December News from Kay Pilsbury Thomas Architects

All the team at Kay Pilsbury Thomas Architects would like to wish a Joyous and Peaceful Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to our clients past, present and future, and to our Contractors, Consultants and all readers of our News Blog.

Below is just a taster of what the KPTA team has been up to during December.

• This month we helped submit the Heritage Lottery Grants for Places of Worship application for Ovington Church, who are looking to repair their roof. The local school children are also helping by creating “a childrens guide” to the flora and fauna in the churchyard and the history of the church. Fingers crossed as we wait for HLF’s response!
• The drawing and schedule package for a new orangery and accessible bedroom, at The Retreat House Pleshey, will be sent to the client for perusal over the Christmas break and is going out to competitive tender in the New Year.
• Plans for a new swimming pool, gym and leisure outbuilding for a Grade II Listed Arts and Crafts house in Essex are with the client for their perusal, and will be submitted for Planning Permission early in the New Year.
• The pre-application has been submitted for the demolition of a poorly constructed 1960s bungalow, and to rebuild it as a 1 ½ storey lodge, which will be more in keeping for its surroundings at a large farm estate in Essex.
• At a Grade II, C.17th timber frame, thatched house in Cambridgeshire, we have carried out a survey to prepare drawings for the demolition of a 1960s garage and for a replacement timber frame outbuilding; and for repairs to a further large timber frame outbuilding close to the house; and also to some internal alterations to the house.
• We have submitted the application for Planning Permission and Certificate of Lawfulness for internal alterations, rear ground and first floor extension; providing an oak framed sunroom, a new Breakfast Room with new first floor bedroom, and a new balcony for an C.18th unlisted house, bordering National Trust property in Essex.
• Our clients are settled and enjoying their first Christmas for two years back in the C.15th Hall House, with C17th rear range, following extensive renovation works.
• We are currently in discussion with the Listed Building Officer over the proposed works to a C.18th Grade II Listed small thatched cottage in Essex, which it is proposed to extend on the rear.
• The Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent applications will be submitted in the New Year for the internal remodelling of the house and the external re-design of a rear range for a Grade II Listed early C.16th in-line Hall house in Essex.
• We have started the feasibility for a new village hall and sports pavilion in Cambridgeshire
• We have started the feasibility study, measure and drawings for the new ancillary building and internal alteration for St Mary’s Church in Saffron Walden. This is a glorious 
• We have completed the concept design to convert a little threshing barn into ancillary accommodation for a 16th Century grade II listed Farm House in Essex
• We are in currently doing the concept design for a new indoor swimming pool, gym and games room extension to a Georgian villa house in Cambridgeshire. There will also be new courtyard garages and outbuildings which compliment this important country house. Historic research has revealed that the house originally had another Georgian service wing and outbuildings to one side that were demolished in the mid-20th century, which has given us some scope for the new design. There was also a Georgian single storey range with tall sashes, which was demolished and we may reinstate as an enlarged Kitchen/dining room.      
• We are in the rectification period at Finchingfield Guildhall, who had 150 visitors in one day this month to their Christmas craft fair!
• We have been appointed as the new Architect for the lovely Coppersale Church, near Epping Forest. 
• Construction Detailed Design Drawings are nearly complete and the schedule fo works is being written up for St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Galleywood, where we are designing  new carved oak panelling and a modern structural glazed screen to the North Transept to create a Youth Room and accessible WC with robing room on a new first floor.  We are also designing a new tower balcony and tower screen to take the Organ.
• We have been out to measure a Hall House near Huntington which is to have some internal alterations and have started the existing building drawings. 
• We celebrated Christmas in style in the historic setting of Ickworth House, where we ate a very good meal and everyone enjoyed the Secret Santa presents!
• The office is now closed for Christmas whilst we all eat lots of food and drink too much and will re-open on Monday 6th January 2014.   

October/November News from Kay Pilsbury Thomas Architects

Despite a bit of rough weather at the end of of the October and a tree falling onto Sibyl’s car, we are still here to tell you what we have been up to during October and November. We also have Monica back with the team following the birth of her daughter Oona.

