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A Lifetime In The Building: The Extraordinary Story Of May Savidge And The House She Moved
In 2007 the BBC's immensely popular Antiques Roadshow broadcast, unprecedentedly, two features on a truly remarkable woman. Her niece, Christine Adams, had come to a Norfolk Roadshow with some memorabilia from the house of her aunt, May Savidge. But this was only a tiny fraction of the house's contents, and only hinted at the facts of May Savidge's life. Now, Christine Adams tells how she discovered the full story. May Savidge lived in a half-timbered house in Hertfordshire. When the council served her with a compulsory purchase notice to make way for a roundabout, May decided she had to move - but so did the house. So she had the whole thing dismantled and shipped to the North Norfolk coast...and then spent the rest of her life rebuilding it, single-handed. But she also filled that house with everything she had ever possessed in her life: every bus ticket, item of clothing, and a voluminous daily diary. When she finally became ill and died, and guiltily bequeathed the still unfinished house to her niece to finish, she left behind an amazing archive of one woman's life. And that life, as Christine found as she started on the daunting task of sorting through May's house, was itself remarkable in its richness, from being a female engineer designing the Mosquito in wartime to heartbreaking love affairs. No-one can fail to be moved and awed by this indomitable woman. Christine Adams now runs a Bed and Breakfast in May Savidge's old house in Norfolk. Michael McMahon is also the co-author of My Friend the Enemy (978 1 84513 316 0).
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 23, 2020
Beautiful story of a ladies labour of love. Some parts a little disjointed, other parts so interesting couldn't put down.
January 5, 2014
Having just moved house this was a timely Christmas present from a friend to help me 'put my move in perspective'. It was certainly an incredible story of one woman's determination to do things her way and to hang on to the one place she could really call home.
The story drew me in initially, but like other reviewers, I found it started to flag about halfway through. Whilst May's determination was inspirational to a degree it was also quite frustrating in the way she refused to accept help and seemed to have no real plan for the restoration once the house was dismantled and moved. At times the story lurched years forward without warning and the constant extracts from diaries and letters became a little tedious without a convincing narrative to hold them all together.
The sadness at the end is that Auntie May spent her later life creating something that she would never have time to fully enjoy and that, ultimately, the task proved too great for her.
The story drew me in initially, but like other reviewers, I found it started to flag about halfway through. Whilst May's determination was inspirational to a degree it was also quite frustrating in the way she refused to accept help and seemed to have no real plan for the restoration once the house was dismantled and moved. At times the story lurched years forward without warning and the constant extracts from diaries and letters became a little tedious without a convincing narrative to hold them all together.
The sadness at the end is that Auntie May spent her later life creating something that she would never have time to fully enjoy and that, ultimately, the task proved too great for her.
September 30, 2012
What an inspirational book!! I am so in awe of this little old lady who took on a task so momentus I cant even imagen starting it! As I was reading it and hearing about her scrambling up ladders at over 70 I cant help but think she would have finished my outstanding DIY jobs in about ten minutes. The hardships she endured would have put any lesser person off but the fact she had a purpose and work to do gave her such direction its almost enviable. I cant remember reading a book that gripped me so much from the start and cant recommend this enough, Please Please Read it!!!
August 3, 2021
Really good read about a slightly eccentric lady who took her house apart, moved it and started putting it back together. Hilarious tales of what she kept (receipts and cake wrappers) in biscuit tins. Warming.
February 17, 2022
A very different read, hard at times, sad, funny and May Savidge deserves a lot of respect for the mammoth task she took on. Glad Christine took on the baton and completed the task, and wrote the book to tell the epic journey aunt May went on Thankyou.
January 6, 2019
An outstanding lady. Miss Savage Left school and joined Sanderson Wallpaper as an artist and pattern designer. When she realised she wasn't doing anything for the war effort, she went to work for the De Haviland Aircraft Company, where she was a designer on the Mosquito project.
In the early 1960s the council placed a compulsory purchase order on her home, a 500 year-old hall house, as they wanted to build a road traffic island where it stood. After fighting to save it for many years and failing she decided to move it across country to a piece of land she had purchased overlooking the sea. She the proceeded to dismantle it herself, numbering all the wooden pieces and got it moved. This, I might add, was at the age of 58!
When she got it to the site she started building it herself with local assistance when required.
An astounding story of an astounding woman and a hero to many including the author, who is her niece.
In the early 1960s the council placed a compulsory purchase order on her home, a 500 year-old hall house, as they wanted to build a road traffic island where it stood. After fighting to save it for many years and failing she decided to move it across country to a piece of land she had purchased overlooking the sea. She the proceeded to dismantle it herself, numbering all the wooden pieces and got it moved. This, I might add, was at the age of 58!
When she got it to the site she started building it herself with local assistance when required.
An astounding story of an astounding woman and a hero to many including the author, who is her niece.
