The 19th-century Northwood House in Cowes could have facilities upgraded as part of a proposed renovation.
Northwood House Charitable Trust has applied for listed building consent to enhance Northwood House’s catering and toilet facilities, currently described as ‘poor’.
The house is listed at Grade II* due to its ‘interior architectural interest’, according to public body Historic England. Grade II* listings denote ‘particularly important buildings of more than special interest’ which make up around 5.8% of all listed buildings.
A Design and Heritage Statement prepared by LMA Heritage Consulting Ltd. says:
“The house has had a colourful history and was a long lasting legacy of The Ward family from the late 18th to early 20th Century.
“It has been a house of well known luxury and decadence, to a boys school, a party house, nunnery, Red Cross Hospital and Municipality offices.
“The house, given to the Town of Cowes in 1928, has very high communal significance.
“As a place of marriages and celebrations, local events and council meetings, its position within the town and the wider area of the Island is an important one and one of the only large country houses on the island that is still so heavily invested in its community”.
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Northwood House Charitable Trust’s proposals include converting the house’s hot kitchen into a gents toilets, the enlarging of the ladies toilets, new doors from a hallway off the Egypt Corner lobby, new corridor stores, a kitchen renovation and a roof extraction system.
Also included in the charity’s plans are new rainwater drainage systems on an external wall.
Earlier this week Island Echo reported that the Trust is also looking to convert toilets located in the nearby car park into a cafe.
The council’s public consultation on Northwood House Charitable Trust’s application finishes on 29th November and a statutory decision is expected on 17th December.
It could do with a touch up, needs
restoring to it’s former glory.
I’d love to see this work done, it is looking a little tired these days. The more the business inside the house thrives, the more viable it is to maintain this heritage property.