Work to give Burnham-On-Sea’s historic Manor House a £250,000 refurbishment is due to be completed next month.
Burnham-based Watermark Financial Solutions took over the landmark last year and work is currently underway on a major revamp so the firm can move from its existing smaller premises in the High Street.
The project to modern the builidng has suffered several setbacks, including a break-in during January when vandals caused damage, as reported here, and more recently the icy weather has delayed progress.
Mark Woods, owner of the building, told Burnham-On-Sea.com this week: “The outside rendering has not been possible due to the icy weather so we have been delayed, but we are hoping to move in at some point in May.”
The project aims to improve and modernise the interior and exteior building, which was built in 1841 and was originally the home of well-known Burnham resident George Reed.
The Manor House and gardens were sold to Burnham Urban District Council in April 1904, then in 1974 Sedgemoor District Council took over the building for offices. The house was sold in February 2000 to the Ashfield Trust, while the gardens remained in Sedgemoor’s hands. However, when the Ashfield Trust moved out in 2010, the building was put up for sale and it was sold to Mr Woods in 2012.
Pictured: Top, how the Manor House currently looks and, above, owner Mark Woods at the start of the development last year