September 18, 2012
A bit of a disappointment in the end. It started off as an interesting story about how a determined woman triumphs (sort of) in the face of adversity, but two thirds in descended into endless description of limited changes made by May to her house over the years, once she'd shipped it up to Wells. What made it more frustrating to me was the repetition in these parts plus the endless references to May never complaining etc, but weirdly other details were merely glossd over, including May's cancer and that the author turned the house into a B&B in the end. The last third of the book was hard work and made me want to give up, which was a shame. I think I only persevered as I was getting on a plane and didn't want to start anything else. Shame really as it's quite a story. Oh and some pics would've been nice!
April 21, 2022
Nan lent me this book for my recent holiday as it’s a true story set between our home of Hertfordshire and Wells-next-the-Sea which we visited last summer. I was expecting it to be a dry non-fiction read but I was pleasantly surprised that I was hooked on the story from chapter 1! It’s such an inspiring and quirky story, almost unbelievable that Miss Savidge spent 20+ years of her life moving and rebuilding a historic 500year old house, and sadly didn’t even finish. The personal anecdotes and discoveries shared by Miss Savidge’s niece-in-law are heartwarming and made me reflect on how I interact and create relationships with people throughout life. I hope to visit the relocated house (completed by her niece-in-law) in the future.
December 10, 2019
Having met Christine Adams recently and heard her tell some of her stories, I felt the book was less lively and less imbued with Christine's personality. It could probably have been better written. However perhaps it was more about paying homage to Miss Savidge and it was competent. It was fascinating and mostly it was just very, very sad.
It did make me think about some of my own traits of misguided persistence and excessive recording!.
It did make me think about some of my own traits of misguided persistence and excessive recording!.
February 21, 2020
A true story full of incredible grit and determination but also full of emotion and lost love. Miss Savidge moves her house from Ware to Wells next The Sea to totally rebuild it as a retirement project. She struggled on for 23 years and then the author finished it in another eight years.... An incredible account of social history too....
March 8, 2021
I loved this book. It’s not a work of literary genius but the love of the author for her subject and the quirkiness and determination of the subject is just so compelling. An antidote to all the decluttering books and movements. Well, maybe. Definitely not about choosing an easy, indolent or hedonistic life.
September 15, 2017
Great read about one woman's perseverance in the face of an overwhelming task. A fascinating look into the day to day life of May Savidge and her mission to rebuild an old Hall House, thus preserving it for generations to come.
July 6, 2024
This is an inspiring read, to make people aware that they have to complete the tasks they can!! I can’t believe I haven’t heard about this woman before!! I echo Christine Adams’ sentiment ‘Thank you’.
November 17, 2025
A rollercoaster ride in history. A truly eccentric but marvellous lady! Determination and true spirit to the end. Many skills and a mindset sadly lost in today's society.
A brilliant read 😃
A well documented book.
A brilliant read 😃
A well documented book.
May 31, 2019
Really touching story
August 4, 2019
what a wonderful story. May Savage was one remarkable women, they dont make many like her. I also think her niece by marriage is pretty remarkable as well.
January 29, 2020
Lovely compelling story of two courageous womens fight for one house
July 19, 2020
Fascinating book for history, humanity and perseverance. Have given it to many people as a gift.
October 24, 2022
What a truly incredible lady Miss May Savidge was, although rather eccentric! Just wish the writing was a little better, the dates seemed to jump around alot which made it harder to follow.
March 7, 2025
What an amazing woman very interesting how she battled through such a task - I holiday in Wells next the sea and will try to go and catch a look at all they achieved
January 3, 2026
Really good, finished in a week which is good for me. Inspirational, but really sad in places. Fact is really stranger than fiction!
January 26, 2026
A very moving and thought provoking book, can't wait to see the film once it has been made.
September 6, 2011
This is the true story of Miss May Savidge and her determination to prevent her historic house in Hertfordshire from being bulldozed in the name of progress. She attended numerous council meetings, wrote thousands of letters and when the council would not budge, she decided to save it by painstakingly dismantling it piece by piece and slowly reassembling it in a new location in Norfolk.
Being an engineer and brought up in hard times, May did most of the construction work herself, but it meant that progress was slow, and months ran into years. Conducting business by written correspondence as well as dealing with unreliable tradesmen didn't help the matter.
Sadly May didn't live to see the finish of her house, although author and daughter-in-law Christine Adams made a promise to May in her final moments and saw to it that the house was finished. (May bequeathed the house to Christine and she now runs it as a Bed & Breakfast).
May Savidge was a hoarder and Christinewas amazed, astonished and overwhelmed at the stuff May accumulated over the years. Not a single bus ticket or newspaper had been thrown away, but even more than that, the belongings had been carefully and accurately filed away. May had made copies of her letters and kept notes regarding the progress of the construction of her house.
Christine remembers these years with a pang of guilt, and wishes she had offered to help but May was stubborn and wouldn't accept any help. May's story received attention in several newspapers which generated a lot of mail and it seems she made an effort to answer each and every letter.
