The ivy-covered house that's stood empty for four decades
A woman whose former home has been empty for 40 years and is covered in ivy said she hoped it could be brought back into use.
Mrs Ellen Wright, 88, of Chapel Farm, Low Street, Elston, now lives next door to the house she used to share with her late husband.
The front of the property, owned by Nottinghamshire County Council, has been consumed by ivy and undergrowth, while at the back the windows are broken.
A glimpse through a window reveals a room with paint peeling off the walls.
Mrs Wright moved into the two-bedroom house with her husband, Mr Les Wright, when she was 24 and lived there for about 20 years.
She moved next door and the house has been empty since the 1970s.
It was reported to the Advertiser in response to a story about a house on Lime Grove, Newark, that had been empty for what was believed to be up to 50 years.
Speaking about the Elston property, Mrs Wright said: “A lot of people think it’s an eyesore, but I can’t do anything about it.
“It was just an ordinary house but it’s been left for so many years it’s gone wild.
“It’s a nice house but it’s gone to rack and ruin.
“It would be nice if someone moved in.
“It’s quite a big plot and the council has been trying to sell it for a long time.
“It’s sad to see it like this as it was a lovely house.”
The site includes a barn, a lean-to and cowsheds.
The county council has owned the site since 1920. It is believed it was bought to help meet requests for smallholdings and allotments.
A spokesman said it was probably right that the house had been empty for up to 40 years because the smallholding tenant had a new farmhouse built.
“The tenant is still farming the land and we are only selling the farmhouse and farmyard,” the spokesman said.
There is planning permission to refurbish the house and add three two-storey houses with attached garages on the site.
The farm buildings at the back would be demolished.
The county council tried, but failed, to sell the house at auction in November, 2013, and is appointing an estate agent to sell it.
It will be on the market again within the next few weeks.