• At St. John the Baptist Church, Leytonstone, C H Lindsey & Son Ltd came to the rescue when the boiler broke down, and they soon undertook repairs, ensuring the congregation was warm once more.  This was a great relief to the Rev. Raymond Draper, who retires at the end of October.    
• All of the KPT team wish The Rev. Raymond Draper and his wife a long and peaceful retirement, and we are sure they will spend a great deal of time enjoying the company of their young grandchildren.  We would also like to welcome Rev. Draper’s successor, and to wish them well for the future.
• Plaster repair works are almost complete on-site at Radwinter Village Hall with Lodge & Son Builders.
• Construction Detailed Design Drawings are progressing well for St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Galleywood, where we are designing a new carved oak and modern structural glazed screen to the North Transept to create a Youth Room and accessible WC with robing room on a new first floor.  We are also designing a new tower balcony and tower screen to take the Organ. We have incorporated some carvings of trees into the new screen design to reflect the church’s location in the woods.
• We’ve met the Structural Engineer at Ovington Church to review the roof and wall structural repairs there which will form part of the grant application.
• We have just helped submit a Heritage Lottery Fund, Grants for Places of Worship, Round 1 Application for the repair works there and the church are also hoping to get the local school children to do a “children’s guide” which will tell young visitors all about the flora and fauna in the churchyard and about the history of the church building itself.
• The Planning and Listed Building Consent applications that are needed for a Threshing barn and a Tudor barn in Essex have been submitted. The Tudor barn will be used as ancillary accommodation with many of its features reinstated, such as the mullioned windows and crown post roof.  The Threshing barn is becoming a workshop and exhibition space for a well-known furniture company with some modern glazed interventions.
• The construction drawings are on-going for the new orangery and accessible bedroom at The Retreat House Pleshey.  The Orangery design will incorporate some oak doors and windows inspired by the Arts and Crafts joinery already found on the building, and the roof will be a living sedum roof. These will go out to tender in the New Year.
• Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent has been Approved by Huntingdon Council for a Garden Room extension and house refurbishment to a 17th Century house and the Quantity Surveyor has done an Estimate of Cost reday to go onto the detailed design stage. 
• We have met and agreed with the Conservation Officer over the design for a Breakfast Room extension to a Lobby Entrance House in South Cambridgeshire. Once we have their response the Planning & Listed Building Application will go in during December. 
• We have done practical completion and are now into the rectification period on a lovely C15th Hall House in Essex with R J Hoggs. The house looks amazing and the conversion works to the rear wing, now mean that the whole of this C17th rear range can be used once again.
• We have done the concept design for an extension to a Jacobean cottage in Essex. The house was rented for many years, so not much was done to it. We’ve met the Conservation officer and have agreed to remove a Victorian single storey and replace it with a 1 ½ storey side and rear wing to provide a new Kitchen/Dining Area and first floor bedrooms. The existing house is also having some remodelling. 
• We are doing the concept design for a swimming pool, gym and leisure outbuilding in Essex, which will be timber-framed and shingled, with modern glazing detailing. The Council have provisionally agreed to the outbuilding and we will continue to negotiate with them over the final design
• We are doing the Planning Application and Certificate of lawfulness for the rear extensions to a 18th Century house in Essex. The extensions provide a new oak framed sunroom, which replaces an existing conservatory, a new Breakfast Room and a new first floor bedroom. Phase 1 of the project, which included some remodelling to the house and some interior design are starting soon with R J Pinnock.
• We are currently doing the concept design to convert a little threshing barn into ancillary accommodation for a 16th Century grade II listed Farm House in Essex
• We have met the Conservation Officer on-site at a Tudor in-line Hall house in Essex and have agreed in principle to the remodelling of the house internally and the redesign of a rear range externally with a pitched roof. The cement render is being removed, the frame repaired and insulated with sheepswool and re-plastered with lime.  The modern windows are being replaced to match an early Victorian window already on the building.
• We are designing a new indoor swimming pool, gym and games room extension to a Georgian villa house in Cambridgeshire. There will also be new courtyard garages and outbuildings which compliment this important country house. Historic research has revealed that the house originally had another Georgian service wing and outbuildings to one side that were demolished in the mid-20th century, which has given us some scope for the new design. There was also a Georgian single storey range with tall sashes, which was demolished and we may reinstate as an enlarged Kitchen/dining room.
• We have submitted a pre-application for a small rear extension to an Old Vicarage and alterations to the outbuilding and are due to meet English Heritage to discuss.  
• We have done the Quinquennial for Woodford Wells church
• We are in the rectification period at Finchingfield Guildhall, which is now open to the public on Saturdays. www.finchingfieldguildhall.org.uk Watch out for their “Make Christmas day” on 14th December where you can go along and make presents at their workshop. 
• We are in the rectification period on a Grade I listed Tudor Country House in Suffolk, where we did extensive remodelling of the service wing and an a new garden room extension and external landscaping. 
• We have met the Diocese Advisory Committee and English Heritage at St Mary’s Church, Saffron Walden, which is grade I listed and the largest parish church is Essex. The meeting was successful and they have all agreed to the new welcome facilities and proposed office space that the church so desperately need. We are now due to start the feasibility drawings, having agreed the position and principle of the design. 
• We have met with conservation builders, J W Youngers and the Structural Engineer at some barns in Essex to agree the repairs to the frames. 
• We are starting a pre-application to demolish a mid-20th Century bungalow, which is a lodge house on a large farm estate in Essex and rebuild it as a 1 ½ storey lodge.
• Michael Cameron, our professional photographer visited one of our recently completed projects; a superb, large Grade II, late C.18th Georgian house in Essex for a day of photography. We designed and Cubitt Theobald Builders constructed: an Orangery extension with arched headed windows and doors, a Cinema and Games Room basement extension, converted the attics to provide 3 additional rooms and a bathroom, and revamped the indoor swimming pool building. 

September News

Once again, weddings are the theme of the office this month, with Kay and Peter celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary at the end of the month.
Meanwhile, Nicola received a marriage proposal from long-term boyfriend, Tom, whilst on an amazing holiday-of-a-lifetime to America and Canada, and, after due consideration lasting all of ten seconds, she returned wearing a beautiful opal engagement ring!
Back at work, here are some of the things we have been working on throughout September.

