- Joined
- Feb 25, 2015
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Some History
Grade II-listed Overstone Hall/House, on the outskirts of Northampton, has stood as a part ruin after it was largely gutted by a fire, which broke out on April 16, 2001. Overstone Hall was designed in 1860 for Lord and Lady Overstone by William Milford Teulon but it took so long to build that Lady Overstone died before it was completed.
For its time, Overstone Hall was highly advanced, built with double walls, giving it the earliest known cavity wall insulation. It also had a central heating system called Mr Price’s Apparatus, gas lighting and a butler’s lift.
In the early 20th century it was rented by a shipping magnate who entertained lavishly, the house passed through various owners until the mansion, with 70 acres, was sold in 1929 for conversion into a girls’ boarding school. In 1979 the school closed and a year later, it was bought by current vendors the New Testament Church of God for £100,000.
The Visit
I had a couple of hours free one morning so decided to go here after seeing it on another UE forum. It's only 5-10 mins from where I live.
The Hall is surrounded by a 8ft high fence with no obvious points of entry. Surprisingly, part of the Hall is actually still in use as a homeless shelter. There were dog walkers and golfers about, but no one seemed to care that I was wandering the grounds.
Inside, half of the Hall has been completely destroyed internally, and only the outside walls remain. The other half has deteriorated pretty bad but has usable stairs and flooring. Even with only half of the Hall remaining, it is a huge building. It would have had 2 or 3 floors, but I was only able to access the ground and first floor safely. Parts of the inside have been destroyed by fire and there are parts where there isn't much floor left. It is kind of sad to see such a grand building left to decay, but it makes for a good explore! I spent about an hour inside, and briefly got lost in the rooms going round in circles!
Grade II-listed Overstone Hall/House, on the outskirts of Northampton, has stood as a part ruin after it was largely gutted by a fire, which broke out on April 16, 2001. Overstone Hall was designed in 1860 for Lord and Lady Overstone by William Milford Teulon but it took so long to build that Lady Overstone died before it was completed.
For its time, Overstone Hall was highly advanced, built with double walls, giving it the earliest known cavity wall insulation. It also had a central heating system called Mr Price’s Apparatus, gas lighting and a butler’s lift.
In the early 20th century it was rented by a shipping magnate who entertained lavishly, the house passed through various owners until the mansion, with 70 acres, was sold in 1929 for conversion into a girls’ boarding school. In 1979 the school closed and a year later, it was bought by current vendors the New Testament Church of God for £100,000.
The Visit
I had a couple of hours free one morning so decided to go here after seeing it on another UE forum. It's only 5-10 mins from where I live.
The Hall is surrounded by a 8ft high fence with no obvious points of entry. Surprisingly, part of the Hall is actually still in use as a homeless shelter. There were dog walkers and golfers about, but no one seemed to care that I was wandering the grounds.
Inside, half of the Hall has been completely destroyed internally, and only the outside walls remain. The other half has deteriorated pretty bad but has usable stairs and flooring. Even with only half of the Hall remaining, it is a huge building. It would have had 2 or 3 floors, but I was only able to access the ground and first floor safely. Parts of the inside have been destroyed by fire and there are parts where there isn't much floor left. It is kind of sad to see such a grand building left to decay, but it makes for a good explore! I spent about an hour inside, and briefly got lost in the rooms going round in circles!
