Planning chief in dock for ripping out priest hole from £850,000 14th-century cottage
WHEN the newly renovated 14th century home of Councillor Barby Dashwood-Morris was featured on Sarah Beeny’s property show, the owner was eager to stress she had planning permission.
After all, as chairman of the local council planning committee she knew the importance of following the rules.
But what Miss Beeny didn’t know was that the Tory council leader had stripped the £850,000 Grade IIlisted home of historic features, including ripping out an Elizabethan ‘priest hole’.
She hoped to sell her home for a bumper profit – but had failed to get listed buildings consent from her own council.
The 70-year-old, who boasted it was a ‘coup’ for her home to seen on Channel 4’s Double Your House For Half The Money, was caught out after prospective buyers ordered a survey and discovered the unauthorised works.
Last week the former chairman of Wealden District Council appeared before Brighton magistrates to admit six charges of demolition or alteration of a building affecting its listed character, which carries a possible penalty of two years’ imprisonment or an unlimited fine.
Some of the alterations to the property known as The Priest House in the village of Hellingly, East Sussex, were carried out while she was chairman of the planning committee, prior to her election as council leader in 2015.
Dashwood-Morris bought the four- bedroom house, which dates from 1374, in September 1997 for £224,200. She and partner Alan Proudfoot, 54, spent £300,000 on renovations to create a grand entrance hall with a glass staircase, removing the priest hole hiding place.
Estate agents raved about its ‘ picture- book setting’, its vaulted ceilings, exposed beams and charming walled gardens. In 2013 television property expert Miss Beeny showcased the house as a model of a sympathetic restoration.
At the time, the ‘thrilled’ councillor told reporters that producers had been blown away by her home. ‘They were so very enthusiastic about how the house looked – even better than they hoped,’ she said.
She boasted of turning the ancient house into a ‘home that meets all the comforts of modern living’, adding: ‘I worked closely with Wealden District Council conservation department to ensure all the plans met with their approval.’
But in court she admitted six counts of making alterations without listed building consent, while Proudfoot admitted four counts of the same charge.
Dashwood-Morris admitted removing a barley twist banister and replacing it with a glass panel. She also pleaded guilty to removing a partition between a staircase and a bedroom and replacing them with modern glass without obtaining building consent, and removing a storage area in the sloping roof as well as a hallway ceiling.
Saira Kabir Sheikh, QC, prosecuting, said: ‘ These works caused substantial harm which cannot be rectified.’
Stephen Whale, defending, said: ‘ There was certainly no intention to commit offences. When building works unfolded they uncovered other issues they needed to address.’
Dashwood-Morris said: ‘We strongly believed at the time these works were authorised or didn’t require authorisation.’ She will be sentenced tomorrow.
‘Cannot be rectified’