John Fowles completed some of his best-known works at Belmont
The Landmark Trust said the building's parapet is sagging and wall plates and lintels are rotten
Emergency work was carried out in March to remove a chimney that was in danger of collapsing
The writing room on the first floor of the house overlooked the harbour at Lyme Regis, called The Cobb
John Fowles and his wife, Sarah, had approached the Landmark Trust to secure Belmont from development
The crumbling former home of novelist John Fowles is to be used as an education retreat for young writers.
The Landmark Trust bought Belmont House in Lyme Regis, home to the author of The French Lieutenant's Woman, in 2007.
Fowles, who died in 2005 aged 79, expressed a wish his home should be used by writers and enjoyed as a place of inspiration and education.
The charity has already agreed with the University of East Anglia (UEA) to use the facility after it is restored.
The trust, which rescues at-risk buildings by turning them into holiday homes, is also in talks with other institutions to make the author's dream a reality.
John Fowles took a great interest in Eleanor Coade's links with the house
MA students at UEA's Creative Writing School are to use the Grade II* listed house for two intensive weeks every year, living and writing together as part of their programme.
Professor Andrew Cowan, director of UEA's creative writing programme, said: "We are delighted that Belmont House will be used as a residential centre for young writers.
"We hope they will be as inspired as John Fowles was by the wonderful environment of the house and the surrounding area."
The cottage, which is in desperate need of restoration, is now the subject of a £1.8m fundraising appeal to pay for the work, which is hoped to begin in 2014.
Belmont House was also the home of 18th Century businesswoman Eleanor Coade, who perfected the system of stone moulding, known as Coade stone.
The method was used to cast garden ornaments and statues and can be seen on landmark buildings including Buckingham Palace and Brighton Pavilion.
Trust historian Caroline Stanford said: "Mrs Coade is a fascinating, unsung figure and John Fowles a defining author of our time. Their lives have become entwined at Belmont."
The French Lieutenant's Woman, written in 1969 and arguably Fowles's most famous novel, was set in Lyme Regis and was made into a film starring Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons in 1981. His other works included The Magus, Daniel Martin and The Collector.
- Published24 April 2013
- Published27 January 2012
