Worrying Heights: Fears Kate Bush's cliffside home could plummet into the sea due to erosion

Dec 19, 2014

The reclusive star faces a race against time to save her remote coastal mansion from falling into the sea following a massive landslide

It is less a case of Running Up That Hill and more falling down that cliff for reclusive singer Kate Bush.

The Wuthering Heights star faces a battle to prevent her rural retreat from crumbling into the sea.

Publicity-shy Kate, who launched her comeback tour last week, bought the 200-year-old mansion on the coast near Kinsbridge in Devon nine years ago because of its remote location.

But a huge landslide last year caused a large section of the cliff-top to fall away, and left her neighbours' home perilously close to the edge.

And Kate's home is next in line to crumble into the sea.

Steve Gardner, of Devon County Council, said: "That particular stretch of coastline is always on the move.

"It is always falling away. It is just nature – the land is very soft there and susceptible to storm damage.

"If you live there you can either accept it and let your house fall into the sea, or you can take action to prevent further damage, although that can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds.

"You can attach netting to the cliff face, or another option is spraying it with concrete, although these are very expensive and not something that the council would pay for."

Getty South West coast path Devon
Trouble: Devon Council say the coastline where Kate Bush's house stands is in danger
 

Babooshka singer Kate, who started her sell-out 22-night run at the Hammersmith Apollo last week, has long fought for her privacy at her coastal home.

She launched a decade-long campaign to have a public footpath near her 17-acres of land closed to protect her privacy.

And Kate, who has revealed she was persuaded to perform in public for the first time in 35 years by her 16-year-old son Bertie, also found herself in hot water when she installed CCTV cameras in 2007.

She removed them just before a meeting with council bosses amid claims they overlooked tourists using the secluded beach below.

But a Kate Bush fanatic broke into her Devon home, which she reportedly bought for £2.5 million, on Boxing Day, 2011, forcing the star to install spotlights and high security fencing.

The 56-year-old also owns a property in Berkshire but the Devon house is her main home and is widely believed to be the inspiration behind her 2005 album, Aerial.

Kate, who is married to guitarist Dan McIntosh, has sold more than 10 million records but has shunned the spotlight since 1979 - until now.

Her Before The Dawn tour opened to rave reviews, with Kate expected to make millions from the performances and the fact many of her earlier albums are back in the charts.

Getty South West coast path Devon
post from sitemap
 
Copyright © -2012 Modern Life All Rights Reserved | Template Design by Favorite Blogger Templates | Blogger Tips and Tricks