In 1785 the house was purchased by Thomas Bates Rous formerly of the East India Company and MP for Worcester. After excessive election expenses he was in need of cash and demolished part of the building for its valuable stone.
The purchase of the house in 1785 was made by Thomas Bates Rous, a former East India Company employee and Worcester MP. He later demolished part of the building to sell valuable stone, motivated by financial difficulties stemming from extravagant election expenses.