Tudor-style house being restored

Press, 7 May 1983, Page 4

Tudor-style house being restored

Soft floodlights will soon illuminate this refurbished Tudor-style house, formerly the premises of Eric Sides Motors, Ltd, from Oxford Terrace. The building was bought in March, 1981, by an insurance broker and property developer, Mr G. A. Scrimshaw, who has since spent “a considerable sum

of money” restoring it to its former elegance. Mr Scrimshaw has divided the second floor into two offices, one of which he uses himself. The other is not yet occupied, but a tenant has been found. An "up-market” restaurant to be called Tiffany’s, after Mr Scrimshaw’s three-year-old daughter, and a

medical centre will be established at ground level. The decor of the restaurant will repeat the Tudor theme with heavy beams in the ceiling, candelabra, small private dining booths, and a grape-and-grey colour scheme. . Scheduled to open early next year, it will offer English and French food and will seat 50 people or 75 for private functions. The house, which is about 100 years old, was originally the home of Dr F. G. Westen, a registrar at the Christchurch Hospital. His daughter, now aged 85,

visited the site recently, < introduced herself to Mr 1 Scrimshaw, and inspected 1 her childhood bedroom. 1 Mr Scrimshaw said that ] of the many buildings that he might have bought, this one offered the greatest challenge. When he first ' took possession it was in a . dilapidated state, the plaster having fallen off in many places and several of the roof tiles needing replacement. Care has been taken to ensure that the details of the restoration are accurate. Mr Scrimshaw has searched libraries for refer-

ence books and scouted about for tradesmen to make plaster mouldings for the ceilings and furniture in period style. Brass catches have been fitted on the windows and cornices to replace the originals, many of which had been stripped. Upstairs a soft grey carpet has been laid to complement the white walls, dark wood furniture, and burgundy drapes. A cobbled drive surrounds the building and plans are to soften the exterior by planting geraniums in window-boxes.