Abode Insurance

Old buildings may not be everyone’s “cup of tea”, but have you ever considered that these buildings are dripping in history, weaving a tale of the past and a lifetime we can only ever wonder about and never actually live? As a child, I remember my Nan taking my sister (Hayley Rushbrook) and I on trips to visit aged locations and these moments are precious memories that I will forever treasure. As young girls, we’d hear of fabricated stories told by her of Princesses walking through the corridors of Rochester Castle, or how Charles Dickens roamed the nearby village, and we’d be in awe that these locations existed before we were even born (oh how our small, undeveloped brains used to work; that we'd think the world began only when we existed). It was utterly magical. Fast forward to my 30’s and these buildings still attract my attention, and I never once thought I’d ever have worked in an industry where listed buildings were the primary focus, which is a delight on a daily basis when talking to customers. Just recently, while attending a family birthday, I was lucky enough to visit Hall Place in Bexley, Kent. Dating back to 1537, this Grade 1 listed building is utterly stunning, surrounded by vast grounds, well-kept gardens and a peaceful environment despite its location close to the A2 dual carriageway. The grounds now hold a café, butterfly garden, a restaurant and miniature railway operated during Spring and Summer. My partner (Jamie Allen) and I enquired about hiring the venue for our wedding and was met with an eye watering estimate, and while it ultimately meant we had to rule them out as an option, it’s a completely justified cost when you consider the maintenance and upkeep expenses on these buildings, wear and tear from use/footfall and the natural overheads for staff, heating, lighting etc. Having nearly 5 centuries of history, in its time, Hall Place has been used as a residential property, a school for young boys and an Intercept Station for the U.S Army. Today, it hosts school visits (self-led, tour guided and taught sessions), offers venue hire, hosts exhibitions, provides guided tours and even allows filming and photography. Hall Place is certainly worth a visit if you are ever in the South East of England. Our visits, donations, paid entry etc to the types of locations helps keep England’s history alive and enriches our knowledge of our past. Website: https://lnkd.in/ehnDnJNx Although Abode Insurance primarily focus on residential properties, our experts in our Commercial division can assist with insurance on buildings such as this. If you know anyone who owns a listed location, feel free to reach out to me on 01622 350799. We'd be happy to talk to you. . . . . . #listedbuildings #listedlocations #propertieswithhistory #englandshistory #propertieswithistory #ourhistory #englishhistoricbuildings #historicbuildings #agedbuildings #periodbuildings #grade1listed Abode Insurance Howden, the new name for Aston Lark

Good feedback is always welcome, especially when you have truly impacted a client 💜 if anyone needs assistance with home insurance, or has a client struggling to sort insurance for a listed property, please do get in touch 🏡 Abode Insurance