Mayor adds the finishing stone
It was celebration time as the town’s mayor completed the work which has put the original facade back in place.
The old building, on West Coker Road, was demolished last year, but has been totally rebuilt and is now nearing completion.
Balidon House was at one time the town’s maternity hospital. Its demolition became inevitable once it had lain empty for decades and become derelict, but developers C G Fry & Son decided to rebuild it.
During the demolition the stones of the frontage were taken down one by one and numbered, so that they could be set back in place as the new building took shape.
With the new facade almost complete, C G Fry & Son invited the Mayor of Yeovil, Coun Phil Chandler, to set the final stone in place.
He said afterwards: “When the plan for demolition came in we all thought ‘Oh no – is there any way the facade can be saved?’ And that is exactly what has been achieved.
“It is marvellous to have it back again. Yeovil has lost too many of its distinctive old buildings. “It will keep a lot of memories alive for people around here.”
C G Fry & Son managing director Philip Fry said: “This is a quality of stonework that you don’t see these days, and the job is a real achievement by our team here.
“It is a proud moment for us now that the front of the building has been restored to its former glory, and I hope the people of Yeovil will be as pleased as we are to see it.”
The new Balidon House will comprise 12 luxury apartments. In the grounds C G Fry & Son is building 12 detached houses.