19 hours Ago
Hedge fund owner Chris Rokos has been carrying out a refurbishment project at Tottenham House near Marlborough to modernise it for 21st century living but has run into several challenges. The most recent issue came when architects found “decay” in the walls and new plans have since been submitted requesting permission to make repairs to the plasterwork. The previous proposals, which include an underground link between the 1820s country house, adjacent stables, and a proposed pool house on the estate, would have retained the plasterwork.
According to a survey carried out by architects, plasterwork on the first floor shows signs of ‘complete decay’ with ‘dry/wet rot fruiting bodies’ found inside cavities. READ MORE: Railway station overhaul plans submitted Tottenham House (Image: GL Hearn) Areas of concern have been identified in 10 of the first floor’s more than 30 rooms, hallways, and stairs. The application said: “The majority of plaster deterioration and failure in the main house has resulted from continuous water ingress.
“Water ingress has occurred in localised areas and sometimes across entire walls and has been particularly harsh where lath and plaster has been installed onto battens on external walls.” Architects added: “More significant repair and replacement works are now required in specific areas which would not fall under the scope of like for like patch repairs consented.” In 2014 the estate was sold for £11.
25 million after being in the same family for 200 years. Tottenham House was part of the Savernake Estate, which dates back to the Norman Conquest when it was a royal hunting forest. SEE ALSO: 'Different' shop opens in town centre Tottenham House (Image: SWNS) The first record of a house in the current location was when Henry VIII visited Sir John Seymour at Wolf Hall and members of the Seymour family are said to have stayed at Tottenham Lodge.
Henry VIII met Jane Seymour at Wolf Hall, marrying her in 1536. This elevated the family, and the estate was passed into the personal ownership of the Seymours in 1547. The estate passed down the female line of the Seymour family to the Bruce family, who became the Brudenell-Bruces.
They lost ownership of the house in 2014 after a legal battle with trustees. Chris Rokos was estimated to have a worth of £2.5 billion on the Sunday Times 2024 Rich List.
.
