THE front of a listed farmhouse once feared to be on the brink of collapse has been unveiled after undergoing major restoration work.

Pound Farm House in Dovercourt has been covered with scaffolding and plastic sheeting since 2015.

The house was dilapidated to the point where part of the back of the Grade II listed building in Main Road had already crumbled and fallen away.

It is thought theft of lead from the roof gully between the main house and an extension caused leaks and severe damage to the structure.

The back of the home was so unstable it was too unsafe for anyone to enter for years.

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But in January last year, work started on building 30 new two and three-bedroom bungalows on adjoining land as well as restoration of the 17th century farmhouse, which has been listed since 1964.

Last week, the plastic covers were taken down, revealing the refurbished roof and windows.

A spokesman for the owners of the house, said: “People are really getting the wow factor. It looks magnificent.

“We still have to put an extension on the back of the house where the old part collapsed - this will be the kitchen.

“The whole project is expected to be finished in the next six to eight weeks.

“It will be seven years in December since it was bought - it’s a long time but it was all the unnecessary red tape.

“We are very excited the end is coming.

“The timbers were so bad, you put your hand on them and they would come off like dust.”

The state of the farm house has been controversial with major concerns about its condition raised since 2005.

A collapsed listed bakehouse which could not be salvaged was taken away as part of the work.

The restoration of the four bedroom home is hoped to be completed by the end of October, along with the final bungalow on land behind the house.