News & Events

23 February 2017

Hawke's Bay Founders Day meeting 2017

Hawke's Bay Founders Day meeting 2017

English restoration project outlined for Hawke’s Bay Founders

Nearly 100 Hawke’s Bay Founders members and guests met at Havelock North in early February for their Annual Founders Day Lunch.

At the lunch, guest speaker, Michael La Rooy, formerly of Hawke’s Bay and now living with his family in England, gave an illustrated talk on just what is involved when restoration of a listed property is undertaken.

The focus of this loving restoration is ‘Marshall’s Manor,’ a (Grade II star) listed, large two-storey house with its origins in the late 1300s and early 1400s as a ‘Tudor Hall’ house.

In Britain, listed buildings are on the Statutory List of Buildings which are of special architectural or historical interest.

Marshall’s Manor is located in the north-west corner of East Sussex, in open countryside. The property had been owned in the mid twentieth century by Winston Churchill’s doctor, Lord Moran.

Michael explained that though they recognised that their restoration had to comply with the Listed Buildings authorities, he and his family were keenly motivated to carry out the restoration in order to provide them with a lovely home and at the same time, preserve a significant and historical property for posterity.

Planning and seeking approvals began in 2014 and building work started in 2016, with a  completion date set for July 2017.

Significant work has already been undertaken with installation of a new beam for strengthening, stonework, plastering, and drainage to keep water away from the house structure.

Remaining tasks include new plumbing and central heating, re-wiring, a new roof, window repairs and kitchen and bathroom fit-outs.

The Founders audience were appreciative of Michael’s talk since many have followed similar restoration projects on the ‘Restoration’ TV series, and helping to preserve historic places, buildings and monuments is an important tenet of the New Zealand Founders Society.    

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Michael La Rooy flanked by Hawke’s Bay Founders President, Paddy Bayley, and Secretary, Richard Bayley.

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Marshall’s Manor, East Sussex

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