A building in Sandys that once housed a dental surgeon could be torn down after falling into a state of disrepair.

The demolition of Crawl House on Lagoon Road was proposed in a planning application submitted by the public works ministry after a structural assessment found that the property was in “severely dilapidated disrepair”.

“All that can be salvaged from this structure are the foundations and walls,” the assessment said.

“We consider that the most appropriate course of action is to demolish the entire structure as we do not see the value in saving walls that are at least 120 years old and constructed out of Bermuda stone and considering all of the other issues that trying to save the walls would entail.”

The assessment said that Crawl House was included as a yellow fever hospital on a 1901 map and records indicated that the structure could be closer to 200 years old.

However, according to the Bermuda National Trust, the building was built in 1899, the same year as the Zymotic Hospital, and was the dental surgeon’s residence

While documents said the building received some repairs “several years ago” to address hurricane damage, the new ceilings were found to have patches of mould and damp, indicating that water had come in through the new roof and on to the new ceilings.

“It appears as though the original structure had additions constructed over the ensuing years,” the assessment said.

“It appears as though the original structure comprised four rooms and a hallway. This original structure was constructed out of Bermuda stone block.

“The next addition was very likely the section to the northeast that contains the bedroom, the bathroom and the general room. This too was constructed of Bermuda stone.

“The more recent two additions appear to be the section containing the rooms to the northwest of the original structure, which was constructed out of concrete block and the enclosed porch at the southern end of the structure, which was also constructed out of concrete block.”

The assessment found mould and mildew throughout the structure, and there was evidence of wet rot, dry rot and termite infestation, with the roof and floors branded “structural liabilities”.