quis eum fucius custodiebat?-
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    Claremont House/Hepworth Refractory, Loxley

    Claremont House is a large, stone built former dwelling and outbuildings, standing in grounds of approximately 1.4 hectares off Storrs Bridge Lane. The building was last used as a social club for employees of the nearby Hepworths Refractories, but has been vacant for many years.

    IMG_0078 by Room 1834IMG_0077 by Room 1834IMG_0071 by Room 1834IMG_0068 by Room 1834IMG_0066 by Room 1834
    IMG_0065 by Room 1834IMG_0063 by Room 1834IMG_0060 by Room 1834IMG_0059 by Room 1834IMG_0057 by Room 1834
    IMG_0055 by Room 1834IMG_0050 by Room 1834IMG_0044 by Room 1834IMG_0042 by Room 1834IMG_0037 by Room 1834
    IMG_0030 by Room 1834IMG_0019 by Room 1834IMG_0017 by Room 1834IMG_0013 by Room 1834IMG_0010 by Room 1834
    IMG_0009 by Room 1834IMGP0123 by Room 1834IMGP0121 by Room 1834IMGP0120 by Room 1834IMGP0110 by Room 1834
    IMGP0099 by Room 1834IMGP0094 by Room 1834IMGP0092 by Room 1834IMGP0090 by Room 1834IMGP0086 by Room 1834
    IMGP0081 by Room 1834IMGP0080 by Room 1834IMGP0078 by Room 1834IMGP0076 by Room 1834IMGP0071 by Room 1834
    IMGP0067 by Room 1834IMGP0062 by Room 1834IMGP0051 by Room 1834IMGP0048 by Room 1834IMGP0046 by Room 1834

    It was built in 1895 for the Swift family, and later owned by the Marshall family. Some of the outbuildings are in a derelict condition. The grounds, including a former car park and tennis court, have become overgrown and a substantial number of self-set trees and shrubs have colonised the site. The site has reverted to a semi-natural state, although some minor fly tipping has occurred. And the near Hepworth Refractory, Loxley was amongst other things a manufacturer of heat resistant bricks , metals and glass. Today the site is abandoned and awaiting construction by Bovis

    Hepworth refractory used to manufacture clay products until it closed in the mid 90s. Some of the surrounding buildings are still used, and the area is popular with walkers. There is also a security cabin at one end. We didn't get around all of it, there's still a lot more to see. In some places there are even two sets of builder's fences, one around the perimiter and another attached to the building walls. All of them have Bovis homes signs attached, though there is no sign of building work yet.

    The Hepworth Refractories site, in the beautiful Loxley valley, has been purchased by Bovis Homes for re-development. At the time of the photographs the old and dilapidated buildings on the site have been fenced off securely. It was sad to see this once busy, noisy and productive site 'looking worse for wear' and 'awaiting its fate' ... still that's progress and the Bovis Plans do show that they will try and save, and even enhance, some of the historical features of the site