Unlike many of the buildings I've visited, I didn't really mind. Uplands' day was over, and the house although interesting for a morning, was hardly worth saving.

It was an interesting diversion before embarking on bigger things!

But if anyone knows the truth about these houses, and what happened to them, then please get in touch. After all the tales of money and lost love, it could've been as simple as someone simply leaving the gas on.

© Simon Cornwell 2005

"In 1875 [Walter Gaskell] married Catherine Sharpe Parker. They had four daughters and a son, named John Foster Gaskell, in honor of Michael Foster. The family settled near Cambridge where he remained for the rest of his life, residing first at Grantchester and later at Great Shelford, where he built a hilltop home - The Uplands - opposite the hill on which stood Michael Foster's home."

"During his youth, he engaged in rowing, cricket, tennis and swimming. Later he enjoyed yachting, fishing, whist and bridge. Throughout life, he always took a somewhat leisurely course during both work and play activities. His main hobby was gardening, and he converted a large area of his 15 acres of sloping hillside at Great Shelford into a charming terraced garden." - taken from Walter Gaskell And The Understanding Of Atrioventricular Conduction And Block.

Figure #38: Uplands | Exteriors