VIDEO Ruined mansion near Northampton step nearer to being restored

The Grade II building has fallen into ruin and Daventry District Council has on several occasions resolved to persuade the church to renovate it to no avail.

But a report to councillors reveals that a deal is on the table that would not only see the project advance, but see the local authority put up less money.

Council officer Wendy Thompson said: “A position has now been attained whereby the goal of restoration appears to be in reach.

“The council can also move from a situation where it may have needed to expend significant sums to lead on the project to one where, whilst the Council’s continued positive engagement will be essential, the likelihood of it needing to be the prime mover has reduced.”

It means the capital budget of £750,000 for Overstone Hall

restoration is reduced to £225,000 (£113,000 in 2017/18 and £112,000 in 2018/19).

Overstone Hall was constructed in 1866 for the first Lord Overstone and is grade II listed.

It has had a range of uses including as a girl’s school.

However, the building was badly damaged by fire in 2001 and was left largely uninhabitable.

The building is currently owned by The New Testament Church of

God (NTCG) who, until the fire, used the building as their national headquarters.

After the fire the NTCG initially continued to use an undamaged wing but have since relocated to a new site in Northampton.

That now vacant part of the building has also since been vandalised.

One wing of the building was in use as social housing, but this too has closed, due to the unsuitable conditions it offered, and been heavily vandalised.