21st Century Living in a 1760 Frame
So the BBC has filmed and the Echo has written, they say it’s a first for the region, so it’s now our time for us to deliver.
The mere modern day mention of inner-city living and thoughts turn immediately to buy-to-let’s and tenants but that’s most definitely not what Lears Residence is about. We’re about professionals, high-spec SMART apartments, wonderful views of High Row and super-convenient living. Darlington Council has taken great interest in the project, senior executives have shared their strategy of professional living being the backbone of the new town centre plan and their tagging of Lears Residence as the 'Guinea Pig’ in attracting professionals back into the heart of the town centre.
The key word used here is ‘back’. In 1760, Devonian John Lear built 4-5 Horsemarket right on the Marketplace for both his ironmongery shop and family home. The ground floor accommodated the hardware store selling skillets, nails, traps and spittoons, but the Lears lived ‘above shop’, with the first and second floors of DL1 5PW providing professional accommodation for a leading businessman of the town. Just seven years later Edward Pease, the Father of the Railways, would be born next-door-but-one.
The Darlington literary society was born in the building as John Lear and his decedents operated in professional circles at the highest of levels. Professioanl living right in the heart of town was flourishing. That’s what we’re about, that’s what drives us forward, the return of this inner-city professional living.
It has already been a journey. Lots of hurdles from planning to building control to conservation, and, oh the joy of finance and legals. Four different conservation officers to have to reach fresh agreement with, perhaps it's us seeing them all off. With each incumbent comes differing wants for the Grade II listed building - some changes costing us dearly. An additional ￡20k of window restoration and replacement budget suddenly had to be found, roofing work the same as each council officer rode roughshod over previous agreements and demanded more. It has not been easy.
But now the apartments are coming, each truly unique with the 1760 footprint forging wall angle and floor levels the run-of-the-mill 'four square walls and magnolia paint boys' simply couldn’t comprehend. Apartment nomenclature also carries a bit of local history,
PALPHRAMAND celebrates Darlington’s original brush-maker, who worked from the building. SOVEREIGN VIEW has the 1913 visit to the town of King George and Queen Mary to thank for its new moniker, their majesties enjoyed a right royal welcome from Darlo townsfolk right outside.
We’ve found a few things too, a box of old glass bottles, an original Union light bulb in its original wrapping, the customary Players fag packet under the floorboards and the roof structure carpentry a pure joy to behold when revealed. Hand carved wooden pegs hold timber things together, a far different level of craftsmanship to the modern day.
The first Show Flat is ready, a 1-bed with original Georgian sash windows all framed with original internal shuttering. A second, a 2-bed beauty is a just week away. Seven days more graft on the former office entrance should see the doors open to welcome the public. There's already a list of potential buyers forming.
Perhaps a blog is the best way to update progress, to report too the many twists and turns (perhaps slings and arrows) we’re undoubtedly still to experience. You know, just as you drift off for a night's sleep thinking all troubled waters are now settled, you wake to see more waves coming your way. I'll stick the journey on the 'soon-to-be-launched' website - www.rdbmdevelopments.co.uk - it's still beta if you look now (3 Sept 2020) - I guarantee it'll make no sense until next week.
Perhaps you too will enjoy the remainder of the journey with us, hey, I might even bump into one or two reading this soon when taking a walk round the region’s first. Who knows, perhaps the BBC will come back.
Dave Roberts