Bev's 300 year old house when she first bought it
Yes that title can be read a number of ways. But what I am writing about is this amazing woman Bev Lewis that I met when I was in Blackpool. Bev owns a 300 year old thatch cottage that Lee, master plasterer, is doing the lime work on. He took me to her house to show me his work and the building knowing that I would be interested in it because of my house project. In the process I met Bev.
The house on fire
Bev bought the house 4 years ago. Since then she has been through so much. Her story, unique to her however, is still similar to mine. Ultimately in the end, what you have, are two women, who through various circumstances are left building and restoring houses on their own. Digging deep into their ingenuity and resources, we plough the way for capable women.
The damage after the fire
About 2 years ago, it might be three, Bev’s house suffered severe damage from a fire due to aging brickwork in the chimney – unbeknownst to her. Her and her three children and then husband were left homeless. Finally after much battle with the insurance, she was able to move forward to fix this grade II listed building. However, in the process of restoring it to its historical condition, she uncovered many other things that had to be fixed. Such a challenge. Such a drain on finances, energy and personal resources.
Reparations reveal many other problems that need attention
Bev and I had such a good conversation because we were totally able to understand each other and that utter exhaustion you feel after fighting on your own to finish a house relying on mostly your own finances and labour. In the end you are absolutely drained, you have nothing to give, financially, emotionally, physically. It is actually though an amazing story and really does add fodder to my book, about my building experience which I have to start writing.
The life of construction - time, money, labour and stress
I don’t always think that meetings are circumstance. I think we meet people in our lives for a reason. As such Bev has given me more to write about and is another woman whose story parallel’s my own.
Light at the end of the tunnel, the house is almost back to being complete
People often said to me as I was building that they had never known a woman build a house all by herself (although I do know a number of women). And yet here is another woman who has overcome the odds but still experienced many of the same things that are unique to being a women in this situation.
Beauty rediscovered - hard work pays off
It really does add to the book, The Reality of Natural House Building. Stay tuned for what will happen with that.
Thank you Sara for a lovely write up. Hope you get your bucket filled up, and your balance restored and then when the timing is right, write your book!!! I’ll buy it!
Cool – well you will know since you will be part of it