We went along to a meeting last night in Freshwater where the future use of Weston Manor was being discussed.
There’s a fair bit to report from it, which we’ll pick up later in the week, but the biggest surprise of the evening was delivered by a Mrs Robertson.
She stood and explained to those assembled that she was a descendant of the Ward Family (who own Weston Manor, Northwood House and property at St Helens) and that Weston Manor was owned by her alone.
Prior to this, it was widely believed that the Manor was owned by the Ward Trust.
Speaking with emotion, she was “disappointed that the Real World Trust had decided not to utilise the building,” explaining later that she “would love for it to have a social usage.”
Mrs Robertson explained that it was “an enormous building and too much to take on.”
Given this, she had “made the decision to place the property on the market tomorrow.”
She now lives in Sussex with her farmer husband, but still return to the Island “to spend summer in St Helens.”
The Ward family connection to the Island is extensive, as Mrs Robertson explained “My family has done the best to provide employment to Totland over 150 years.”
We understand that the Real World Trust signed a 25 year lease on the property, so quite where that lies in the future is unclear. Real World Trust were going to sign a 25-year lease, but didn’t in the end.
[image of Weston Manor courtesy of Urry Homes and Manors]
