1988

Reader’s letter

I WAS concerned to read the report headlined Bulldozed Before Breakfast (Echo, December 6). How awful for the unfortunate Buckler family …

To the South Wales Echo, 13 December 1988:

“All I’ve got left are the clothes [I] stand up in.”

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… who lived at Great House Farm, Llan-dough, near Cardiff […] Mr Buckler, evicted from the farm house by BP Properties, who demolished the building a week later […]

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[…] Buckler, aged 40, who lived with family at Great House Farm, Llan-dough, until [it] was demolished by BP Properties this week, was freed on bail by magistrates yesterday. He faces charges […]

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[…] a bid to stop BP Properties profiting from the demolition earlier this week [of] an 800-year-old farmhouse on the outskirts of Cardiff. A small group of Llan-dough villagers met local councillors last night to express their anger at the way BP had demolished […]

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… a Vale of Glamorgan councillor and BP pensioner said the decision by BP Properties to flatten the buildings was ‘disgusting’. He plans to write to them in protest. Mr Billy Buckler’s family had battled for 33 years to prove they owned […]

Tears flow as 800 year-old farm house is razed at last

THE FINAL chapter in the 35-year battle over the ownership of Great House Farm in Llandough ended early yesterday when a team moved in to demolish the 800-year-old farm house.

Reported by the Western Mail, 6 December 1988:

A spokesperson there told the Western Mail the house was not of sufficient architectural merit and the land on which it stands was not of sufficient archaeological interest.

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… Her husband’s family have been battling for more than 30 years to prove they owned the historic farmhouse at Llandough. That fight came to an end yesterday afternoon in the High Court in Cardiff and within hours owners BP Properties …

Farmer fails in final eviction hearing

A FAMILY’S long and bitter battle for an historic farmhouse appeared to be over last night after a High Court decision went against them and the Welsh historic monuments organisation decided to take no action.

Cardiff, 5 December 1988, as reported by the Western Mail next day:

It would be novel for a court in this country to grant an injunction to hold up the effects of a judgment until the Court of Human Rights should rule on it, said the judge.

A Cadw spokeswoman, to the South Wales Echo, 3 December 1988:

“An inspector has been taken off another case to look at this and we are trying to move as quickly as possible.”

History fight to save farm

THE threatened farmhouse at the centre of an eviction row will be visited by historic buildings inspectors this weekend to see if it is worth saving from demolition.

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EVICTED farmer Bill Buckler, caught up in a 33-year wrangle over his South Wales home, was taken from his hospital bed to face charges of assault on two bailiffs.

Billy’s unhappy family

WHEN the bailiffs refused to let South Wales farmer Billy Buckler back into his family home they found eight other people sharing the rambling old farmhouse.

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… Monday when a summons against BP will be heard. Mr Justice Anthony Evans has allowed the condition that Mrs Buckler should be able to go into the house and collect belongings as long as BP solicitors agree… The Buckler family have petitioned to have […]

Great House Farm: eviction and injunction

“The Buckler family have lived here at Great House Farm for more than four centuries.”

Angry scenes as farmer evicted

A bitter feud over rights that lasted 33 years.

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… who forced their way into the 400-year-old Great House Farm at Llandough near Cardiff have already half the roof off one of the out-buildings But farmer’s wife [Branwen] who fears BP Properties Ltd will now flatten the farmhouse and won the court …

Plots at Llandough bought, from Lavernock to Leckwith

Board minutes and papers of the Land Authority for Wales, 1988–1990 (The National Archives WA 9/49 and related files), cover the November 1988 purchase of sites from Lavernock to Leckwith including plots at Llandough. The South Wales Echo of 26 June 1990: “The woodland was sold to the LAW by BP Pension Fund which owned it until 1988”.

BP signal Welsh sales

… ripe for residential development …

Reported by the South Wales Echo, 12 May 1988:

CARDIFF MP Alun Michael has asked the Lord Chancellor to look at the case of defiant farmer Bill Buckler

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… CARDIFF MP Alun Michael has asked the Lord Chancellor to look at the case of defiant farmer Bill Buckler who fought off baliffs with chainsaw keep his house And Mr Buckler -himself has warned that someone would …

A BP spokesman in London, to the press, April 1988:

“When Mrs Buckler died in 1983 it became clear her son was not going to leave”

To the press after the eviction attempt of 29 April 1988:

“I am here to stay and I will fight this to the death.”

To the press after the eviction attempt of 29 April 1988:

“They have got no documents for it. If it’s theirs, why have I never paid a penny in rent for it in my life?”

Chainsaw farmer vows to fight on

A FARMER who beat-off bailiffs with a chainsaw last night vowed to continue his defiant fight for his Cardiff home. Mr Bill Buckler spoke after the four-hour showdown.

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… But Mr Buckler is refusing to leave the Great House Farm at Llan-dough near Cardiff for medical attention because he fears the bailiffs will return A dozen police officers were on the farm as the bailiffs tried to evict the Buckler family …

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… been waged for two generations of the Buckler family Mr Buckler’s mother fought and lost three previous High Court cases [stating] she was the rightful owner of the estate In 1974 BP Properties agreed to allow Mrs Buckler to remain in the farmhouse rent free …

House of Lords, 3 March 1988:

Leave to appeal refused; execution stayed for 28 days.