Visitors have complained that scaffolding and a neighbouring home development are “ruining” one of the most iconic sights in Britain.
Due to its usage in the well-known 1973 Hovis commercial, Gold Hill near Shaftesbury, Dorset, is perhaps one of rural England’s best-known settings.
The “Boy On The Bike” commercial, which is frequently selected as the UK’s favourite, has a little boy bringing bred up a steep hillside dotted with thatched houses.
The advertisement, which was filmed by renowned director Sir Ridley Scott and was shot on a charming cobblestone Dorset street, helped establish his career.
The location was also utilised in Thomas Hardy’s famous novel Far From the Madding Crowd, which was adapted into a movie in 1967.
But owing to unattractive sheeting covering a home down the hill, which was sold at auction in November 2021 for £165,000 – £15,000 above the reference price – subsequent visitors have had to cut out most of the lovely vista.
It is believed that it is receiving renovations after being acquired by a person who doesn’t dwell in the county, although it’s unclear if they want to use it as a vacation house or their primary abode.
Instagram photos taken from the top of the street show individuals needing to crop off half of the view in order to avoid include the construction site.
One traveller remarked: “We made a one-hour detour to see the famed Hovis Hill.
‘We were really expecting to capture some excellent images to be able to frame and, of course, for Instagram, but we couldn’t really snap one in all its splendour due to the amount of scaffolding on exhibit,’ said the photographer.
Another person said, “Yes, the sheeting is a shame, it has somewhat spoiled it.”
One of the finest towns in Dorset is Shaftesbury, and the view from the top of Gold Hill is regarded as one of the most beautiful views in the world.
The Melbury Downs frame the renowned hill’s historic homes and cobblestone street in the distance.
Shaftesbury Abbey, a Benedictine nunnery established in AD888, lies just a few yards away.
According to a planning application made to Dorset Council in May, the Grade II-listed cottage from the 17th century requires major structural maintenance due to water damage.
“The property falls inside the very sensitive Gold Hill part of the historic centre within the designated Shaftesbury Conservation Area,” stated planning officer Emma Ralphs.
The high boundary wall of the ancient Abbey Precinct, which is listed and scheduled, and the cobbled pavement of the roadway, a former historic routeway of local and national importance, are both included.
The bulk of the homes on the steep street, including No. 16, No. 17, and all of its northern neighbours, are listed.
There haven’t been any complaints, according to a spokesman for Shaftesbury Town Council, but if the repair isn’t done, ultimately the view will appear much worse.
The issue is that work must be done, even in a nice and attractive location like this, she said.
Town council member Piers Brown said, “Fortunately, Shaftesbury has a lot more to offer, including some of the most picturesque vistas in the whole UK.
One of the homes at the foot of Gold Hill is now receiving some repairs.
“All readily accessible by foot, bike, and vehicle, together with one of the most lively and distinctive High Streets,” says the website.
Visit Dorset’s representative further explained: “The scaffolding is due to a rehabilitation project bringing an old, abandoned home back to life. However, Gold Hill may still be taken from an angle that cuts out the scaffolding and exposes the lovely Melbury Downs in the backdrop.”