After her passing, her house generated interest when a member from the Antiques Roadshow came to look at an antique desk. The staff member became more interested in the history of the house and May Savidge than the desk. The interest in May and her house snowballed and Christine agreed to write a book, and now we have: A Lifetime in the Building - The Extraordinary Story of May Savidge and the House She Moved.
I thoroughly enjoyed this biography, and found Miss May Savidge to be a courageous, persistent and patient woman. I could not have willingly chosen the living conditions and hardships she put up with year in and year out; although from time to time I also found the whole situation a little frustrating. I wish she'd had some help and had time to enjoy it when she was alive, but it wasn't to be. A great read.
Being an engineer and brought up in hard times, May did most of the construction work herself, but it meant that progress was slow, and months ran into years. Conducting business by written correspondence as well as dealing with unreliable tradesmen didn't help the matter.
Sadly May didn't live to see the finish of her house, although author and daughter-in-law Christine Adams made a promise to May in her final moments and saw to it that the house was finished. (May bequeathed the house to Christine and she now runs it as a Bed & Breakfast).
May Savidge was a hoarder and Christinewas amazed, astonished and overwhelmed at the stuff May accumulated over the years. Not a single bus ticket or newspaper had been thrown away, but even more than that, the belongings had been carefully and accurately filed away. May had made copies of her letters and kept notes regarding the progress of the construction of her house.
Christine remembers these years with a pang of guilt, and wishes she had offered to help but May was stubborn and wouldn't accept any help. May's story received attention in several newspapers which generated a lot of mail and it seems she made an effort to answer each and every letter.
After her passing, her house generated interest when a member from the Antiques Roadshow came to look at an antique desk. The staff member became more interested in the history of the house and May Savidge than the desk. The interest in May and her house snowballed and Christine agreed to write a book, and now we have: A Lifetime in the Building - The Extraordinary Story of May Savidge and the House She Moved.
I thoroughly enjoyed this biography, and found Miss May Savidge to be a courageous, persistent and patient woman. I could not have willingly chosen the living conditions and hardships she put up with year in and year out; although from time to time I also found the whole situation a little frustrating. I wish she'd had some help and had time to enjoy it when she was alive, but it wasn't to be. A great read.
March 17, 2011
I remember seeing this story first on Antiques Roadshow, the tale of May Savidge and her extraordinary efforts to single-handedly save and then move her old home resulted in a special programme hosted by Paul Atterbury who provides an introduction to this story.
The book tells in lovely detail the story of this determined, eccentric, obsessive but ultimately admirable woman who was determined to thumb her nose at the powers that be (and snobbish locals in some cases) to save a rare old house from destruction, albeit at the expence of her life and health. It also tells the story of Christine Adams, who - grudgingly at first - inherited the project on Miss Savidge's death.
A very readable book, I devoured it in two sittings, not something I do very often.
The book tells in lovely detail the story of this determined, eccentric, obsessive but ultimately admirable woman who was determined to thumb her nose at the powers that be (and snobbish locals in some cases) to save a rare old house from destruction, albeit at the expence of her life and health. It also tells the story of Christine Adams, who - grudgingly at first - inherited the project on Miss Savidge's death.
A very readable book, I devoured it in two sittings, not something I do very often.
May 1, 2011
An interesting book. This was a fascinating glimpse into the life of an extraordinary woman. As a life-long hoarder, all her letters and notes have been put together to bring this record of her life into being. Christine Adams must a very interesting person herself, since May Savidge was her ex-husband's aunt. Yet she managed to complete the house after her husband left her with the unfinished shell. An extraordinary story with so much left unsaid.
If you get the chance, do read this for yourself.
If you get the chance, do read this for yourself.
June 16, 2013
The quite remarkable story of May Savidge who, when her medieval hall-house was threatened with demolition, decided to take it all down and rebuild it elsewhere. The book was written by her nephew's wife who along with her husband inherited the unfinished house and in the process of sorting it out uncovered May's complete and carefully documented life. It makes for fascinating reading and poses many questions
December 12, 2012
Hi, my mum was reading this, so I read it when she wasn't looking :) It's a very factual account of an extrodinary lady. Although it's certainly a book that lacks pace, it's interesting to get a good insight into what can drive people to do extrodinary things.
September 24, 2023
#52books2018 number 43: Miss Savidge Moves Her House by Christine Adams. I bawled! Finished it sitting in the car before work as I couldn't let it lie till lunchtime. Absolutely loved this rather tragic, beautiful true story of a lady with incredible grit. Must now find footage.
April 19, 2013
Moving and uplifting. Truly amazing lady.
July 23, 2014
A moving and inspiring story of not 1 but 2 remarkable women. May Savidge's vision would have died had Christine Adams not picked up the extra-ordinary challenge and seen it through to fruition.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews