LANSDOWNE – PORT STREET EVESHAM
THE fine white house opposite St Peter’s Church, Port Street, Evesham which is converted
into flats, is one of six quality houses built around 1830 for wealthy burgesses of the Borough
of Evesham.
Avonbridge House at the entrance to the park Hillcrest, Broadway Road, again converted into flats, Greenhill House, previously the old Prince Henry’s Grammar School and the former private Greenhill School, now converted into a number of houses.
All these houses are listed properties within the town.
Cotswold House, previously the home of the Goodall family was demolished with the adjoining garage to allow housing development and the offices of Rooftop
For many years, Lansdowne was the home of the Burlingham family and the small estate included Allardene, properties in Church Street and the land occupied by the Lidl Store.
When the Burlingham family moved in, they extended the house with a fine drawing room to the south, built to match the existing double fronted property.
Following the death of Mary Burlingham, Evesham Rural District Council acquired the property, moving up from the Union Building in Port Street.
At this time no alterations were made to any of the rooms to maintain the quality and standard of the building
Unfortunately after local government re-organisation, the property fell into disuse and was eventually sold to a Sicilian property company, converted into flats, and at a later stage into a
small housing estate in the gardens.
Many fine shrubs and trees were associated with the house, but these have now been removed over the years.
The house must have been one of the first properties to have mains water supply and flush toilets.
Soon after this a sewer was constructed in Port Street and still forms the main system of dealing with foul and surface water for the parish of Bengeworth which is rapidly increasing in population and housing density.
During the last War the basement of Lansdowne was fitted out to become the emergency hub Gentle for the Fire Brigade and later for the Civil Defence.
James T Powell
Environmental Health Safety and Building Consultant
