‘Sadness’ over state of Hirst’s mansion

VILLAGERS living near Damien Hirst’s mansion say they are sad when they see it covered in plastic and scaffolding.

And some would like to be able to walk in the grounds again.

The renowned artist bought Toddington manor, a Grade I-listed Victorian House in 2005.

He had plans to restore it and use it for both his family home and a museum for his work.

But those plans have not come to fruition in the intervening 17 years. And for at least a decade the building has been covered in scaffolding with white plastic sheeting keeping the upper storeys weathertight.

The building is looked after with caretakers on site and the extensive grounds are kept mown and tidy.

But those living nearby in the beautiful Cotswolds village of Toddington would like to see progress, as would Toddington Parish Council.

Lamani Simons was walking past the house with her daughter Naomi. Mrs Simons said: “It’s just sad to see it like that. You can see it from nearly everywhere when you go out for a walk. It would be much better to see it restored.

Naomi said: “It’s just so ugly as it is.”

Dee Holloway has lived in Toddington for more than 30 years, just round the corner from the mansion in Church Lane.

She said: “There’s no telling what will happen to it. It used to be that you could walk in the grounds. But the gates are locked and it’s strictly controlled now. I think it would be good if we could do that again – though there weren’t as many houses in Church Lane then as there are now. We don’t know what’s going on, really.

Margaret Merritt echoed the desire to be able to go in the grounds. She said: “In a way we were looking after it for the owner when we could do that. It’s a shame really. It felt like the house was part of the community and was something we could look after.

“As it is it’s just like everyone says – it’s an eyesore.”

Husband Brian said: “I’m with the parish council really – we’d just like to know what is going on.”

The parish council has asked to be kept informed by Tewkesbury Borough Council as to the status of any plans for restoration work to start. The higher authority has said it is “satisfied” Mr Hirst does intend to restore the building which dates back to 1840.

It has proved impossible, so far, to contact Mr Hirst or his company Science Ltd.

The building bankrupted the family of its first owner, Charles Hanbury-Tracey, later Baron Sudeley.