Set in the shadows of the historic Bosworth battlefields is a Grade II Listed farmhouse. Its owners engaged us to assist with a much-needed conservation and renovation project.
A 17th-century timber frame building
The farmhouse is currently made up of three sections. The oldest, an original 17th-century timber-frame building, needed maintenance and repair. Due to the deterioration of the timber frame, the building had started to move and was being held up by scaffolding. The council’s Conservation Officer agreed that the timber frame could be repaired and replaced where required in a traditional style, using traditional methods, to return the Listed building to its former glory.
Previously, the farmhouse had undergone some alterations, and some of the internal elements of the building also needed some renovation. One room was in a sorry state of repair.
The farmhouse had evolved over many years in an ad hoc fashion, which fragmented the flow and layout of the property. We took an overview with the clients to ensure that it worked for their everyday use.
As part of the design process, the client also engaged David Smith and Rob Haywood of TR Projects, who are well-respected historians and historic buildings analysts. We have worked with TR Projects on many projects over the years. While we work on a lot of Listed buildings and buildings of historical interest, when a property shows particular merit we require specialist advice. This helps us to understand the history of the building and how that history might affect the proposals.
This project turned out to be one of David Smith’s last, as he sadly passed away after the proposals were finalised. His in-depth and passionate knowledge of historic buildings will be greatly missed by all of us, as well as by the wider conservation community.
Restoration works
The project was approved in 2016, and the works were undertaken by the property owner, who is by trade a building contractor. The restoration work was a slow process, having to fit in and around the owner’s day to day work. We revisited the property recently to see the completed project, which we’re pleased to say has been carried out to a high standard. The Conservation Officer has subsequently commended the project for the quality of the restoration works.
The historic fabric analysis completed by TR Projects has also ensured that the history of the building has been recorded for generations to come.
The farmhouse’s location, in a prominent position alongside the Bosworth battlefield, made it a building of special interest, so it was of paramount importance it was retained as accurately as possible.
We are happy to have been involved in this conservation project to secure the building’s long-term future.
