The Restoration Of The Historic 'Gingerbread House'

Added: 2026-05-06

[00:00:08]Well, a once abandoned gingerbread house in Anna Street in Woodbrook is now at the center of a growing restoration effort, capturing attention online and reconnecting people to its history.

[00:00:20]Well, leading the project is interior designer Ashley Stobble, who is working to preserve not just a structure, but a piece of Trinidad and Tobago's architectural identity. Good morning, Ashley.

[00:00:31]>> Good morning.

[00:00:32]>> Thank you for being here this morning.

[00:00:33]>> Thank you for having me.

[00:00:34]>> So, this is such an exciting project and I can only imagine how deeply connected you are to this um and that's why you've taken this up, but we'll get to that in a short bit. So, take us back to when you first encountered the house. What condition was it in? What made you decide that this was worth saving, worth my time and my energy?

[00:00:54]>> So, the house when we first arrived was in pretty rough condition. It had kind of been left almost as if the person had picked up and left and left it as it was. There was furniture, um, glasses, we even found passports just kind of >> just in place. So, the house was literally just kind of like sat still in time. And um over time there had been a bit of termite damage um a bit of water damage and um some improper maintenance that led the house to being in kind of an extreme state. But what's really unique about this house is that for the most part a lot of it wasn't changed over over time. So it's still very original. So that was why we felt it was really important to save it because it's one of the few um in Woodbrook that's left basically intact.

[00:01:38]>> Yeah. So can you walk us through the approach of preserving the original materials? I know you don't want to change too much of the house. Am I correct? So now you have to try to balance that with also restoring it as much as possible. So how are you going to achieve all of that?

[00:01:51]>> Absolutely. So for the most part the these gingerbread houses are made of riverstone and lime and timber. So as long as you remove any rotten timber, you just put back the same shape, same size um timber members. And um we have local manufacturers that manufacture the lime mortar that you need. And the Riverstone is just remixed with the lime and rebuilt. So um for the most part, the house tells you exactly what it needs and you just kind of make sure to replace like with like and and you'll be okay.

[00:02:22]>> Do you know the history of this house, the exact history? So, I haven't been able to identify the exact year that it was built, but these gingerbread houses are typically built in the early 1900s.

[00:02:33]And um through the whole social media um journey, I was contacted by a previous um tenant who lived in the house between the 50s and 60s as a child. And he said even then it felt like an old house. So, it definitely has been around for for quite some time. And um we've had a lot of people reach out and say, you know, we were the neighbors, we lived down the street. So um there seems to be quite a rich um family history within the house of different families that have lived there over time.

[00:03:02]>> For those who don't know, uh what is the name gingerbread house? What does it mean and how did that name come about?

[00:03:08]>> So gingerbread houses are part of our vernacular architecture. So they're not um easily technically defined, >> but we refer to them as gingerbread houses because the fret work, the timber ornamentation um gives it a frosted kind of look, so they call them gingerbread houses.

[00:03:25]>> It's really interesting. Now, you've also said that the house tells you what it needs. What does that mean to you?

[00:03:32]>> So, a lot of people are very intimidated by restoration um because they they lean so much on on modern construction methods. they think concrete is and steel is the way to go. Um, but a lot of the times with these restoration projects, you're just kind of replacing what exists, you know. So, as long as you listen listen to the house and look at the existing condition and make sure you use the same materials, it's a fairly simple process.

[00:03:58]>> And do you have help in this process or you're just on your own with this?

[00:04:02]>> No, absolutely. We have an incredible team. the um projects being led by Altron Limited and we have an excellent um general contractor um Tony Baloop along with a number of different um highly skilled craftsmen and people that are very passionate about restoring the house um accurately and taking a lot of pride in their work. So we have a really excellent team behind us.

[00:04:23]>> Yeah. And you sound like you really want to stay true to what the house was and what it was meant to be. You don't want to change too much of that. You know, just turn it into, you know, something that's just too much for show. And you also said that you want to involve the public in an open house. So you want to ensure that everyone gets, you know, a taste of all of this. So how important is that for you? Well, I I firmly believe that these houses are part of our collective history and they don't belong to one individual or another and um because we've had so much interest um on social media and so many people that just want to come and see the house and want to just and and so many people that have offered their their help, we thought, you know, it'd be nice if we had a bit of an open day where we can open up the house and have people come in and if they want to help paint or if they just want to lime and look at the house, then they're welcome to. Is there any restoration program or projects that you can uh that you are using to to get all of this um done?