• We have submitted an application for Full Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent for the refurbishment and extension of two timber-framed, Grade II Listed, C.17th agricultural workers’ cottages in Essex. The house will be reinstated as two cottages again and will be used for lived in by employees at the same Country Estate the cottages were original built for. Interestingly we found the whole house had been raised in the 19th Century to make a full height first floor.  
• Lodge & Sons (conservation builders) are on-site at Radwinter Village Hall (designed originally by Nesfield), finishing off the last of the roof works.
• We have started a Feasibility study for welcome facilities, additional office space, WC and tea making facilities at St Mary The Virgin, Saffron Walden, which is the largest Church in Essex and is Grade I listed. The Chancel and Crypt date back to the 13^th Century.  The main church dates to circa 1430 and was built by Master Mason John Wastell, who also did Kings College Chapel. The upper stage of the tower and spire were constructed in 1831 by Rickman and Hitchinson.
• Concept Designs for the restoration and extension of a C.17th Grade II listed farmhouse in Cambridgeshire have been submitted to the Local Authority for pre-application advice.  The house will be repaired, thermally upgraded and extended to form a new Orangery.  With elegant sash windows, tall French doors and vaulted ceilings, the Orangery will provide a beautiful addition to an already desirable home.
• At a mid C.18th, Grade II listed Georgian residence in Cambridgeshire, with Victorian and Edwardian wings, we have prepared Concept Designs for the addition of a new garden room with a glass lantern above.  The under-used attic space will be converted and new bathrooms introduced.  The remainder of the house will be renovated throughout and enhanced to deliver modern standards of comfort and performance. 
• Working closely with St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Galleywood, we are developing construction details for a new Youth Room in the North Transept, with a new carved oak and contemporary glass partition to the arched openings.  We are also designing a balcony for the relocation of the organ to the rear of the church tower.  
• The C.16th Hall House in Essex is looking astounding.  We are coming to completion, just now awaiting delivery of the glass balustrading, which will finish off the North Wing of this fabulous project. 
• Concept Interior Design sketches for the transformation of rooms at an 19th Century house in Essex are now in the process of being prepared as Working Drawings for the new joinery, electrics and finishes, which will be sent to the builder for pricing.  
• For a late C16th Farm/Hall house  in Braintree, we have submitted applications for Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent, and are now awaiting approval for works to include a charming structurally glazed link connecting the Victorian Kitchen building to the old washhouse, which still has its original copper chimney and outside loo! There are internal alterations and a second storey extension to increase the size of the bathroom. 
• We are in full swing finishing off the Schedule of Works and Construction Drawings for the new Garden Room and accessible bedroom at the House of Retreat, Pleshey for the Diocese of Chelmsford. 
• Finchingfield Guildhall reached practical completion, Building Control has signed off and the building is now open for visitors throughout the week.  If you are in the area, do go along and take a look. 
• We are exploring ideas with the Conservation Officer and planner over a new outdoor swimming pool building next to a Grade II listed Arts and Crafts house in Essex. 
• We are currently completing the Concept Design for alterations and an extension to a Grade II listed, C16th jettied farmhouse in Essex. The house has later wings on the rear. We are removing a flats roofed element in the centre and re-connecting these wings with structurally glazed and pitched gables, which will allow spectacular views of the old chimney stack at the rear of the house.  
• We have reached practical completion and are in the rectification period for the Morning Room extension and house renovation works to a Grade I listed C15th gatehoused, large country home in Suffolk.  
• We are just about to reach final completion for the roof works at Little Baddow Church.
• We have just started the Schedule of Works for a wonderful little church in Ovington, which needs re-roofing. This has to be one of the prettiest churches we have worked with, and is well worth a visit. 
• Downham and Manser Builders are on-site at the Grade II listed Almhouses in Radwinter, doing some repair works and incorporating new flush back doors, in keeping with the Arts and Craft style of these attractive cottages. 
• The Photographer, Michael Cameron has taken some brilliant photos of the little round oak and thatched building we designed. 
• We are busy producing the five Planning and listed Building Consent applications that are needed for a farm in Essex. The works include conversion of an C18^th Aisle Barn to a Workshop, adaptations to a 15^th Century crown-posted Granary Barn to ancillary accommodation, removing some of the blockwork outbuildings and reinstating the pitched roofs on the older Byre buildings and finally Internal alterations to the C16^th Hall House. 
• The tenders have been returned by the three Building Contractors for renovation works to a Georgian Vicarage; a local Quantity Surveyor is reviewing them and next month the works will start on-site. 

July/August News

             

Wedding Bells was a theme at KPT over the summer.
Kay and Peter’s son, Delme, was married to Charlotte, at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Radwinter, with their massive traditional tent standing just outside our office barn.
Muriel and her husband, John, also celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.

Here is a taster of what our practice has been busy designing and building this summer.

