Jenny Warwick writes............
When I first moved to Rhos Farm, my priority was the house as it needed a great deal of T.L.C. I added and improved things as I felt was right for the house. For example; all internal doors, skirtings, window sills, windows, ceilings etc. I asked the builders to make them all the same as original. When they took out a 'falling apart' window seat from the dining room, they noticed that Billy had written a message to whoever had put it in for him! (Now a treasured possession - yes - a lump of wood!) I also had one of the bedrooms changed to a bathroom and one of the two downstairs bathrooms taken out. Once all the work was completed, some nine to ten months later, which included a new central heating system, I painted it throughout.
The garden was even more of a challenge. The previous owner had told me that she didn't like gardening, so little had been done. My first test was to remove four and a half years of contents from her
stables which had become a 'feature' in the front. A digger and dumper was hired for seven days which was also used to dig out Billy's pond which hed been allowed to grow over.
Every year since, an area of the garden has become a project and lots of hard work but all worth it. The pond has been enlarged and has been home to several ducks during the past two years. In another area
I have planted several fruit trees to begin an orchard. Last year's project was to level and seed the 'manage' which had been used by the previous owner's horse and to remove all fencing to incorporate it into the garden.
During the years that Billy lived here, he built a bird watching tower in the back garden, comprising of three floors, wooden slatted windows and a water tank on the top floor. No work had been carried out on it for over twenty years so again, it needed much T.L.C.
The project cost much more than I bargained for and the builders advised a bulldozer! They don't understand do they? New roof, new windows, new door, floor, steps and a coat of paint inside and out has now created my beautiful tower housing a hot tub on the top floor!!
The house itself had a facelift last summer as my final project was put into action after waiting for two years to be slotted into the builder's schedule. Billy, (with a little help from his friends) had built a single storey extension on the house which became the kitchen, I had a bedroom built above which I now occupy.
The garden..........all projects are now completed with most areas laid to lawn which now requires much planting to include a special flower bed for my 'Billy Fury' rose.
Recently, a man arrived carrying two aerial photographs taken of the farm in 1969. I already have one taken a year or so after moving here so I can now see how it was just before Billy moved here. There were several more farm buildings on the other side of the barn which no longer exist. Only one now remains which the strong winds this week have tried desperately to rip apart and several sheets of corrugated iron are now clinging on for their life!
In the photo of the 'before' house' you will notice the rockery garden in the front. Note this no longer exists as during April 2004 Vic England helped me dig it all out and lay a patio. I wanted to return the area to patio as it had been during Billy's time here. (For those of you who have viewed the video footage of him being interviewed here, you will have seen it). However, when I went to the garden centre to purchase the paving slabs, they did not have quite enough so I bought the remaining amount in a pink colour. Whilst Vic was slaving away, I came inside to have a coffee and try and work out some kind of pattern so it would look intentional that I had two different colour slabs. I messed around for a while with borders etc. and then a thought came into my mind.....................
how many slabs would it take to spell out BILLY. Without the aid of a calculator but more coffee, I worked it out to be 36 slabs. How many had I bought........................36. I asked Vic to check my calculations and he agreed. So, the pink slabs were laid to spell BILLY accross the patio. Many visitors do not notice unless I point it out to them as it takes up the full width but if another aerial photo were taken!
"In June 2007 work began on the renovation of the barn. Jean Wycherley told me that Billy had plans to convert the barn into a recording studio, which would have been wonderful. However, my plans were to create a home for my mother, who's deteriorating mental health was becoming a problem as she was beginning to need care. The sale of her bungalow in the village provided the funding for this enormous project which took two years to complete. My mother's apartment was completed first although she had lived both with me and in a residential home during the building where she informed everyone that she was "going to live in a barn". I am sure she pictured straw on the floors, but once it was completed, she loved it and it has proved to be the perfect solution for us both. She has her independence but is only a few steps away. The barn was didvided into two halves which had to be retained as building regulations now are very restrictive. Barn conversions must retain much of the original features and the insulation regulations are so that many layers of insulation under the floor, walls and roof ensure Mum and all guests are kept very warm! The adjoining half of the barn is now providing guest accomodation for visitors, some Billy fans and many that are not seem to love finding out all about him, asking me many questions whilst here. If you wish to stay in the barn, please write in to the fan club and I'll send a leaflet or go to my website
Jenny has now built a Billy Fury museum on site which houses many photos, song sheets, newspaper articles,records and keepsakes please see link on News page.
