Daily Mail, Friday, August 16, 2013
Jools Holland forgot planning permission ... to build this castle!
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‘Nigel’s making an Eton mess. He’s perfected the mess bit’
Why women hate men messing up their kitchen Daily Mail Reporter
Jools Holland and wife Christabel
An Englishman’s home: The castle is built around Holland’s swimming pool at his home in Kent
By John Stevens FROM the elaborate turrets to the hidden room of reflection, it’s a painstakingly detailed tribute to a medieval castle. But it seems Jools Holland was so engrossed in recreating the past that he forgot one very modern detail –
planning permission. Now the 55-year-old BBC presenter could be forced to tear down the structure, which he built in the seven-acre grounds of his country mansion near Rochester in Kent. Holland bought the house, which is on the site of the 14th century Cooling Castle, 11 years ago. The ruins of the old castle still dominate the grounds, but evidently Holland wanted a new one, too. So the musician built a two-storey walled structure to surround his swimming pool and his newly planted patriotic garden, laid out in the shape of a Union Flag. The walls contain a built-in parvis – a type of medieval room designed for quiet reflection. Despite the size of the imposing con-
Patriotic: Raised garden laid out in the shape of a Union Flag
‘High standard of construction’ struction, he apparently did not realise that he needed to ask for planning permission. The musician has now made a retrospective planning application to Medway council. The application boasts of the wall’s ‘high standard of construction’ and use of local stone. It reads: ‘The new wall and planters create a cohesive and attractive garden Ancient and modern: 14th century Cooling Castle is on the left of area viewable from the main house and Holland’s house. The red line marks the site he has developed the adjacent swimming pool and lime mortar. The wall also has the northern end of the garden. annexe. ‘crenellations’ along the top, which ‘This room has no practical use ‘Care has been taken to maintain in a real castle would have been but has been built as a visual feathe high standard of construction used by bowmen to fire arrows ture using historic references. and detailing used elsewhere. down on attackers. ‘As far as we have been able to ‘The wall itself has been conThe application continues: ‘At establish, we think that such a structed to match identically those the west end of the wall, a set of structure is known as a parvis.’ already around the swimming pool, steps leads up to a small room sitA Medway council spokesman using natural local stone laid in ting over a gateway that leads to said: ‘The works that were carried
out were undertaken by the owner on the assumption that planning permission was not required. He was subsequently advised that this was not correct and submitted a planning application.’ So far, no neighbours have objected to his plans. Mr Holland is a well-known figure in the nearby village of Cooling and used its church for his 2005 wedding to long-term girlfriend Christabel McEwen. Celebrities including Ringo Starr, Mick Hucknall, Lulu, Dawn French and Stephen Fry attended the ceremony. Since buying the property, Mr Holland has added a music room, annexe and entrance hall to the manor house, as well as a large swimming pool. A previous survey of the land, made when the swimming pool was built, said: ‘There was unlikely to be any archaeological remains of any significance in the area.’ Cooling Castle, which now consists only of four rough stone walls and a gatehouse, is on the ‘Heritage at Risk’ list of important listed buildings. According to English Heritage, it is in a ‘very bad’ condition and in need of A-list priority attention. Holland received an OBE in 2004 for services to the British music industry as a television presenter and musician. He is also a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent. His wife is a member of a landed Scottish family and was formerly married to the Earl of Durham. Holland formed his 20-piece Rhythm & Blues Orchestra after starting his own Big Band. He has a weekly show on Radio 2, as well as hosting the television show Later... with Jools Holland. His annual Hootenanny has become a staple of New Year’s Eve television. Last night Holland and his planning agent, architect Julian Bluck, were both unavailable to comment. j.stevens@dailymail.co.uk
WHEN husbands who fancy themselves as the next Jamie Oliver take over the kitchen, the result is often a wife simmering with anger. Chief among women’s complaints about their partner’s cooking is the mess he makes … from using every pan in the cupboard to leaving a mountain of dishes to wash up afterwards. Almost as annoying is a man who does not cook – but is quick to offer unneeded advice. Males who turn into ‘back seat drivers’ and persistently interfere in the preparations for dinner are among the biggest irritations for growing numbers of women, a survey suggested yesterday. Of 2,000 people across the UK who were asked what most irritates them while in the kitchen, almost four in ten women said it was the mess their partner makes when cooking. Nearly a quarter said they become upset by men offering advice while they are preparing a meal and checking that they are doing things properly in the kitchen. Even worse, one in six women complained that her husband or partner sneakily adds ingredients, stirs the pan and interferes when
‘Sneakily adding ingredients’ she is not looking. One in five said she is annoyed by her partner standing next to her while she is trying to prepare a meal and wishes he would just back off. And one in ten admitted to being jealous because her partner was actually a better cook. The national obsession with TV cookery programmes from Great British Bake Off to MasterChef has led to a big increase in the number of men as well as women developing an interest in improving their culinary skills. The survey into cooking loves and hates was carried out by Wren Kitchens & Bedrooms. The ten chief complaints are: 1. The mess they make when cooking (39 per cent); 2. Leaving you to wash up when you’ve done the cooking (27 per cent); 3. Offering advice when it’s not needed (22 per cent); 4. Watching over the shoulder while cooking (21 per cent); 5. Adding ingredients and interfering behind your back (16 per cent); 6. Being a better cook (9 per cent); 7. Cooking that tastes awful (8 per cent); 8. Cooking too slowly (8 per cent); 9. Posting pictures of meals on Facebook (4 per cent); 10. Refusing to let you cook (3 per cent).