Lines House Diary: Part Three

Back in October I was still working on my Lines Monstrosity as I was calling it...

Most of the inside has now been stripped

The state of the internal wood is pretty bad though (but I will let Granny point that out further down in this blog post)

It is difficult getting the paint off in places.  

I've still got to remove the fireplace

Getting there very slowly.

But making progress.

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It seems that Granny and Grandpa Grecon had heard about a house for sale.

Grandpa armed with his ladder, with Granny in tow wanted to go and view it as soon as possible.

There it was nestled in the woods with wild gardens surrounding it.

Grandpa doesn't waste anytime at all!  He has the ladder up ready to inspect the externals of the house.

Granny stands on the little veranda wondering what on earth they are doing even considering it.

Unperturbed however  Grandpa is giving the windows a good looking over.

Hold the ladder steady my love, he calls out as he goes up to the first floor

Steady she goes...

He clambers up and inspects the windows up close.

Oh, she's got good bones, me love, he says.

Granny is still not convinced, and worries about him up the ladder.

Before she knows it he is up at the attic window, although the framing is missing.  

We best do something about this as quick as we can, Grandpa says.  We don't want any vermin coming inside...

Just come down please.  Granny says as she holds the ladder as Grandpa climbs down.

Oh, this place is a real gem.  He tells her...

Shall we look inside?

That would be a good idea.

They open the door

and in they go.

Granny is momentarily speechless!

Oh my!  She exclaims...

Oh my oh my!  she exclaims some more.

Just look at this!  There are great big gouges out of the walls.

Oh don't you be worrying about that Grandpa tells her.

But how on earth are we going to fix this?

Oh just leave it to me.  Grandpa tells Granny.  I can fix her up, she's got good bones you know.

Just look at this floor!  It's not even been finished before.  Looks like they just used a rough bit of old timber to make the floor.

Oh, I'll be able to fix that up, don't you be worrying yourself.

They look round the rest of the house...Granny is not at all convinced.  Grandpa is full of confidence.

She's got good bones you know love.  He tells her.  I will be able to fix her up just fine, you wait and see.

Granny is not at all certain.

But she does have to admit...

There is a certain charm about it.

Thus the house becomes known as 'Grandpa's Folly'.

But did he get it decorated in time for Christmas?

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I am so far behind with blogging about this house, but have been recording the progress, or rather I should say Granny & Grandpa's progress on my Youtube Channel.  

Hopefully I will eventually get caught up on here too!

 

Lines House Diary: Part Two

I've been short bursts of stripping paint over the last week

.Top left room - one wall is almost paint free now.

Bottom left room, I had hoped to be able to salvage the paper under the Christmas paper but I don't think I am going to be able to.  I have started to take the lights off as well, but need to find a small screwdriver to take the switches off.  I've managed to get the one off in this room.

Here is the paper underneath the Christmas paper.

This top right room hasn't got as much to do, but the walls are really rough so wondering if I am going to have to use a paint stripper to get the rest off.

Underneath the painted paper in this room I could see some writing.

This is the paper that was painted.  Still not enough to probably identify it properly.

Not sure if I have this the right way up or not...

or even if it goes sideways...which was how it was on the wall...

I've managed to get a bit more off the walls in the  right downstairs room, but still a long way to go in this room.

I've also had a closer look at this medallion which was on the wall.  It is made by Stokes in Melbourne Australia.  I need to see if I can date it.  I am guessing perhaps the 60s/70s but not sure.

 

Lines House Diary: Part One

A couple of weeks ago a big box arrived.

I took photos of it, as I have trouble getting people to post large items to me, but it is doable, by several postal/courier services.  This one was by Parcel Force.

Inside is this Antique AG & J Lines House, No. 37 
It is in definite  need of renovation and repair!  It is missing it's top window which had obviously been cut out to install electrics.  What a shame they didn't keep the window!

Inside it has been over-painted and over wallpapered. 

Gosh what have I taken on?!

I decided to start with the top green room first.

Underneath some of the paint is glimpses of wallpaper.

The paper on the floor is interesting, but unfortunately it wasn't under all of the paint.  What a shame. 

This is all of it.

The flooring is incredibly rough!

As are the walls which looks extremely rough sawn timber.

Boy oh boy, what have I taken on?!

I also started removing some of the wallpaper in the blue room as it was loose.

More very rough saw timber underneath.

Down in the kitchen...

A vague marking on the rough wall

on which these papers were against.  This is the only part that had this paper on it.

Another very rough wall.

I certainly have my work cut out for me!  It is like they partly removed some wallpaper and just slapped either more paper over the top (as can be seen on the floor), or paint!