• The building works to Finchingfield Guildhall have completed and they have had their public opening on the Bank Holiday weekend. 400 people bustled through the medieval doorways. Linda the Librarian has opened the wonderful new village library and the local children are enjoying story time with, amongst others, the impressive original Dodie Smith books, such as The 101 Dalmatians, which were donated, as Dodie used to live in Finchingfield. The interactive museum has been a roaring success and everyone from toddlers to pensioners has been playing with the large interactive village map. Teas and Cake were served in the splendid Guildroom and there is a new Guildhall Shop selling lovely local crafts and artwork. Please do take a visit to this building dating back to 1470, as it is a real delight full of interesting history about Finchingfield, Essex and life in the medieval period.
• Excitedly Kay Pilsbury Thomas Architects, Fairhurst Ward Abbotts and The Finchingfield Guildhall Trust have been shortlisted for English Heritage’s Angle Awards hosted by Andrew Lloyd Webber. We have been selected for:  “The best craftsmanship employed on a heritage rescue” We had a day’s filming for the awards, where they interviewed the two young Apprentices that were taken on to learn lime plastering and traditional carpentry and how we approached the repairs and used local craftspeople and traditional/local materials and Suppliers for the works. We also held lots of open days, whilst on-site to explain to visitors how we were repairing the building and the skills used.  Images of the completed building should soon appear on our public buildings page of the website. 
• The hard landscaping external works at a C.16th Grade I listed Country House in Suffolk, which were conceived by renowned Landscape Designer, George Carter, have completed by Rose Builders.  A new morning terrace has been created adjacent to the contemporary Morning Room extension onto the service wing which we designed. The new East facing room has 9m long bi-folding doors that completely open the space up onto the terrace creating a fluid transition between outside and inside spaces. 
• Adam and his team have been busy with KPTA at the C.16th Hall House and rear wing in Essex. R.J.Hogg have been putting the finishing touches to the new staircases and oak doors in the rear wing. This building will, for the first time in centuries, be used by the owners once again, as its conversion has reinstated this fascinating timber-framed building back into use from being a cattle shed. 
• We're back at Little Chesterford Church this month with Lodge & Sons Builders undertaking repairs to the Vestry of this lovely 13th Century Early English Church, following our Quinquennial report. 
• We’re on-site with historic Building Contractors Lodge & Sons at Radwinter Village Hall re-ordering and replacing the rainwater good and underground drainage. This decorative building was designed by the famous Arts and Crafts Architect William Nesfield in 1887. It has very ornate pargetting, which in this case is relief patterning on the lime plasterwork of floral designs. 
• We’ve received the Estimate of Cost for a partially rebuilt farmhouse in Essex, which had been re-modelled in the 80s, obscuring most of the historic form. Therefore the new design has investigated the old buildings and replaced the 80s extension with more appropriately proportioned spaces, whilst re-using the old dairy and wash-house. The next stage is pulling together all the consultant designers and producing the construction/building control drawings.
• The competitive tender is out on a Grade II Listed C.17th/C.18th former rectory in Hertfordshire.  The building contractors are all busy pricing to hopefully win the chance to renovate this beautiful moated house. 
• We are busy organising the various planning reports, such as ecology, highways, noise and structural, needed to supplement the conversion of a C.15th and C.17th barn. At the same time we are producing the Listed Building and Planning forms and Heritage Statement, so this can all be submitted. The design is completely unique, juxtaposing a traditional historic conservation/materials approach to the older barn conversion, with a very modern glass and honest stripped-back agricultural design for the later barn.
• The tenders have been returned for a Grade II* C.16th large farmhouse in Hertfordshire, which is having a new single-storey extension, which has decorative detailing of exposed solid oak frame with red brick infill panels and leaded light windows. The winning Contractor, R. J. Pinnock & Sons Ltd, is due to start on-site in August.
• Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent has been approved for the extension to a Grade II listed, Arts and Crafts house in Essex. The design is for a new Day/Breakfast Room on the side of the Kitchen. We are also exploring designs for a new swimming pool building. 
•  A pretty C.19th house in Essex, is to have an new interior design scheme for each room. Interior Design Concept Design Boards and sketches have been completed. The concept designs for a new oak garden room overlooking the wood and new Kitchen extension are now complete.   
• The Pleshey House of Retreat construction drawings and schedule are being completed following a meeting with the team ready to go out to tender soon. 
• Concept Proposal designs are complete for the restoration and extension of a Grade II listed farmhouse in Cambridgeshire.  The C.17th house will be completely renovated, thermally upgraded, and we have designed a new Orangery with elegant sash windows, tall French doors and vaulted ceilings, we are due to meet the conservation officer to discuss the designs next month.
• We are producing the Listed Building and Planning  application for the extension of two timber frame Grade II Listed C.17th agricultural workers’ cottages in Essex, following an informal nod from the conservation officer to submit.  
• The Quinquennial inspection has been completed for St Michael and All Angels, Galleywood, and the famous batman and women “Jiggins” have done a bat survey and found some little fellas in the porch.
• An Estimate of Cost for the Big Project at St. Michael and All Angels, Galleywood is currently underway following our feasibility study.
• We are redesigning the attic spaces and designing a new orangery extension at a Georgian house in Huntingdon. This house has some lovely dentil decorative brick cornicing, so we have incorporated this into the new room. We have also re-designed an old conservatory with a very modern and transparent glass fin structure, to help redefine and expose, rather than infill,  the outline of the little service buildings at the rear.    
• Mike Cameron the photographer has been busy photographing both Finchingfield Guildhall and the little oak ancillary round building we designed and both of these will be uploaded onto our website soon!  

June News

June is prime building time and we are in full swing this month visiting the exciting projects on-site which are completing this summer and doing heaps of new initial visits to some beautiful houses and historic structures. Here is a taster of what we’ve been up to.

