A HISTORIC building in Castle Hill is as important to people now as it was more than 100 years ago when it was built.
Since two planning applications were submitted to Warwick District Council to turn The Wantage into apartments and its garage into a cottage, numerous people have contacted the Weekly News and commented on the district council website.
It seems the Grade II listed building has become very dear to people living in the town and they want to see its history kept alive.
It was built in 1901 by Aaron Dennison’s widow Charlotte and daughter Ethil.
Mr Dennison, now seen as the father of the American watch industry, died in 1895, after which his family moved to Kenilworth and bought the plot of land on Castle Hill.
Nobody knows where The Wantage, designed by Buckland and Farmer, got its name.
The 1901 census however records that 50-year-old Ethil G Dennison, single, born in Brooklyn and living on her own means, was the daughter of 89-year-old Charlotte F Dennison, who was head lodger, also born in Brooklyn and widowed.
The census also reports how Howard Best and his wife Loupie were visitors and that Nette Danks, aged 38, and Maralla Spollen, aged 22, were registered as servants at the house.
When her mother died, Ethil was left the house and lived there with her sister and brother-in-law, the Terrys.
She died fairly soon after her mother, but before this, Ethil set up a charitable trust at the cottage next door, number 85.
This was run until 1961 when the cottage was handed to Kenilworth Town Council.
In 1937 Richard Dickinson bought the Wantage and gained planning permission to build a garage beside the property.
Then in 1958 Alfred and Pearl Bache bought the property.
Pearl, nee Denison, had a younger brother called Keith Denison.
He married Doreen and they stayed together at The Wantage from time to time.
Doreen, who is now widowed but still lives in Kenilworth, said: “I have so many happy memories from those days as we used to have lots of parties.
“Keith and I even celebrated our wedding at the house.
“The drive was always full of cars and it makes me sad sometimes now when I walk past the house and see the drive empty.
“But it comforts me thinking back over the old days.”
Years after Alfred died, Pearl met and married Neville Spencer, who stayed living in the house long after Pearl passed away. When Neville was moved to a residential home a couple of years ago The Wantage was passed over to Pearl’s niece Alexander Farmer, who sold the property to Chris Edwards in 2009.
Elizabeth Spencer, Neville’s daughter, said: “When the Dickinson’s left, my future stepmother lived there with her first husband Alfred Bache and brother Keith, and improvements were made to the house.
“She lived there for about 40 years.
“My mother died in 1987 and two and a half years later my father married the widowed Pearl and they lived there happily for 15 years up until her death.
“He then lived there for five years on his own, before moving into the nursing home in 2008.
“The house was empty for a year and was then let for a while.
“My late stepmother was a wonderful hostess and made the house alive with people and parties.
“Anyone who has worked there had a great affection for the house and the working environment.
“I feel it would be a wonderful house for another family, who would maintain it in the manner it deserves.”
The house still has lots of original features, a servant switchboard, sach windows and pull down sinks.
The cellar and outbuilding were also once a thriving sausage business and the original casing house still stands.
In 1905 the house was featured in The Studio magazine for its uniqueness.
To comment on the planning applications which will shape the future of The Wantage, search for Kenilworth in the planning application section on Warwick District Council’s website by Tuesday.
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