A FORMER home of Narnia author CS Lewis could be torn down for “potential redevelopment”.

Campaigners and neighbours near 14 Holyoake Road in Headington, have called for it to be saved.

CS Lewis lived there from 1922 to 1930 after he returned from the First World War.

Abingdon resident Ronald Brind , an author of e-books on the writer and poet, said: “I believe Lewis was the greatest Christian apologist of the 20th century, this is where he lived for eight years and for any other reason this house should be saved as it is part of Britain’s Christian heritage.

“It is reason enough to save it and make it like the Kilns, as a place for visitors to explore.”

Tourists can explore The Kilns, in Headington, which is Lewis’ most celebrated home in Oxford, which provided the inspiration for The Chronicles of Narnia. Mr Brind used to conduct CS Lewis tours, but he said 14 Holyoake Road was “mystifyingly” neglected by tourists.

He said: “Lewis and his friend Paddy Moore went to war, and they made a pact that if one died they would look after the other’s family.

“Paddy was killed, and Lewis went to live with Paddy’s mother, Janie Moor, at the home.

“She was 26 years his senior, but there is certainly enough evidence to suggest there was a relationship between the pair. The house is not a listed building, but it should be preserved simply because of its importance.”

It is called ‘Hillsboro’ and is currently advertised as land for potential re-development for £1.6m, by agents Elwood and Company and Strutt and Parker.

A spokesman for Elwood and Company said: “There is absolutely opportunity for it to be restored as a house.

“We are not advertising it to tear it down and build 'X' amount of flats, we have been instructed to put it up for sale.

“Anyone can see its history on the Oxford City Council website, it has had lots of work done over the years, but still can be used as a home if that is what the new owner would want.”

The property was used as a chiropractor’s clinic until earlier this year. The registered owners are Yatsden Limited of Boars Hill Heath and was purchased on May 2, 2008. The company director is Simon Gregg.

An advert for the home on Strutt and Parker’s website states that it offers “huge potential for development”.

Resident Andrew Colleran said: “It should be kept as a house especially as there is the history behind it.”

  • Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 - 22 November 1963) was a prolific writer, poet, scholar of English literature and defender of Christianity. His most famous book is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the first published of his Chronicles of Narnia.
  • From October 1924 until May 1926, Lewis served as a philosophy tutor at University College.
  • On May 20, 1925, he was elected as a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, where he served as a tutor in English language and literature for 29 years.

The CS Lewis Foundation website