• We are thrilled to confirm that three of ‘our’ church projects have been awarded Certificates by the Diocesan Advisory Committee in their Design Awards 2013:- 

• Winning top honours with a ‘Highly Commended’: The large Grade II Listed church of St. John the Baptist, Leytonstone won, for the redecoration/repair works. We designed and scheduled these and the building work was undertaken by Lodge & Sons, with specialist paintwork by Howell & Bellion. The project’s focus was to open up the tall tower of this lovely church to welcome tourists to come to their sunset tours of London’s skyline. Visitors can now come and climb the tower to witness the breath-taking panoramic views of London from the top.

• Also winning top honours: The beautiful Grade II Listed church, St. Mary the Virgin, Radwinter, was awarded ‘Highly Commended’ for the insertion of an all-person toilet, kitchenette, flower arranger’s sink , storage, repairs to Vestry cast-iron fireplace and alterations and repairs to windows. The design incorporated a carved oak panelling with a crocus flower motif. It also included bespoke hand-painted delft tiles depicting scenes of the village.

• Winning a special merit award: The Church of All Saints, Great Chesterford won for the design & construction of the new a meeting room in the South East chapel area.  The judges agreed ‘this was a successful reuse of wasted space with great thought given to relocating and glazing the screen in the church without removing it from the church altogether.  Good attention to detail which enhances the building and provides much needed community facilities'.

• The contemporary extension onto the service wing of an important C.16th Grade I listed large country house in Suffolk is complete by Rose builders, with some finishing off just left and the external works. We have designed the facade with 3m tall bi-fold glazing doors and fixed screens on the side, which provides astounding panoramic views over the rolling Suffolk fields. Specialist Plasterers, G Cook & Son, are also doing the lime repairs to the quoin work round the brick windows on the C.16th two storey Gatehouse. The external works are now taking shape having been designed by the renowned landscape Designer, George Carter.

• We have been busy visiting the works to a C.16th Hall house & courthouse in Essex. R.J.Hogg have been decorating the interiors and Robbie Cannon is making the metal casements for the courthouse mullioned windows.

•  We're back at Little Chesterford Church this month with Lodge & Sons Builders undertaking repairs to the Vestry of this lovely 13^th Century Early English Church following our Quinquennial report. 

• We're currently doing the final fit-out to the Heritage Lottery & EH funded Finchingfield Guildhall project. The interactive audio visual museum which incorporates the very latest museum design by Smith & Jones has been installed and the joiner is making the new library shelving which we have designed and is inspired by the original village library made by a local craftmans in the 50s, we’ve also designed some fun unicorns, dragons, knights, aliens, robots, fairies & princesses into the kids shelving. Finally we have done a display cabinet for the library’s collection of Dodie Smith books. Dodie, who wrote 101 Dalmatians, lived in the village.

• Planning permission is in for a Farmhouse in Essex. Having research the original drawings and following a pre-app, the final design reinstates the original C17th core which is still present. There are new additions and extensions which are inspired by the original features to create a new entrance cross wing and side wing overlooking the woods.  The old wash-houses are being converted and connected.

• The detailed construction drawing package is underway for the exciting renovation works to a Grade II Listed C.17^th/C.18^th former rectory in Hertfordshire.  This is due to go out to tender at the end of July.  This includes the design of new electrics and heating system with a new attic stair to match the elegant Georgian staircase on the ground floor.

• We currently have a pre-application in with Uttlesford to obtain their response to the conversion of two adjoining barns in Essex. One barn is a very old C.15^th Century oak structure and the design approach for this building is to use traditional craftsmanship and materials to convert this building to an annex by exposing and reinstating the ancient features. The other barn is attached, but built later in C17th and is to be used as a workshop for the owners company and we have done a more modern design for this conversion on this barn, incorporating metal framed glazing slices through the cladding exposing the structure and a mezzanine at one end.

• The tender is out to three contractors for an extension to a Grade II* C.16^th large farmhouse in Hertfordshire. Inspired by the original architecture, the new study and ancillary rooms will be built with an exposed solid oak frame with red brick infill panels and leaded light windows. The little brewhouse is also being converted. 

• Planning permission is in for the extension to a Grade II listed, Arts & Crafts house in Essex. The design is for a new Day/Breakfast Room on the side of the Kitchen.

• Initial Interior Design Concept Design Boards & sketches for are underway for a playroom and bedrooms in a C19th house in Essex. The Architectural concept design is also being produced at the same time for the new Kitchen & Garden room extensions.

• The Gatehouse at Pleshey House of Retreat is almost due for Final Completion, and is functioning much better.  We fitted en-suite shower room and a new kitchen to provide better accommodation. The next phase of this project will shortly go out to tender. This is for a new Orangery, which incorporates a green roof. We are also building a new accessible bedroom.

• Concept Proposal designs are underway for the restoration and extension of a Grade II listed farmhouse in Cambridgeshire.  The C17^th house will be repaired, thermally upgraded and extended to form a new Orangery.  With elegant sash windows, tall French doors and vaulted ceilings, the Orangery will provide a beautiful addition to an already desirable home.

•  Concept Proposal designs are underway for the refurbishment and extension of two timber frame Grade II Listed C17^th agricultural workers’ cottages in Essex, following a successful meeting with the conservation officer on-site.  

