The bright white walls were spotted with damp green moss. Grand teak doors with intricate carvings had broken locks and cobwebs.
The manor which once had carpeted floors, were no more. Many of the beautiful lamp fittings and furniture were auctioned. Chandeliers replaced with rusty fans and naked bulbs. The once grand manor had lost its glory.
Clear glass panes that brightened the hallways & rooms, kept out the light with layers of peeling paint. No satin or velvet drapes hung on the doorways.
The hidden stairway was opened up with an arch, identical to the one in the Living room.
We started ripping out and refinishing the old floors and walls. You could hear the house sighing its thanks.
There was the traditional Meda-Midula which was a torment of weeds and coarse shrubs.
The old granary is now a fully refurbished pool room.
Sensitive restoration while maintaining and preserving the British colonial architectural features and the distinctive aura of a “Walauwa”- that was our hope!
The polished wooden upper floor was dusty, dull and decaying. Panels of the boarded floors were displaced. The floor boards upstairs were so diseased that none dared to tread on them. Dust had settled over it like a vast grey cloud. Once bright walls were plastered with fungus & moss. The roof leaked alarmingly. Bat droppings coated the floors of the two towers, speaking of years of neglect & disuse.
You could relax on the outer floor balcony, look on the village surround, watch the skies tinge and think how this eminent, Nugawela Dissawe looked on the land more than a century ago. Suddenly you are also a part of this history, and you will find it hard to leave.
Not only the interior recreated, but the exterior was also returned to it’s original splendour. After months of work, majesty has been restored to the manor.
An incredible stay that guarantees you authentic feelings rich in history and restored with so much honesty and care.
We are hoping to attract a niche segment of tourists who would like to stay away from large business hotel type accommodations for a quiet and luxury homely environment.