A lighting design was developed to subtly enhance the façade by highlighting architectural features such as the Corinthian columns and decorative label tops over the central doorways, as well as illuminating the basement wells. 

With the consents in place, we provided technical support while John Carpenter Electrical Ltd installed the fittings, which now wash the elevations with soft light, giving the buildings an inviting appearance during the evening, while improving accessibility and security for the properties’ users.  

To protect the historic interest of the grade II* listed building and the character of the surrounding Belgravia Conservation Area, the new works were required to match the existing original work in terms of materials, method of construction and finished appearance. With this approach to the design and detailing, the end result is the sensitive introduction of modern technology to this heritage asset.

If you would like to discuss a potential residential or conservation project, please contact us.

Directors Julian Vallis and Laurence Hall attended the luncheon and awards ceremony on 2 July at the American Express Stadium and were delighted to each receive recognition for theirs and the team’s work, as well as the much-coveted slate plaques presented by Lord Egremont.

Photo credit: Love Heart Photograph

Our project at St Peter’s Well, Lodsworth was a winner in the ‘Small Scale Residential: Restoration, Conversion and Extension’ category, which recognises ‘a restoration and/or conversion of one unit.  This can include a new building extension/improvements on a listed property, where restoration has taken place’.

This sensitive renovation and extension of a grade II listed 17^th century former house and malthouse transforms a neglected historic structure into a comfortable, breathable family home.  Conservation-led repairs using traditional materials were paired with thoughtful modern upgrades, including a limecrete floor, wood fibre insulation and a Bluetooth-enabled smart lighting system.  A contemporary glazed link connects the new family room to the main house, referencing the site’s malthouse history while addressing planning constraints and challenging topography through careful massing and detailing.

On visiting our project, the judges said:

“Every aspect of this historic refurbishment and rear addition has been carefully thought through with the end resulting in a beautiful house embracing original materials and craftmanship with a wonderfully landscaped garden.”

Our conservation repair project at St George’s Church in Kemptown, Brighton where we are the Inspecting Architect saw another win in the Ecclesiastical Building category, which acknowledges ‘a restoration, repair, conversion or development scheme, which improves all, or part of an existing or former ecclesiastical building’.

The restoration of St George’s Church, a grade II listed building, focused on internal redecoration, structural repairs and refinishing to preserve its heritage and support continued worship and community use.  Works included plaster and joinery repairs, parquet floor restoration and minor roof maintenance, all carried out using traditional materials.   A phased approach ensured the church remained operational throughout, while sustainable practices enhanced energy efficiency and protected the building’s fabric and surrounding biodiversity.

Photo credit: DBR Limited

We have a longstanding client relationship with the parish and St George’s and for this project worked closely with DBR Limited building restoration services and Davies Floor Limited to prepare the church for its bicentennial celebrations (click here to read our previous News article).

The judges commented:

“A beautifully executed restoration of the interior of an outstanding Regency church. The parquet flooring was carefully restored and all interior walls and other surfaces repainted to match original colour. Richly deserves an Award.”

We are very proud and grateful to the Sussex Heritage Trust for these awards, and to our team for all their hard work on the projects.

If you would like to discuss your conservation (or any other) project, please contact us.

Some of our other conservation and ecclesiastical projects can be viewed on our Project pages.

Working collaboratively with Batchellor Monkhouse and a landscape consultant, various locations for an additional dwelling to enable a farm worker to live on the farm, reasonably close to the cattle, were considered to ensure the optimum site was chosen. The aim was to provide sufficient privacy for the occupant, while minimising intervention in the landscape and avoiding impact on existing trees and hedgerows.

The dwelling has been designed to provide modern and comfortable accommodation, which allows the occupant to enjoy the setting and a sense of separation.  The choice of materials was driven by the agricultural vernacular and includes traditional masonry, timber cladding which will progressively weather and a metallic finished roof structure, all intended to settle the structure into the existing landscape.

The new farm office, forming part of the footprint of the new house, will provide self-sufficient accommodation for two workers and can be used for essential storage of equipment, as well as an office space, a utility room and WC/shower facilities.

The Planning Inspectorate concluded that “the proposal would be acceptable in conserving and enhancing landscape character.  There would be no material harm to relative tranquility or dark night skies, and no loss of key views or views of key landmarks within the National Park.”

The dwelling and office will support the growth of the farm and help generate employment within the National Park.  We are looking forward to developing the detailed design and seeing the works begin.

If you have a potential project you would like to discuss, please contact us.

The building has been vacant for at least ten years and on Chichester District Council’s ‘Heritage at Risk Register’.  Our client purchased the property in April 2021 with the ambition of making the building habitable once more and creating a home for his family.  By that time the house had become severely dilapidated and sections were at risk of structural collapse.

