Heritage group's call to save Shropshire Manor House

The Manor House in Cleobury Mortimer has been described as a bit of an eyesore on the High Street

A campaign has been launched to save and restore a disused 18th Century manor house.

The Manor House, on High Street, in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire, used to be a care home but closed in 2012.

A pressure group has suggested the building could be restored and used as museum or as premises for a hospitality organisation.

Shropshire Council said it was aware of residents' concerns and the Save The Manor House group.

Nigel Reid, from the campaign group, said the Georgian property had started to decay and had become "a bit of an eyesore" in the middle of the high street.

"At the moment the paintwork at the front of the building is in a very bad state," he added.

"We would like the owner ideally to sell the building on to somebody who would develop it and turn it into a really nice property again."

The Save The Manor House group, which has 175 members, has been campaigning to have the building inspected to check if it has been maintained.

'Beautiful property'

Mr Reid said he hoped the local authority would request access to the property to evaluate any damage.

He was concerned it may have been damaged when a water tank flooded the building, including a "very grand oak staircase."

"Ideally we'd like to see it restored to its natural grandeur, because it's a beautiful property with quite a lot of ground behind it," he told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"We don't know what the status of the interior of the building is at the moment."

Councillor Chris Schofield, Cabinet member for planning and regulatory services said: "The Historic Environment team is monitoring the situation, and the building remains wind and weathertight, therefore, the council does not consider there is a case for formal enforce action at the present time.

"We are in contact with the owner, who has plans for the building, which they have not yet had an opportunity to progress for personal reasons, and they have addressed concerns we have raised with them previously."