Pop star Florence Welch forced to halt revamp plans on £1.9million estate after builders unearth SKELETONS
FLORENCE Welch’s renovation plans on her £1.9million country estate have unearthed another problem - medieval skeletons.
The Dog Days Are Over singer bought the sprawling estate in Somerset four years ago but has still not moved in after a series of setbacks.
Her plans to re-unify four buildings which have been separate since the 1940s have been approved by the local council.
But an archaeological report says groundwork on the 12th century estate could dig-up ancient human skeletons, as well as medieval artefacts.
A source close to the project said: “Florence has owned three of the buildings and the estate for four years and is fascinated with medieval history and the history of her new home in particular.
“She knew the fourth might be coming up for sale so when she was able to buy it in 2023 she snapped it up.
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“It enables her to work towards her dream of living in an ancient, gothic-style building and enjoying time away from London.”
A 22-page archaeology report submitted to Somerset Council by John Moore Heritage Services says ‘there is clear potential for archaeological remains dating to the medieval period’.”
It adds: “If human remains are encountered and have to be removed, they will be cleaned, recorded and lifted in accordance with a Ministry of Justice licence.
“Exhumation and post-excavation treatment will be carried out in accordance with published …All associated deposits, e.g. pyre sites, mausolea and mortuary enclosures, will also be fully investigated and excavated.”
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An agreement has been made with Florence, of Indie band Florence and the Machine, that she will give any historical artefacts to the Somerset Museums Service.
The Grade II listed pile boasts walled landscaped gardens and a touch of history.
The property has over fifty rooms across three floors and a swimming pool.
Florence, 38, has had a lifelong fascination with historical buildings.
She told Vogue magazine in 2011: “I really want a gothic castle, or a church, but I haven’t had time because I’ve only been home for two weeks in the last year.”
The bohemian singer is known for her spirituality, which should come in handy with the rumoured resident ghost.
The buildings, near the trendy celebrity heavy town of Frome and posh members club Babbington House, are believed to be haunted by a lady in grey.
Local folklore says the ghoulish figure was first seen in the 1970s.
Raised a Catholic, the songwriter describes herself as agnostic, meaning she believes nothing can be known about the existence of any god.
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Her lyrics often centre around the supernatural, the occult, witchcraft, pagan practices, and Wiccan traditions, who use magic to honour the elements and cycles of nature.
The Sun has contacted reps for Florence for comment.
Lewis Capaldi sees cost of revamping ‘money pit’ mansion soar over £1million
By Kevin Duguid
LEWIS Capaldi has seen the cost of revamping his “money pit” mansion soar to more than £1million.
The rising bill is on top of
We told how he is due to splash £738,000 on
And paperwork submitted to planning chiefs has now revealed work on is valued at £360,000.
That means a total for improvements of almost £1.1million.
But the final tab could be even higher after the Someone You Loved star put in proposals in March to at the ten-acre estate.
A source said last night: “At this rate he’ll have spent more doing it up than he paid for it.
“He’s making the place his own and it should be a good investment in the long run.”
Details of the latest costs emerged in a building standards warrant for the garage submitted to East Council.
Lewis got permission to build it last year but needs the warrant to be approved before work can begin.
He snapped up the rural property after.
