A couple's heartfelt mission to reclaim a cherished family estate has been dramatically complicated by the alarming discovery of substantial sinkholes, threatening to incur repair bills running into tens of thousands of pounds. The revelation came to light during a recent episode of Channel 4's documentary series, Saving Country Houses, highlighting the immense challenges of preserving Britain's architectural heritage.
A Legacy Reclaimed, A New Crisis Unfolds
Pitchford Hall, a stunning timber-framed property nestled in Shropshire, had been part of Rowena Nason's family for centuries. Its storied past includes hosting a young Queen Victoria and serving as a safe house for the British royal family during World War II. However, financial difficulties forced Rowena's parents to sell the hall in 1992, leaving the historic building neglected and unattended for a quarter of a century.
That period of dereliction ended when Rowena, together with her husband James, successfully repurchased the family seat, embarking on an ambitious restoration project. Their vision involved hosting weddings and guided tours on the estate's picturesque grounds to help fund the preservation work. This plan was thrown into jeopardy when they identified two massive sinkholes marring a central area of the lawn.
Investigating the Subterranean Cause
To diagnose the problem, the Nasons enlisted heritage surveyor Corey Lane. The investigation led them to Pitchford Hall's intricate, century-old tunnel system, which runs approximately three metres underground, connecting an old fishing pond to a brook. In a claustrophobic exploration, Corey ventured into the tunnels and pinpointed the source of the issue about 24 metres in.
"We're seeing a lot of structural movement within the chamber itself at this point," Corey explained during the programme. "On the north wall we've got a two-metre section where the stonework is completely missing and that is the cause of the sinkhole. That's enabled the water to then rush in and wash the ground out."
He described a "spiral of decay", noting severe localised defects, including a five-metre section of wall that had collapsed, allowing water to flow freely. This structural failure has led to significant ground erosion, manifesting as the dangerous sinkholes on the surface above.
A Daunting Financial Blow
Confronted with the surveyor's stark assessment, James Nason acknowledged the gravity of the situation. "We've clearly got a problem," he stated. "And the issue for us is, we do events on the lawn. We do weddings, we do guided tours. So when you find you've got two sinkholes in a major part of the grounds, clearly we've got a pretty big issue."
The estimated cost for the necessary repairs runs into "tens of thousands" of pounds, a substantial financial setback for the restoration project. James admitted the news was a harsh blow, yet he maintained his affection for the property, framing the crisis as "a classic challenge that they didn't expect to be dealing with."
A Glimmer of Historical Discovery
Amid the concerning findings, the tunnel exploration also yielded a positive historical surprise. The team uncovered a previously unknown chamber that had been bricked up around a century ago. Upon removing some stonework, they glimpsed what is believed to have been a private bathing room from the Georgian era, a time when cold water bathing became fashionable.
The chamber featured ornate decorative elements, including what appeared to be shell and quartz embellishments on an accent wall. This discovery sparked James's imagination for future restoration. "I would love to actually restore this to what it was originally in the 1820s or 1830s," he mused. "Wouldn't it be wonderful for people to see how the Georgians relaxed and enjoyed themselves all those years ago."
The episode underscores the unpredictable and costly nature of heritage conservation, where dramatic setbacks can coexist with fascinating historical revelations, all part of the enduring effort to save Britain's country houses for future generations.
