Smithills: Concerns raised over condition of Ivy Cottage

Residents near to Ivy Cottage in Smithills are concerned at the state the building is in, with a caved-in roof and walls that have been damaged through vandalism

The formerly picturesque cottage, on Cunliffe Brow, off Ivy Road, which has stood for 500 years, was one of the places Oliver Cromwell's troops were billeted during the English Civil War. 

Now however, the building stands derelict, having been the target of vandalism since  2014, and Bolton Council say they have engaged with the owners of the property and are involving legal services. 

Residents have raised concerns about the safety of any people who go near it.

They say youths are 'progressively demolishing' internal support walls to the point where the roof collapsed. 

The exterior of the building (Image: Public)

A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: “We have been working with the police and fire service and responded to several concerns and complaints about the property due to it being dangerous and representing a concern to the public.

“This was most recently a couple of weeks ago, when youths accessing the property had been progressively demolishing some of the internal supporting walls. This unfortunately caused the roof to collapse as well as sections of external walls.

“We have been engaging with residents in the area, as well as local elected members on various occasions.

“We have also engaged with the owner, served Notice on them, and we are liaising with our Legal Services." 

The council "serving notice" refers to them identifying a risk to the structure or access to the building which makes it unsafe. 

The owner then has to comply and make the building safe, or the council can intervene.

Further notices can then be served for immediate demolition if it is urgent. 

The spokesperson continued: “Following the last incident, we arranged to have the pathways around the property closed off to safeguard the residents and members of the public who may have tried to gain access.

The derelict cottage (Image: Public)

“We continue to monitor the property and have also communicated with community groups and our Civil Contingency Team, so they are aware of the situation." 

One resident, who did not want to be named, said the cottage has been an issue for the entire 10 years he has lived nearby.

He said: "There are lots of issues with this property, it is becoming a bad problem for me and the neighbours. It has been a lot of hassle.

"In the last four weeks we have had the fire brigade up here 10 times, they even came three times in a week. We have also had police up here.

The 500-year-old cottage once held Oliver Cromwell's troops (Image: Public)

"There are kids in it every day, it is the school holidays now.

"It is just the condition of it and the kids are playing inside. One of the main parts of the roof is collapsed. One of the other walls is collapsed." 

He continued: "The integrity of the building is in danger. The kids don't realise the danger they're in.

"You can see it, with the kids going in and lighting fires, it is horrendous.

Cottage (Image: Public)

"I have been complaining about this for 10 years. One neighbour has been complaining for 15 years.

"But in the past six months, the kids have knocked the hell out of it. My end goal is to stop a child being killed." 

The resident added: "How someone has not been hurt is miracle. It is a problem house, I have lived next to it for 10 years. 

"Kids have been there every summer, but now it is getting too dangerous, it is highly dangerous, and no one seems to be doing anything. 

"If that chimney stack comes down, that is tons of bricks. If it goes and a kid is there..."