• Together with Lodges, we are installing a new floor in the vestry of the pretty little church of St. Mary the Virgin, Little Chesterford.

•  The Quinquennial inspections have been undertaken, and the Quinquennial Reports are being compiled for The Church of All Saints, Woodford Wells and St Michael & All Angels, Galleywood.

•  An Estimate of cost for the Big Project at St. Michael and All Angels, Galleywood is currently underway following our feasibility study.

• The new accessible WC & Kitchen at Widdington Church has been completed with some small works to a window left to do.  

April News

The wonderful sunshine has been most welcome.  The first swallow of the season was spotted on 22nd, much the usual time, despite the terrible weather of earlier this year.
We welcome Richard Ellis, who has joined us this month as temporary maternity cover for Monica.
Mondays are cake days in the KPT office, and since Richard has joined us, the standard of cake-making has been well and truly upped!

• The Concept design to the large C17th lobby entrance Farmhouse in Essex is complete and we are producing all the forms and reports for the planning application, having done a previous pre-application with the Council to ensure they are content. 
• We have received Listed Building and Planning Permission for the extension and outhouse conversion to a Grade II* farmhouse in Hertfordshire.  A full set of Construction/Building Regulation drawings are now well underway ready to go out to tender soon.  
• At the church of All Saints, Gt. Chesterford, Lodge and Sons, who specialise in works to Churches and listed building are have commenced the roof repair works. 
• The Quinquennial Report has been written for the church of St. Nicholas, Little Chishill.
• The measured and drawn survey has been carried out at a Grade II 17th Century timber framed and plastered, Lobby entrance house in Cambridgeshire, for the re-ordering of the interior of the house to provide additional bedrooms and bathroom space, and also a Breakfast Room extension onto the later Victorian wing.
• At a Grade II 16th Century timber framed, plastered house in Essex, a measured survey has been undertaken to prepare the existing drawings of the building, ready for the design for the provision of a larger Kitchen, and also to re-vamp the first floor interior layout.
• Awaiting pre-application advice for a new-build eco-home within the grounds of an old orchard in Essex.  
• The Pre-application advice has been submitted for an exciting design to two barns, one of which dates back to the 15th century. The later 17th century barn will be business and the older barn an annex.  
• We are eagerly awaiting the outcome of a planning application for works to a Grade II Listed former rectory in Hertfordshire. 
• St. Michael and All Angels, Galleywood have displayed their Feasibility Plan and views we designed for them in the Church over Easter and we are waiting back for all the feedback to take the project forward and evolve the design. 
• Our professional photographer, Michael Cameron, will be taking pictures of a Grade II listed Regency house in Essex once the silk shades are in place, as this project is now in its rectification period.  
• Finchingfield Guildhall is looking splendid and we are really pleased with the skilled work of Tony Loades and all his team from Fairhurst Ward Abbott. The windows and leaded lights are in, the lime-wash coats and remaining lime pargetting is being completed by conservator Neil Patmore. Where we have found evidence for doors these have been re-fitted, some of which incorporate salavage boards and nearly all are unusual and fascinating shapes, as the building frame is angled rather than vertical.  
• At a C16th Hall House in Essex the first floor is nearing completion with the staircase going in and all internal doors being fitted throughout. Internal decorations are progressing well, breathing life back into the house.  The exterior limewash has transformed the exterior to its former glory giving a lovely texture and subtle finish. G. Cook and Son plasterers will shortly be applying the last coat of render to the final elevation and the Main Contractor, R J Hogg and Son (who specialise in historic building works) have applied all their skills, to reveal the history of this lovely building, while modernising and personalising it for the family.
• We are currently getting an estimate of construction cost for the Breakfast room extension to a beautiful Arts and Crafts Grade II Listed house in Essex, while we are waiting for the Planning and Listed Building approvals.   
• We are undertaking the interior design for some rooms in a pretty house in Essex. The initial concept interior sketches and design tableaux are being put together for a  playroom, childrens and Master Bedroom, Dresssing room and En-suite. 
• Construction Drawing continues for the new Orangery and St. Francis accessible Suite for Pleshey House of Retreat in Chelmsford. The Building Regulation drawings include for an oak structure and sedum green roof, what were inspired by the pergola that was there originally.  
• As usual, this is a busy month for us as lots of people contact us with potential new jobs as spring arrives and new homes are purchased and new community projects kick start. Sibyl has been out to see some lovely historic homes which range from farm houses to a very fine C14th wheat barn.   
• We are over the moon to tell you that KPTA Architect Monica Corcoran gave birth on 30th April to baby Oona Lynette and she, her husband Ali, and Onna’s big sister Ailsa are all thrilled.
• The new Kitchen is in at a Large Grade I listed Country House we have been renovating for over a year and the modern extension is taking shape with fabulous views across the estate. The building works are being undertaken very professionally and using the skills and craftsmanship of local firm Rose Builders. 
• The new doorcase design for a large country house in Essex is complete and the terracing in the stable court.  The design has been inspired by the original Architects Robert Taylor and John Johnson with doorcase design incorporating features common to them in the 18th Century. 
• Final completion is due on a listed large house in Essex where we renovated the house, reinstated the ashlar lime plastering, built an orangery extension with large cellar. This contains a new cinema and games rooms and we also renovated the indoor swimming pool building. The builders are finishing off next month for final handover. 

