Greenbank Hall Chester - progress

The scaffolding has come down (July 2015) and the restoration is taking shape under Owen Ellis Architects instruction.  Thanks to Neil for these latest images. Very exciting to see the building rise like a phoenix. If ever there was a case for proper restoration, this is it.  Sash windows have replaced steel ones inserted whilst used as a college - yes, they are single-glazed, restored in conjunction with the original sash boxes found during the refurbishment. Lead-roll flat roofs have replaced felt.   Exemplary and bold restoration by the developer.

Secondary service 'wing' with roof of the early 20th century, restored in lead and natural slate.  For a view of the former appearance in felt see below!!

Barns but not barns

I seem to have had a wave of visiting and recording farm complexes lately.  Challenging to photograph, but I seem to be getting the hang of it, thanks to various tips from Mark Ludbrook and Andy Marshall.  Has anyone else discovered any 'bank barns' in upland Staffordshire or upland Cheshire?

Cheshire - brick courtyard farm combined hay barn and livestock building of the 1820s
Feb. 2015. Original floors removed

Staffordshire - stone combination multi-level 'bank barn' of the early C18, with cow-house at the lower level
March 2015 - later brick piers have replaced timber principal posts

Victoria Park - St Helens almost complete

A great link to the Facebook page - Friends of Victoria Park site, showing the progress made in 2014 on this HLF-funded Parks for People project.
https://www.facebook.com/fovpsth

A really interesting project to have advised on; the main challenge for the architect - to create a new conservatory on the footprint of the original Messenger conservatory, at the same time satisfying both Building Regs. (as a new building that will perform in an energy efficient way) and meets the needs of the users (Age UK) at the Mansion House.  A difficult challenge for the Design Team to meet these needs and at the same time produce a traditional design. 
Both the walled garden and the gate-lodge are looking dramatic, crisp and elegant (July 2014), as befitting the Italianate Revival architecture.  The natural fit and simplicity of the details disguises all the hard work, research and high specification that has gone into the scheme - a measure of good conservation.

Gate Lodge - the cracked bay window
before recording & dismantling

Gate Lodge - the same bay window with
stucco removed & sample panel of render

Chimney stack prior to recording and removal of stucco 

Stucco being applied to chimney by Ornate Interiors;
each individual dentil moulding is applied
separately by hand

Walled garden (above and below) - the back wall of the
conservatory prior to restoration. There was little
surviving historic detail. The restoration has involved
using historic photographic evidence and experience
to establish the precise details of the missing rusticated
stucco pilasters, copings and stone ball finials.

Greenbank Hall - restoration of Georgian mansion now on site

The restoration of the Georgian mansion on Eaton Road in Chester is underway!!   Our Conservation Management Plan is complete and I will upload photos of work as it progresses on site during the summer and autumn.  Schemeglobal Properties (Chester) Ltd. are the developer and Owen Ellis Architects are acting project architects for the refurbishment, restoration and new build.  It promises to be a fantastic development of contemporary houses within the grounds of the Mansion and an exemplary restoration of a sad, down-at-heel, mansion which was developed by John Swarbeck Rogers, a Chester Mayor, in the 1820s to show off his new status in society.  It was last used as an educational building but a legacy of this use has left the building bereft of details, many of which are being restored. 

17th century cambered ceilings

I am currently looking at some cambered ceilings in the first floor of an early 17th century manor house in Lancashire. This type of ceiling was used throughout the main rooms (4) and incorporates an axial beam which is morticed into a cambered tie beam, with joists of relatively thin scantling set on an angle. There are no signs that the tie beam was decorated so the ceiling soffit was always plastered out for the entire ceiling. The ceilings are now plain plaster modern finish but I would be interested to know of any other examples, to see how they were originally finished - a flat plaster finish or more decorative?

EH Level 2 and 3 Recording for unusual buildings

We have just completed a Level 3 Recording of Broxton Lower Hall in conjunction with James Brennan Associates, who prepared rectified photographs. The timber-framed Hall has an early 16th century wing, recently revealed and part illustrated in the image below. 

Survey drawing of timber frame from rectified photographs

We have also just been appointed to undertake a Level 2 Recording of Cathedral House, Salford (a grade II* listed building attached to Salford Cathedral).  Now largely vacant, the building is about to be converted into priests' accommodation for the Roman Catholic Cathedral Diocese. Originally built as a seminary and Bishop Vaughan's accommodation in 1873-5, this new use provides rare continuity with its historical use.

Cathedral House Salford

High Peak Conservation Area Appraisals

We have been recently appointed as heritage consultants to produce conservation area appraisals for High Peak Borough Council in Simmondley & Whitfield. Looking forward to getting up there when the weather improves!