[00:05:18]>> So, we are working with um local craftsmen and for the most part nothing has to be imported which is excellent.

[00:05:24]Um and the National Trust has been a real asset to us as well. Um we got the house um approved under the Heritage Tax allowance program. So um we've we've had a lot of assistance from them and um they're really working to encourage preservation through the tax allowance program. So um they offer a lot of a lot of support in different ways.

[00:05:46]>> And what has been the most difficult part of this journey for you? Hm.

[00:05:51]I think the most difficult part has to be uh the number of times we've opened up a wall that we thought was was solid and found that it's been rotting away and so it has to be rebuilt or whatever.

[00:06:02]Sometimes it can be a little disheartening.

[00:06:04]>> Um but you know, we've we've made it through so far and and we nearing the finish line. So >> yeah. Do you have a time that you're looking at an estimated completion time?

[00:06:15]>> Hopefully around the summer time hoping before July.

[00:06:18]>> Wow. Oh, so you have a lot of work to do.

[00:06:20]>> Yeah, we when did you start this?

[00:06:22]>> We started at the very end of December.

[00:06:24]>> Ah, I see. Now, people are passing these buildings every single day. Why would you tell them why should they care about preserving this kind of architecture?

[00:06:35]>> So, this kind of architecture um like I said is predominantly built in the early 1900s. So, this was during our journey towards independence. And they weren't homes necessarily of the wealthy. They are homes of of everyday people. So they are representative of our personal social histories. And gingerbread houses themselves um you know the the details of these houses um are from the different countries around the world that make up our population like Fretwork itself is is derived from India and um the Islamic world. Uh the fact that the houses are vaulted is from the indigenous people. So the houses very much represent um Trrenadian people and and our history towards independence and >> and how long have you been doing this these type of restoration projects?

[00:07:23]>> Not too long actually. I >> Is this your biggest one yet?

[00:07:27]>> I perhaps I Yes, maybe. Um I got my master's degree in historic preservation in 2024 and moved home in 2024.

[00:07:36]>> Where did you study?

[00:07:37]>> I studied at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.

[00:07:39]>> Wow. So hopefully this will be a model um for other projects to come. Anything in the works for you? Any things you like you may have your eyes on that you think you want to head to next?

[00:07:50]>> Yes, I hope um you know we have a few in a few different discussions and I really hope that this will >> inspire other people to restore their um their local historic architecture as well. And so hopefully this won't be the last.

[00:08:04]>> And how can people get involved if they wanted to and to assist you in any way?

[00:08:08]>> Oh wow. Well, um people have been reaching out on the Instagram page. So, I would say if anybody is interested and um wants to take part in the open house when we eventually host it, um to just reach out to us. But otherwise, if you want to get involved, um the National Trust um is a really great asset to us as Trinidadian people and and um they have a lot of different tours and a lot of different events if people want to get involved in in heritage. Um and just, you know, to to take care of the buildings in your community and if you see buildings that are abandoned or if you know people that that own these kind of properties, encourage them to look after their their houses. And what are you most excited about in this project?

[00:08:51]>> I'm really excited to see it finished, I have to say. Um, uh, it's a house that a lot of people are very drawn to. Um, it's on a very common street in Woodbrook, so a lot of people know it.

[00:09:03]So, a lot of people are very eager to see it finished and and so am I.

[00:09:06]>> Where exactly is this located?

[00:09:08]>> It's on Lower Anna Street, so between Arapita and Writes Road.

[00:09:11]>> So, maybe you have passed that and you don't even know. Well, thank you for your great work, Ashley, and thank you for sharing this project with us. It sounds really special.

[00:09:20]>> Thank you very much.

[00:09:21]>> And we really, really can't wait to see the magic that you will make in restoring this gingerbread home.

[00:09:26]>> Thank you very much.

[00:09:27]>> As Ashley is still working to preserve not just a structure, but a piece of Trinidad and Tobago's architectural identity. Well, the time now it is 7:18 a.m. Coming up inside the show, you know, we have that link up today and also Commino Realy, they're going to be joining us. So, take a break and come back.