Ford House, Prestbury
2009
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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 used to have a pleasing appearance and was 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. During the 19th and 20th centuries it was
rebuilt and extended as a private house. Until his death on
In 1964 Ford House was acquired by the Church and in
about 1980 a single storey extension was added for use by the Youth Club. Ford
House had three meeting rooms, two store rooms, two kitchens and a coffee bar
on the ground floor and the large meeting room for the Youth Club. On the first
floor were seven offices, a store room and a “studio” large enough for
occupancy by 50 persons.
It had a lawned garden area and a large
tarmacadamed car
park with mature trees.
For over forty years Ford House was 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 had used it for
commercial purposes. The car park was an invaluable supplement to the public
parking in the village.
Regrettably, Ford House had been allowed to fall into
disrepair. The roof in particular was in a dangerous state. As it could no longer meet the requirements of a growing
Church, the
Parochial Church Council (PCC) decided at the beginning of 2007 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. A purchaser had
agreed to buy it, but the sale fell through in February 2009. Ford House is now
disused.