March News

Well, March 2013 will most definitely be remembered for snow, frost and being generally cold!  This is usually prime time for starting lime plastering works, but until it gets constantly above 5˚C then we’ll just have to wait! A few flowers managed to struggle into bloom, but most were much delayed.  As a matter of survival, birds are still relying heavily on us mere mortals to feed them at a time when they would usually be fending mostly for themselves after winter.  

• The repairs and alterations by Fairhurst Ward Abbotts to the Grade I listed Finchingfield Guildhall are looking fabulous. The exterior has been lime-washed white, and the leaded windows have gone into the mullioned windows, which were made by Auravisions locally.  The oak Glulam beams are up for the new contemporary glazed walkway.  The oak double boarded doors have been hung, and the modern interactive museum is in production. We’ve had numerous visits from Heritage Lottery Fund, and are a now on the home stretch to completion in the next couple of months.
• The Grade I listed Country House in Suffolk is going full steam ahead with the decoration scheme to this ancient house underway in each room. The new contemporary Morning Room extension is up, and they have installed the full height glazed bi-fold doors which cover one face completely, allowing one whole side to be opened up in summer. The modern structural glazed roof-light is also being fitted, allowing glorious amounts of light into the new space. The new woodchip boiler has been designed and fitted by a local company, and will power the house using wood from the Estate.
• We are in the final stage of refining the design proposals to a large C17^th lobby entrance Farmhouse in Essex, ready for submission next month, having consulted the council.   
• Listed Building and Planning Permission are pending for a single storey extension and outhouse conversion to a beautiful Grade II* farmhouse in Hertfordshire which has lovely brick noggin details in between the oak frame. 
• A pre-contract meeting at All Saints Church, Gt. Chesterford, has confirmed that local church contractors Lodge and Sons will commence the roof repair works in April.
• At a Grade II Listed country home in Essex, our client is interviewing contractors to undertake the conversion of a Georgian flint outbuilding to a home-office.
• We are awaiting the pre- application advice feedback from the Local Authority for a new-build eco-home within the grounds of an old orchard in Essex. 
• Investigations are underway to determine the earlier occupation of a moated site for archaeological interest at a Grade II Listed former rectory in Hertfordshire.  Provisional costings are being undertaken by the contractor and the applications are being considered by the council.
• The design for a converted Essex barn to annex and studio/workshop space for a well-known, English furniture manufacturer in Essex is taking shape. The design realises and restores the ancient features in the older barn and we have gone for a strikingly modern design in the later barn where the workshop is.   
• At a Grade II Listed former rectory in Hertfordshire, the Local Authority and Conservation Officer have visited site, and the public consultation time is complete without comment, so we are awaiting Planning Permission/Listed Building Consent.
• Sibyl and Kay undertook a Quinquennial Inspection for the P.C.C. of St. Michael and All Angels, Galleywood.
• We have reached Practical Completion at a Grade II listed Regency house in Essex, where we undertook full external renovation and internal design and a full decoration. Villagers have commented on the new appearance of the house with its ashlar lime plaster. With the front fencing and gates complete, the client is now enthusiastically designing the gardens. The building and decoration works were undertaken by G. Illiffe and Sons, who have done a wonderful job.
• Designs for the community village library at Finchingfield at well under way with a computer area, children’s book shelves, reading sofa in the inglenook and local oral histories are all being included in the design.
• At a C16^th Hall House in Essex, second fix of the first floor electrics is almost complete.  The decoration has begun in the house and the new Sun Room oak roof truss frame is going up.  The Utility Room has been fitted out and attractive oak weatherboarding now clads the old Cartlodge.  
• Contractors are providing costings for a Breakfast Room/Orangery extension and other works to a beautiful Arts and Crafts Grade II Listed house in Essex.
• The survey and initial interior design is underway for the reorganisation of the internal spaces of a C18th house in Essex.
• The feasibility design for a large grouping of new houses in Essex has been completed and we are preparing to show them to the village for consultation.
• Monica will be on maternity leave from the end of March.  We sent her off with our love and best wishes.  Watch out for a tweet announcing the birth of Ailsa’s baby brother or sister very soon!
• Meanwhile, we look forward to Richard Ellis joining us next month, as Monica’s maternity cover. Richard is a Conservation Architectural Surveyor who has worked on many well-known and significant buildings such as the Cambridge Colleges, Westminster Hall and Stowe House. He has a wealth of knowledge and we are delighted to welcome him to the team.   

February News

February heralds in the aconites, snowdrops and even a struggling primrose or two.  What a mixed bag of weather we had during February – spring-like days, and extreme winter too.  Of course, we must not forget that the 19^th was “pancake day”, and the start of Lent, for which Monica has bravely given up eating cake and biscuits!  However, we have noticed that this does not include the munching of chocolate.

