HEREFORDSHIRE tour guide Jeremy Plummer has been busy restoring his own noted point of interest on the tourist trail.

The garrulous blue badge guide and his wife, Tessa, have undertaken a massive task to restore the Grade II* listed Old Grammar School at Weobley to its mid-19th century glory, as depicted in an old picture. Even an exact copy of a long-lost cupola with bell has been placed on the roof in keeping with the 170-year-old image.

The Plummers believe the building could be the work of 17th century Kings Carpenter, John Abel.

Roof tiles, flagstone floors and lead-paned windows have all been restored to this black-and-white gem, thought to have been built by Abel, whose noted work in the county includes The Grange at Leominster and at Abbeydore.

While the famous Sarnesfield craftsman did not leave his hallmark ‘Latin tag’ on the old school, the quality of materials and overall design are considered typical of his mid-17th century work.

For Jeremy, a former firefighter and Tess, a retired nurse, owning the Old Grammar School has been a dream come true. “I’ve always been interested in old buildings,” said Jeremy, who leads guided tours of the region.

“Some years ago we set our hearts on one day buying this fantastic old building.”

Though the restoration project has earned praise from English Heritage, the couple have not sought grants.

“We wanted to get the Old Grammar School done up for the future, it’s a very important asset to the village and to the area.”

Both agree that they are merely “caretakers” of the property, and want to see it safeguarded for the future.

“We’ve gone to a lot of trouble but it’s been fun. We get such a boost doing this,” said Tess.

Her husband agrees: “It’s been a long haul, but it shows if you keep on at something, dreams can come true.”

With the skill of a professional guide, Jeremy can reel off ready facts and figures. “The history of Weobley is incredible since Norman times,” he said.

Not surprisingly, he has done his homework on the Old Grammar School. Closed for a short time in the 19th century, it was a centre of learning from 1660 until 1888 when it became a private house.

In a prized book by John Clayton, an 1846 picture shows the school with cupola and oak finials at each end of the roof ridge. The book described it as a “splendid site” with large space for a classroom on the ground floor and dormitory on the second floor.

The most remarkable feature was deemed to be a porch of “very beautiful” design, with spandrels similar to Abel’s screen at Abbeydore.

Once owned by Weobley’s famous folklorist Ella Mary Leather - there is a picture of her sitting beside a mullioned window - the property later did service as Weobley Rural District Council’s property rating and valuation office after the Second World War.

Leominster carpenter Steve Ingram has reproduced the cupola to the exact style of the 19th century picture. Carved in oak, he said the commission to build the cupola was a “one off” for him.

Whether John Abel had a hand in its construction or not, the Old Grammar School is something of a one-off itself.