The Mole Man of Hackney
When I was living in Stoke Newington I used to sometimes take the 76 bus, I think it was, into work.
You start getting used to funny little sights en route. Things no one who didn’t travel that route every day wouldn’t notice. Like Hackney Wholefoods, which we always called ‘Ackney ‘Olefoods in true Cockney fashion, or the Rosemary Branch pubs and Rosemary Works (”No she doesn’t”, someone would always say), or the Baring Street scrap metal works.
Well one of the sights on the way in was a derelict house. A very fine house, a little Victorian villa set in its own little expanse of garden, in a street mainly made of terraced houses. But obviously not looked after. The garden around it was full of sheets of corrugated iron, and the whole place looked like a scrapyard - while the spick and span terraces opposite regarded it with disapproval and scorn.
Now I’ve found out the story of this house. It’s the home of the Mole Man of Hackney.
William Lyttle seems not to care for the bit of the house above the surface, but below ground, he’s been doing DIY for twenty years or more. He’s dug tunnels and whole rooms out under the house, under the garden, and even under the pavement of the street outside.
And finally, Hackney Council has had to put a stop to it. Two years ago he was ordered to move out while the Council filled up his tunnels with concrete to stop the street collapsing.
Lyttle has now been ordered to pay £300k for the repair bill. He’s 76, and he inherited the house from his parents; and he doesn’t look rich, though you never can tell. Looks like Mole Man may have to sell up - but the surveyor’s report on the house will be very interesting!
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