Homes of the past into homes for the future
Conservation and heritage projects
Upgrading and improving heriage buildings is rewarding and often challenging. Every project is unique and the details are key to satisfy the conservation officers and gain listed buildings permission and to do the buildings justice.
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It is possible to improve the thermal performance of old buildings, deal with damp issues and to let light into previously dark ones but careful consideration is needed on how best to meet briefs in a sympathetic and appropriate way.
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Being based in West Dorset, the majority of our projects fall within the West Dorset AONB / National Landscape or other protected landscapes, with those inside settlements often being within conservation areas, and are sometimes listed buildings, or curtilage listed themselves. We have also done projects on heritage buildings in Somerset and East Devon.
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​Thorney Mill
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The client had carefully restored and maintained the Grade II listed Mill next to the River Parrett over the past 20 years so it was important that the conversion of the barn was done with equal care and attention to detail. A beautifully crafted oak framed dormer window gives extra headroom in the new mezzanine room over the car port and roof windows flood the lower room with light from above.
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Where possible old beams were retained and replacement was in new oak to match. Remedial work was done to the stone walls to ensure they were structurally sound, rebuilt as necessary and then re-pointed with lime. ​Wood fibre insulation and lime render was used on the inside of the stone walls to ensure they continue to breathe and that the habitable internal space was insulated whilst ensuring no damp issues were created.
Masons Cottage and Thatch End
A project to reconnect two properties that were once the pub of Shipton Gorge. Minimal changes are made to the historic material of the cottages, but the modern haphazard extensions are removed to make way for new infill construction to link up the two properties.
The conservation officer was keen that the story of life of the building should still be apparent even if the construction is updated, so the first-floor wing on the rear of Thatch End is replaced with a new extension in a similar form, providing an additional study and shower room above the ground floor.
Meanwhile a large and open kitchen dining space with skylights at ground floor provides an airy south facing entertainment space, central to the combined home, and leaving the original rooms in the main cottages for cosier activities. Sliding doors provide access to the southern garden and patio, with views up to the village church. Being in the conservation area, the right materials are key for this project, natural stone, lime renders, slate, seamed roofing and timber cladding are all vernacular materials also found in the existing building, and these will weather over time to further help the new sensitively meld into the old.
Lindisfarne
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​Lindisfarne was a house full of character, nestled in the conservation area of Powerstock village.
There were some run down extensions to the back which were removed to make way for an open-plan kitchen and dining space with views to the west across the valley. The extension also
The rear wing of the existing house was remodelled to create a new 'back door' entrance hall, utility and shower room and a generous larder off the kitchen.
South Street
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Here an outbuilding behind the terraced cottages lining Bridport's main street was to be upgraded and converted for use as a study and relaxation space.
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With the main terrace being a listed building, this store room was curtilage listed, so had to be treated with the same level of care and detail as the main house would have.
We added two conservation style rooflights into the slate roof, which was replaced and insulated for additional performance.
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The timber windows were replaced with new units in the same style as those there before, but with upgraded performance. Lastly the walls were repointed and lime washed for better waterproofing while keeping breathability.
