A woman who has lived in the same house for 102 years has put it on the market. Nancy Gifford’s family bought the property just after the First World War, when she was two years old. The cost was £200 (around £10,000 in today’s money) and is on the market for £169,950.
The property in Street, Somerset, has three bedrooms. It was built in 1882 and was once home to a communal well that served the whole street. The original kitchen, toilet and washing areas were exposed to the elements, but these areas are now under cover. Other than a new kitchen, some uPVC windows and central heating, much of the home is unchanged other than a minimum amount of decoration.
The agent details say: “This much-loved Victorian end of terrace home enjoys three generous bedrooms, two reception rooms and offers the potential for prospective buyers to refurbish to their own requirements.”
Nancy’s son, John, still lives in Street. He said:
“When I was a youngster, there were so many lovely families that lived along the road, and we all knew each other. The times we had as children were fantastic; going across the fields, jumping over ditches, bird nesting, and swimming in the rivers, so many things children don’t do these days.
“Back in the day most children our age knew everybody, and we all had an open house, and it was fine to leave your door on the latch. We were all poor, but everyone was happy.”
Nancy met her husband while out walking, and they married in 1939, as the Second World War began. Husband, Bert, worked at the Clarks factory in Street for 42 years, where Nancy worked as a stitcher. Nancy later worked at the Morlands Sheepskin factory, famous for its slippers and the sheepskin flying jackets worn by the RAF pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain. Edmund Hillary paid tribute to the company’s boots after his successful expedition to Mount Everest.
Nancy is now selling the home due to her declining health and will move into a nursing home in nearby Glastonbury.