£1.2m Lottery grant saves Gladstone home

The former home of prime minister William Gladstone is to be saved from demolition thanks to lottery cash.

Dollis Hill House in Brent has been awarded £1.2 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore it to its former glory.

The building is a Grade IIlisted Regency villa which was visited by Mark Twain. When he stayed there in 1900, he said he had "never seen any place that was so satisfactorily situated, with its noble trees and stretch of country, and everything that went to make life delightful, and all within a biscuit's throw of the metropolis of the world". During the 20th century it was used by the local community as a tearoom and restaurant then a catering college.

But it fell into disrepair after closure in 1989 and was on the heritage "at risk" register following several arson attacks.

The HLF grant kickstarts a restoration plan which has been devised with Brent council, the Dollis Hill House Trust and Training for Life, a social enterprise charity. The aim is to return it to its use as a tearoom and restaurant.

Trust chairwoman Gill Close said she was "absolutely thrilled" it would be brought back to life.