WORK is continuing on the construction of a new country home in Ryedale.

The old Ravenswick Hall, near Kirkbymoorside, which was constructed in the early 1900s, was demolished in November.

Now, a new home, labelled the first of its kind in 200 years by Ryedale District Council planning committee, is being built on the same site.

Work on the hall got under way in October last year after a delay of several months caused by the presence of brown long-eared bats, which were roosting on the site.

The developments are being charted by local Gareth Jenkins, who is documenting the build in a blog and on Instagram.

Recent activity includes foundation work, the arrival of a large number of temporary cabins and surveys of the site by drone.

Mr Jenkins said the site is now a hive of activity, and he praised the efforts of the construction team to keep nearby roads clear and mud-free.

He said: “There’s a lot of big vehicles around and it’s very busy. They seem to be doing a good job of keeping it clear.”

The new Ravenswick Hall was granted planning permission by Ryedale District Council in January 2016. In place of the old hall, the council approved the construction of a 10-bedroom home with a leisure building, detached quadruple garage, gatehouse, swimming pools, tennis court, landscaped gardens with temple and grotto and two belvederes, as well as several “staff dwellings”. Follow the progress of the hall at Mr Jenkins’s blog at ravenswickhall.com