The building is within a Conservation Area, with part of the rear garden designated as a Scheduled Monument, and is valued within the area as a picturesque scene and artistic inspiration which has been captured in paintings and photographs for many years.  It was therefore important that the proposals were sensitive to the emotional connection with locals and visitors alike.

The building has a rich history, with the exterior described in its listing as 18^th century, although the core of the building is a hall house dating from between the mid-16^th and early 17^th century.  It is believed to have been a former miller’s house associated with post-medieval industry in the area centred around the water mills on the nearby leats, and has strong historical value as a traditional building made primarily of local materials.

Conservation works to prevent further deterioration began following a successful earlier Listed Building Consent application that was granted in spring 2020. Unsympathetic later interventions, however, needed to be addressed alongside the alterations and repairs, while taking care not to over develop the site.  This led to an application for alterations to improve the amenity of the building, aimed at enhancing the historical development of the building while creating a family home and securing a sustainable future.

The proposed works include among others lowering floor levels and sensitive internal alterations to create a comfortable home, the introduction of an entrance atrium and walkways between spaces, reinstatement of a second staircase, a new contemporary timber framed and lead clad garden room, and new external lighting and entrance gates.

The owner is also keen to reduce the carbon footprint of the house and mitigate the fire risk associated with the thatched roof and historic fabric.

Now that Planning and Listed Building Consents have been granted, it will be satisfying for all parties to see the works progress and the building returned to a functioning family home.

To discuss your own listed building project or works to a building in a sensitive setting, please contact us.

The third coat has been expertly prepared by Josh Waygood to give a lovely finish showing the aggregate and providing a greater surface area to help both shedding water and drying.

The dilemma has been whether to lime wash or not, as the finish looks amazing. With a heavy heart, and because of altitude and prevailing weather, it has been decided that five/six coats of lime wash will provide those extra layers of protection, so this is the next step.

To read about some of our other residential projects please click here.

If you would like to discuss a potential project, residential or otherwise, please contact us.

This lovely grade II listed mill operated as a working mill until 1941 but then quickly fell into disrepair and the remains of the windmill were removed in 1955.  A series of alterations and modernisations carried out over the years meant that the beauty of this industrial building had been diminished with insensitive additions. 

The client’s brief was to ensure the building worked as a contemporary family home with all the comforts of the 21^st century, while reinstating the original feel and flow of the historic internal spaces and respecting the former industrial use of the mill.

The project primarily concerned internal alterations with conservation repairs externally.  Internally, where unsympathetic alterations had carved up the interior spaces, these were removed and the integrity of the spaces regained by designing new glazed partitions and carefully relocating the spaces and the stairs.   

All alterations were detailed respecting the existing fabric and followed strict conservation principles.  The proposed design also sought to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the property, providing good thermal insulation and sound insulation between the floors and partitions.

To read about this and some of our other residential projects please click here.

If you would like to discuss a potential project, residential or otherwise, please contact us.  Details of our Architecture & Design service can be found here.

The Sussex Heritage Trust was established in 1977 as a charity ‘to preserve, improve and encourage the appreciation of the architectural and natural heritage of Sussex’.  The charity’s Awards ‘are designed to recognise and reward the highest quality conservation, restoration and good design of newly built projects while encouraging the use of traditional skills and crafts’.

There are nine categories of Awards with the winners in each receiving a hand crafted slate plaque to be attached to the winning project.  Other projects in the category may also be Highly Commended.

Owing to COVID-19 and the national restrictions, this year the Awards were announced in a virtual awards ceremony, introduced by Lord Egremont, President of the Sussex Heritage Trust, with Award winners and Highly Commended projects announced by the Chairman, Simon Knight.

Our work involving the extensive conservation and repair of the roof to the House at West Dean College was a winner in the Public & Community Award category.  The judges said “Superb restoration of an historic building using appropriate traditional materials.  Excellent detailing and craftmanship.  Close attention paid to future maintenance coupled with innovative and safe ladder access to all roof space.”

We are delighted that the Trust has recognised everyone’s hard work on this prestigious project.

You can read more about the project here.

Click here for information about West Dean College.

We had two projects entered in the Small Scale Residential Award category with the conversion and internal alterations to a grade II listed mill in West Sussex winning an award.  The judges said “The architects have succeeded in re-establishing and maintaining the industrial heritage of the mill by the use of contemporary materials and techniques.  Of particular note was the black metal framed glazing which had been used to divide the internal space (whilst retaining the large open industrial fee of the building) and the successful concealment of modern services”.

You can read more about the project here.

The extension to a 17^th century grade II listed Sussex farmhouse was Highly Commended, with the judges commenting “a well-considered and executed extension with fine detailing, particularly in the leadwork”.

You can read more about the project here.

If you would like to talk to us about a potential project, please contact us.

Click here for more information on The Sussex Heritage Trust.