Our House: Home that’s a classier version of Steptoe’s

Feb 9 2010 By Emma Davison

YOU just have to clap eyes on the authentic Bavarian cape draped around the shoulders of John Whitworth to know that a home of his would be pretty unique.

The 64-year-old actor turned costumier is as flamboyant in his choice of housing as he is his clothing, so it is no surprise to find that more than a little of his quirky lifestyle has rubbed off on the Longwood home he built 12 years ago.

Like his costume business, the property is a virtual Aladdin’s cave, full of an eclectic mix of items hoarded through the years from stuffed animals to the Victorian carriage parked in the stable block.

The land at Longwood Edge originally formed part of the old village quarry until John bought it 30 years ago. Stables were built there 100 years ago with more outbuildings added to it over time.

All manner of livestock lived on the premises, earning the smallholding the nickname The Piggeries which remains the name of the property today.

The buildings later fell into disrepair and when John purchased the land, all that remained were a few crumbled walls strewn with weeds.

Undeterred, he set about having his home built there on the same footprint as the buildings and incorporating the original walls into the fabric of the house.

John says: “It took a long time. I wanted to build it within the character of what it used to be like as a smallholding and people do describe it as looking like a farmer’s ranch.

“There were just a few bricks of the outbuildings left and these were cleaned up and formed part of the build – so when you are in the bathroom you are actually where the pigsty once stood!”

He added: “I built another house on the land, called Quarry House, using some original features from the site which, I believe, was one of the biggest quarries in Europe.

“I used a lot of reclaimed beams from the old mills and I’ve done the same thing with my home.

“On the balcony, which has the most fantastic views and seats over 60 people, there’s still the anchor point which held down the horse working with the cranes.”

Just as John kept the original footprint, the group of stables were rebuilt, today acting as storage for all manner of objects including the striking Victorian carriage hired out for weddings.

The outside currently plays home to a menagerie of animals including Shetland ponies and a rescued squirrel and this first surreal impression sets the tone for the many surprises revealed as you wind your way through the warren-like property.

John is proud of the covered courtyard which, like the rest of the elevated property, has stunning views across to Castle Hill and beyond.

The indoor outhouse is filled with tables and chairs and played host to several charity barbecues where visitors were amazed to see candelabras, puppets and even a ship’s bell hanging overhead.

The bold, theatrical style of the property very much reflects John’s vivacious personality.