October News

Autumn and the dark evenings are now fully upon us.  Trees and hedges look resplendent in their fantastic, fiery colours. Although there are still a few blackberries and sloes hiding in the hedgerows, there has been a distinct chill in the air on a few occasions, and, therefore, we must count our blessings for all this sunshine and dry weather!

As usual, we’ve had a busy month, and this is just a taste of what we’ve been up to. 

•          At the C16^th Hall House in Essex, with R J Hogg & Sons The second coat of lime render has gone on and is now wrapped up for the winter to protect it against the frost.  New windows have been inserted and new French doors are currently going in.   First fix plumbing has begun.
  ·         The roof of the C16^th Court Barn has been stripped.  We were fearful of what might be found, but have been pleasantly surprised by its relatively good condition.  The roof is currently being repaired.
  ·         At Finchingfield Guildhall, Sibyl gave a talk and walk around Finchingfield  Guildhall to local residents,  trustees and some local Politicians, to explain all the works that have been taking place over the last couple of months. Everyone scrabbled over the scaffolding, and up and down ladders to view the plastering, daubing and new mullioned windows.     
        We also had a visit from the National Trust, who wanted to have a look round and see what we were doing.
        The oak Plank and muntin wall has been constructed 
        The oriel window oak mullions and apron has been installed and is ready for the leaded lights.
        The pargetting is nearing completion. Paul and his team have done a wonderful job re-creating the C19^th chevron and sawn pattern we discovered in old photographs in the records office.  The scaffold is now partially down, so people are starting to get a glimpse of what it looks like.
       The limewash going on is made by local hero Ted Ingilby, using 2 coats of casein limewash and 1 coat of tallow limewash.
        Another local legend, Mark Atkinson from Essex Archaeology Unit, has been kept busy; dusting, scraping, drawing and recording all the archaeological finds during the groundworks, and is producing some exceptional sketches.
  ·         The contemporary glazed extension to the important Grade I Listed Country House in Suffolk is growing out of the ground, with the steel frame and masonry already constructed.  The new joinery within the existing house is all being bespoke made, and is due for delivery.   Casting of the slab for the new Breakfast Room is taking place.  A new limestone floor is being laid in the Great Hall.  Underpinning has begun for the new wood chip store.
  ·         At The Retreat House, Pleshey, working drawings continue this month, with kitchen layout, bathrooms and en-suites, roof detail, floor build-up and setting out almost ready for issue. 
  ·         In Huntingdonshire, our client been granted Planning Permission for an oak framed extension to a Grade II Listed, C17th Lobby Entrance house, and also for conversion of a little barn within the curtilage of the house. 
  ·         At Radwinter Church, the Delft-type tiles, (made especially for us by Douglas Watson Studio) depicting scenes of Radwinter, were carefully positioned around the sink in the new kitchenette.
  ·         The new kitchenette and toilet were unveiled at Radwinter Friends Day, 21^st October.
  ·         We met the DAC advisers at Galleywood Church this month to discuss the best location within the building for their organ.
  ·         The wonderful wallpapers are being put up at the Regency house in Essex, one is called Saffron Walden Tracery by Zoffany, and is based on an original Elizabethan anticknework scrolling design found inside a house in local town Saffron Walden. The new regency staircase has been fitted and the window shutters are hung on the sashes. The rooms are now taking shape with the second fix and decorations filling the house with colour and light ready for Christmas!
  ·         Concept Design drawings continue for the conversion of a little flint and brick outbuilding into a studio/office, with attached glasshouse adjacent to a beautiful C17th house in Essex.
  ·         Concept Design Drawings for a Farmhouse in the Lea Valley are complete which has reinstated the original features of lobby entrance  house and a new two-storey wing replacing an 80s extension echoing the design. The laundry outhouse has been connected and converted into a Kitchen.
  ·         At the beautiful Grade II Listed Arts and Crafts house in Essex, Concept Design drawings are complete for a Kitchen/breakfast room extension, incorporating timber details from this decorative house originally designed by famous Architect George Sherrin.
  ·         Concept Design drawings have commenced for the conversion of a large C17-18^th barn into a studio, showroom and workshop for a prestigious English furniture Designer & Manufacturer. The barn will incorporate modern glazing details and the oak frame skeleton will be stripped bare and exposed throughout. There is a very old C15th barn adjacent which will be separate and original elements restored such as its mullioned window, daub and crown post roof reinstated.
  ·         Concept Design drawings are nearly complete for the extension to an elegant Grade II* brick country house in Hertfordshire. The extension incorporates decorative brick noggin work picking up on details found on the house.
  ·         Lodge and Sons have started works at Grade II Listed Little Baddow Church, where they have lifted the stone slabs off the floor of the tower, and also started to construct a new kitchenette and WC, and a new balcony floor which goes up to the ringing chamber.
  ·         KPT’s entry of Spains Hall was shortlisted in the RICS Grand Finals Awards, 2012.  Kay, Sibyl, Peter and Nicola attended the presentation luncheon at The Savoy Hotel in London on 19^th October.
  ·         Kay and Peter attended the annual conference of Architects Accredited in Building Conservation, which was held in a restored tobacco factory. The theme of the conference was closer collaboration between building conservation accredited architects, surveyors and engineers. The conference was followed by the AGM of Architects Accredited in Building Conservation.
  ·         Monica organised an Office Outing to Warner Textiles, in Braintree.  This was a most pleasant and informative tour, where we gained an insight into the dyeing and pattern designs of silk and other textiles, ranging over two centuries, including ‘C19^th elegance and C20^th flair’.  We were shown how these textiles were used for furnishing and wallcovering, as well as for dressmaking.  Among the most impressive textiles were those used in the wedding trousseau of Princess May, who, upon marrying King George, became Queen Mary.  www.warnertextilearchive.co.uk/