A 1930s mansion was left abandoned by its owner after she was driven out by criminals, the Daily Mail can reveal.

The grand home has been empty for years after its elderly owner Brenda Mordecai left the property in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire.

Mrs Mordecai moved out after a spate of break ins and left it to her two daughters. 

Currently, the neglected home in a conservation area has become a construction site, as a developer has acquired the prime location on the fringe of Nottingham city.

Cameron Homes aims to transform the formerly desirable property, set within four acres, into six new houses, which will be adjacent to their developing site of 30 to 40 homes.

Residents living across from The Croft House on the busy Loughborough Road express regret that their rural village, located five miles south of the Midlands city, is being inundated with new constructions.

A couple told how the white mansion, built in the 1930s, has sadly fallen to ruin after being left empty for many years.

An abandoned mansion (pictured) in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire, was abandoned by its owner after a spate of break ins 

After the house was spotted in a dilapidated state, it can be revealed its widowed owner fled the home after being targeted by criminals

Currently, the neglected home in a conservation area has become a construction site, as a developer has acquired the prime location on the fringe of Nottingham city.

The huge house, which lies empty, is seen surrounded by newbuild homes 

Cameron Homes aims to transform the formerly desirable hideaway, nestled within four acres, into six new houses, adjacent to its other development of 30 to 40 homes.

They told how the home had a chequered past and had been owned by two different families both running prestigious local businesses. 

Before the property was left derelict and sold for £1.5 million, including an additional five-acre paddock, in October last year to Cameron Homes, its last owner was Mrs. Mordecai.

She used to host ‘fabulous’ garden parties at the property, which is hidden from view by rows of trees, for societies and the local Conservation association.

A retired resident living nearby said: ‘It was once a splendid house and one to be invited to.

‘I’ve never seen inside or been in the large gardens – you can’t even see the house as it was totally screened by trees. You wouldn’t even know it was there!’

Sadly, the hideaway location attracted burglars and one local explained the elderly occupant, living alone, was finally ‘driven away by a number of break ins’. 

He said Mrs Mordecai moved to neighbouring upmarket West Bridgford in 2018, saying: ‘She was worried by all the crime and felt it was too dangerous living there, plus the house was much too big for her and she wanted to downsize.’

One of her two daughters, Jacqueline, lives a five-minute stroll away in a gated property, but it appears that neither she or her sister Jo-Anne – who are aged 60 and 58 – ever wanted to live with their parents at The Croft House.

Mrs Mordecai and her husband Jacob were clothing manufacturers and ran a successful lingerie and clothes business.

The house once hosted garden parties for socialites and political revellers

The white house in the distance, surrounded by a sea of newbuild properties 

The owner left the prestigious property, tucked away behind a row of tall trees, years ago after a spate of terrifying break ins 

A couple told how the white mansion, built in the 1930s, has sadly fallen to ruin after being left empty for many years

The widow continued living there alone for several decades before it is understood she gifted the house to her two daughters when she moved out 

They bought the house from another wealthy family – the Woodhouses who made wooden structures for gardens.

One neighbour said: ‘But soon after they moved around 35 years ago Mr Mordecai passed away.’ 

His widow continued living there alone for several decades before it is understood she gifted the house to her two daughters when she moved out. 

Now aged 91, she lives four miles away in a charming gated property near daughter Jo-Anne.

She was unavailable for comment about her former home being turned into a mini new build estate, due to being away on holiday.

Before Cameron Homes bought the house last year with the intention of totally demolishing it and replacing it with six new homes, another developer had previously acquired the derelict property and a neighbouring paddock.

They applied to Rushcliffe Borough Council for planning consent to build eight homes on The Croft site and 35 houses on the adjacent field – together 10 acres – but was met with fierce local opposition and planners’ refusal.

They sold the property to another developer, Cameron Homes, who later won the right to build an estate in the field and are now seeking permission to build a reduced number of homes – from eight to six – at the former grand home.

The surrounding areas are a building site as developers construct new homes 

The white house is seen in the distance surrounded by newbuild properties 

The home is much larger than any houses around it and sticks out due to its colossal size 

Mrs Mordecai and her husband Jacob were clothing manufacturers and ran a successful lingerie and clothes business 

The house sits in Ruddington, Nottingham. Pictured: The Ruddington sign  

While the site is not listed status it is identified as being a ‘key unlisted building’ on the Townscape Appraisal Map.

But a heritage statement sought by the developers as part of the planning application argues that, despite its age and size, it is not of sufficient heritage interest to merit consideration as an asset to the area.

The proposed new houses are all five-bedroom, two-storey dwellings and would be designed to the same specification as nearby new builds. 

They would be equipped with electric vehicle charging ports and have driveways – each big enough for two cars, as well as garages.

Planners will make a decision on the application in the coming months.

One local said: ‘I’m sure already the plan will be a done deal with the council. The whole area is a huge building site with concrete mixers coming constantly back and forth on an overloaded road.

‘Developers seem to have a lot of clout when it comes to planning approval.

‘It’s a shame the property can’t be a family home again and is set to become six separate dwellings, which will increase car use and traffic significantly.’ 

Another resident said of the house: ‘It’s so well hidden you never notice it but it’s a shame there may be more new builds there.

‘Ruddington has far too many. It used to be such a lovely place to live but it’s been spoiled.’

Today the derelict home in a conservation area is a building site – with a developer having snapped up the prime site on the outskirts of Nottingham city

A ‘land for sale’ sign in the area where the abandoned mansion sits 

The owner left the prestigious property, tucked away behind a row of tall trees, years ago after a spate of terrifying break ins

The woman said: ‘I’m a Ruddington girl but it is not nearly as nice as it used to be.

‘There’s a big new estate across the road but the prices of homes are sky high and none of them are affordable for the youngsters, who will never be able to get on the property ladder.’

Diagonally opposite The Croft House lies another site under construction.

Clive Whiting has won planning permission to knock down a large old house his son and family have been living in to build ‘two brand new luxury homes’. 

The builder told the Daily Mail: ‘It was a 70s property and we’ve owned it for a few years but my son moved out because it was too cold.

‘Now we’re knocking it down and building two new five-bed homes.

‘We’ve got planning for six beds at each but that seems too big so we’re going smaller.

‘My son and his family will be moving into one and I may move into the other.

‘I live nearby now but is is every dad’s dream to live next door to their son and grandson!’

Mr Whiting said of the abandoned house opposite: ‘It has been empty for many years and it is such a waste when someone could be living there but I understand it is not being re-developed.’ 

A Cameron Homes spokesperson said: ‘We absolutely understand and respect concerns from local residents. Our proposal for The Croft House on Loughborough Road will look to bring a derelict site back into use by creating six new homes, adjacent to our Sylvan development of 36 new houses, of which 11 are affordable. 

‘The Croft House proposal is currently going through the formal planning application process, where residents can provide comments to the proposals for due consideration. Any decision will be made by the local planning authority, ensuring community views are heard and considered in the application.’