July. Not certain, it all depends on who bids up on the day.
English Heritage have been informed about the originality of this place in particular parts of the interior – the heating system and plumbing are very rare, so they are interested. The original Crittall windows are in the back garden and could be restored, while the house is packed full of period gems that make this a restoration dream for the right person.
A selection of images is below, should you want a few examples. If English Heritage doesn’t put an emergency listing on the house in the coming days, its fate depends on someone with a love of art deco bidding the highest amount at the auction. Otherwise, the house is no more.
If you know someone like that, do let them know about the house as soon as possible. You can contact the auctioneer and get details of the auction at their website.
Find out more at the Clive Emson auctioneers website
Lisa JJ on 29 January, 2015 9:10 pm
What became of this house?
Lisa JJ on 29 January, 2015 11:54 pm
Does anyone know what became of this house?
Neil Harris on 15 November, 2016 11:39 am
A happy ending!
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/sheerness/news/minster-road-art-deco-21850/
lee newham on 29 November, 2016 4:22 pm
Oh no! It’s better than pulling it down, but they have ruined the outside and the plastic windows look horrible! What a shame. If only English Heritage or the National Trust had bought it.
Jan on 12 November, 2018 5:49 pm
Just returned from Frinton in Essex, toured around and saw wonderful Art Deco houses all in a good state of repair.
Just saw this house in its current state (2016) and it looks great. Well done the father and son renovators. Doesn’t matter about plastic windows, they look fabulous and in keeping with the Art Deco feel. Wish I had enough money to buy it! Please don’t let the national trust, with their wacky ideas, have their hands on it.
Nigel Kirkup on 10 May, 2019 6:44 pm
This house belonged to Tom Varty my wife’s uncle., He was originally from Consett in Co, Durham and moved to Sheppey in the late 50’s bringing his mother with him. He was a very intellectual man, a chemist but like many geniuses he crossed the line of common sense. To busy engrossed in his work with Lever Brothers. ( he developed Pearl Drops Toothpaste back in the day)
Never married he became more eccentric and a virtual recluse, hoarding medical journals, cardboard boxes, plastic bottles whilst letting the house run into serious disrepair.
As family he wouldn’t let anyone intervene and sadly had to move into a nearby care home for the final year of his life.
All of his estate such as the house, grand piano, shares and investments was left to various charities and organisations such as Age Concern, Water Aid and the Gurkhas so a thoughtful man.
I visited him and the house towards the end and would have written the building off so well done to the developers.
Apparently if you look at an Ariel view of the house it’s shaped like a Grand Piano
NIgel & Helen Kirkup
Co. Durham
Peter Hodge on 28 May, 2021 7:44 am
Myself and my husband have just completed our house in Northamptonshire, with art deco features interiors but always wanted to find such as a house like this with all the lovely features..what a find, it’s much too important to demolish.
Please keep me informed
Peter Hodge