Ford House, Prestbury
2008
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From the church tower, 1880 |
From the roadside, April 2008 |
Ford House is across the road from the Bridge Hotel, at the north-eastern end of the village street. Although not a listed building, it has a pleasing appearance and is an important component of the Conservation Area.
The predecessor of Ford House was a 16th or early 17th century cottage whose occupier may have had duties relating to the ford across the River Bollin. In 1850 it was an inn, the Roebuck. It was rebuilt and extended during the 19th and 20th centuries to become a private house. In 1964 it was acquired by the Church and in about 1980 a single storey extension was added for use by the Youth Club.
Ford House has three meeting rooms, two store rooms, two kitchens and a coffee bar on the ground floor and a large meeting room for the Youth Club. On the first floor are seven offices, a store room and a “studio” large enough for occupancy by 50 persons.
It has a lawned garden area and a large tarmacadamed car park with mature trees.
For over forty years Ford House has been used for church offices, choir rehearsals, PCC meetings, coffee mornings, study groups and meetings of church organisations as well as for a number of community activities such as adult education classes, keep-fit classes, children’s ballet classes and the Youth Club. At various times small businesses have used it for commercial purposes. The car park has been an invaluable supplement to the public parking in the village.
Regrettably, Ford House is not in a good state of repair. The roof in particular is in a dangerous state. Moreover it does not meet every requirement of a growing Church. At the beginning of 2007 the Parochial Church Council (PCC) decided that it should be sold with a view to using the proceeds to provide more suitable facilities – but without dedicated parking – on the church side of the road.
Ford House was closed in May 2007. It is now disused.