Triscombe House, Nr Taunton, Somerset
Triscombe House, lying on the edge of the beautiful Quantock hills in Somerset, was built by Mr Francis Henry Cheetham in the late 1800s. His daughter, Emily Beatrix Cheetham later lived in the house with her second husband, the artist H B Wimbush. H B Wimbush died in 1943 and his wife lived on in the house until her death in the 1950s, aged 81. She had been a popular Master of the Quantock Staghounds for over 20 years.
Will do more research on ownership since 1950s!
Having been recently sold, the house was left empty and on the night of 1st April 2002 it caught fire. The blaze could be seen for miles around and 80 firefighters were called to attend the blaze. At its height 30 foot flames leapt into the air. A mile of hose had to be laid to pump water from the nearby quarry as supplies ran low. It is believed that the fire started in the basement.
The house is now a gutted shell. Bulbs are sprouting in the garden and a magnolia, once climbing the front of the house, leans away from the walls miraculously undamaged. The greenhouse is still home to pots of shrivelled plants and pieces of old furniture and garden equipment can be found in the outhouses.
Will do more research on ownership since 1950s!
Having been recently sold, the house was left empty and on the night of 1st April 2002 it caught fire. The blaze could be seen for miles around and 80 firefighters were called to attend the blaze. At its height 30 foot flames leapt into the air. A mile of hose had to be laid to pump water from the nearby quarry as supplies ran low. It is believed that the fire started in the basement.
The house is now a gutted shell. Bulbs are sprouting in the garden and a magnolia, once climbing the front of the house, leans away from the walls miraculously undamaged. The greenhouse is still home to pots of shrivelled plants and pieces of old furniture and garden equipment can be found in the outhouses.
Poor Triscombe House appears abandoned at the moment but I'm sure someone will return to rebuilt it as the elegant country home it once was. It is such a striking wreck at the moment that it has to be added to Ruinhunter.co.uk. Approaching it was easy from a nearby lane and a garden gate from the park into the back yard had been lifted of its hinges by other “explorers”. Warning signs “Keep Out Dangerous Structure”
were everywhere but nothing more threatening. The chipboard nailed over all the downstairs doors and windows had been prized off a door leading into a back hall and kitchen. The floor was missing from the hall but the parquet flooring of the kitchen was intact, if charred. I did not venture in this time because I was alone and it was obviously dangerous I would have needed to leap across a gaping hole in the floor to get inside as it was. Most of the first floor had fallen in and only the side hallway and rooms appeared to be undamaged. The fire must certainly have raged unabated for a long time. The rebuild on this house will be a huge job but hopefully somebody will take it on.
were everywhere but nothing more threatening. The chipboard nailed over all the downstairs doors and windows had been prized off a door leading into a back hall and kitchen. The floor was missing from the hall but the parquet flooring of the kitchen was intact, if charred. I did not venture in this time because I was alone and it was obviously dangerous I would have needed to leap across a gaping hole in the floor to get inside as it was. Most of the first floor had fallen in and only the side hallway and rooms appeared to be undamaged. The fire must certainly have raged unabated for a long time. The rebuild on this house will be a huge job but hopefully somebody will take it on.
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