Stately Home Restoration
This Grade I listed manor house had fallen into significant disrepair before our comprehensive restoration programme began. With work starting in the summer, we focused first on the exterior, addressing the most exposed and vulnerable elements of the estate.
Our initial priority was the two clock towers on the stable and coach house buildings. Both had suffered decades of weathering and neglect, with failed coverings, decayed timber and distorted detailing. We carefully repaired and spliced the original timber structure, introduced new lead cladding where required, and retained as many original features as possible. Even the weather vane — briefly absent during works, as the comparison image shows — ultimately returned to its rightful place.
Once the external fabric was stabilised, we moved on. The house required extensive structural repairs throughout to turn what had become a compromised and limited building into a secure, long‑term family home. We addressed movement, failing supports and historic alterations that had weakened the structure, always working in a way that respected the original layout and character.
With the structure made sound, we turned to the internal finishes. Traditional methods were used wherever possible, including extensive lime plastering carried out across walls and ceilings. Lime was chosen for its breathability, compatibility with the historic fabric and its ability to sit comfortably alongside existing materials. We repaired and reinstated historic plasterwork, restored bay windows and treated damaged floors using techniques appropriate to a building of this age and status.
In the principal rooms, we designed and fitted bespoke kitchens and joinery that complement the architecture rather than compete with it. The new kitchen, in particular, was treated as a key feature — carefully detailed to sit within the historic envelope while providing the function expected of a modern home.
Every element of the project was planned to preserve original features while bringing the property up to contemporary living standards. The result is a careful balance: a home that honours its remarkable heritage, performs as a comfortable, long‑term residence, and retains the character that makes a Grade I listed building so significant.
This project reflects our approach to sensitive restoration: stabilise the structure, repair with appropriate traditional methods, and modernise only where necessary — allowing the building’s history to remain the defining feature.