Lydgate House to get revamp

Scene of the collapse, which killed a woman

A LISTED building which partially collapsed, killing a pensioner as she slept, is to be restored.

Lydgate House was built between 1789 and 1812, and had an associated smithy, but had become dilapidated by 1998 when the main house roof fell in, killing Sally Jackson (76).

Now there are plans to rebuild the sprawling house and smithy into two new homes with basement garages, a shared drive and new access.

Some outbuildings will be knocked down, a garden area created and new stone walls will be built around the property, which is in the Green Belt.

The plans go to Oldham Planning Committee on Wednesday.

Planners are recommending it goes ahead and say the main house, which is a grade II listed building, is in desperate need of redevelopment to secure its future.

The buildings are in the Lydgate Conservation Area, and the main building was once a grocer’s premises.

A large brick building at the back was last used as a smithy.

Miss Jackson died in September, 1998 when the flagstone roof collapsed into her bedroom at the three-storey stone house.

Her brother Jim, who lived in adjoining part of the house, survived but firemen had to use fibre optic cameras to locate Miss Jackson’s body.