•    Plans for the remodelling of a large Farmhouse in Essex have been submitted for pre-application advice.  The proposed works see the majority of later additions to the C17^th lobby entrance house being demolished, with the original plan of the house then reinstated; and the addition of a generous but sympathetic extension, making this dwelling a comfortable home for the client.  We will await a response from the Local Authority and, subject to a positive response, submit a full planning application for the works.
• Following a positive response from both the Local Authority and English Heritage, the Full Plans and Listed Building application has been submitted for an extension and outhouse conversion to a Grade II* farmhouse in Hertfordshire.  As we are preparing working drawings whilst awaiting the response from the Local Authority, assuming that a positive response is received, work should be able to start immediately.
• At a Grade II Listed country home in Essex, the negotiated tender continues for the conversion of a Georgian flint outbuilding to a home-office.
• The landscaping is progressing very well at a Grade II listed Regency house in Essex.  The annexe is now completed, so do watch our website for photographs coming shortly!
•  We are very excited to be working on concept designs with other great designers, to create something very special for a Grade II Listed house and annexe in Essex.
•   We are still exploring alternative energies, with the expectation of the new domestic heating incentive for a Grade II Listed former rectory in Hertfordshire.
• Submission has been made to the Local Authority for Planning Permission for works to another Grade II Listed former rectory in Hertfordshire, and we are awaiting a response from the Local Authority.
• Design of the Community Library at Finchingfield Guildhall is progressing well.  This will be a compact but friendly and comfortable space, which it is hoped many people will use and enjoy.
• At a C16^th Hall House in Essex, R J Hogg & Sons are erecting a timber-frame Sun Room.  Timber framed glazed screens are ready for installation.  Underfloor heating has been laid.  The first floor is ready for first fix, and final preparations are being made for decorations.
• The roof has been completed on a C16^th Court Barn in Essex, and new, breathable floors have been laid.
•   We have undertaken a survey on an C18^th, unlisted house in Essex, and survey drawings are currently being prepared.
• Plans have been submitted to the Local Authority for a Breakfast Room/Orangery extension and other works to a beautiful Arts and Crafts Grade II Listed house in Essex. 
• A planning application is being prepared for a C16^th Grade II Listed Farmhouse.  Assuming a favourable response from the Local Authority, works will return this house to its former glory; and a frameless glazed structure will link the house and stable block.
• We have reached Practical Completion at The Gatehouse, The House of Retreat, Pleshey.
• We have received several enquiries throughout the month, and Sibyl has been out to visit most of the properties, discussing proposed works with the prospective clients.
•  Initial pre- application advice has been requested for a new-build eco-home within the grounds of an old orchard in Essex.  The new house would be constructed of traditional materials, sourced as locally as possible.  If the response from the Local Authority is positive, both low-tech and high-tech sustainable methods will be researched for viable use on the project.
•    Our professional photographer, Michael Cameron, has taken some fantastic photos of Radwinter, Leytonstone, Bush End and Great Chesterford Churches.  Take a look at a few of these on our Images of the Month, and also in our Projects/Churches.  www.michaelcameronphotography.co.uk/
•  Poor Sarah has spent some time in hospital this month, following the collapse of one of her lungs.  

January News

Beautifully transformed though the countryside was with frost and snow this month, it did not make for good travelling, but we are happy to say that all the team made it through every day, both to work and to appointments, albeit with a few delays and late starts.  So much do we enjoy our work that even the floods after the snow did not deter us!

• The on-site works to the C.16^th Hall House and Court Barn in Essex, with R J Hogg & Sons are progressing well.  In the Court Barn, all modern partitions and the concrete floor have now been removed.  New breathable floors have been laid.  All the modern cement infill has been stripped out.  Insulation of the timber frame wall has begun.  The roof has been stripped with new oak sprockets added, and insulation laid over the top of the rafters, in order to keep them exposed internally.  On the roof, the peg tiles are now being replaced .
•     We are working on two Grade II Listed former rectories in Hertfordshire.  Both are historically very exciting properties.  Coincidentally, both are also currently undergoing the Planning process.                                                                                                                      We are investigating Alternative Energy Sources with the owners of one of the former rectories.  This is of great interest to us, as the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) for domestic use is coming into action in the summer this year.  
•  On 29^th January, members of KPT attended a most interesting and informative CPD lecture on RHI, given by Eco Living http://www.ecolivinguk.com/                                        The RHI is a Government scheme to encourage the uptake of renewable heat technologies among householders, and is expected to lower greenhouse gas emissions, and, ultimately, the householder’s carbon footprint.  More information on RHI can be found on https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/increasing-the-use-of-low-carbon-technologies/supporting-pages/renewable-heat-incentive-rhi                                             
       The Interior Design fitting out and building works at the Grade II listed Regency house in Essex is nearing completion.   We are currently preparing a landscaping scheme for this lovely property; therefore, we are hoping the weather stays warm enabling this work to progress very shortly.
•  Drawings are underway to combine existing historic shelving and new, bespoke furniture for a beautiful but compact library at Finchingfield Guildhall.
•  Pre-application advice has been sought to reinstate a C.17^th Farmhouse in Essex back to its true, former status, as the ‘farmhouse’ of the estate, rather than disappearing amongst the other weather-boarded farm buildings, as it currently does.
•  Drawings for works to the lovely Grade II* Farmhouse in Hertfordshire are now complete, and have been submitted for Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent.
• Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent has been received for the conversion of a Georgian flint outbuilding into a home office at a local Grade II Farmhouse.
• Landscaping drawings for pricing are continuing to be drawn up for the important Late Medieval Grade I Listed Country House in Suffolk, where conservation and restoration work continues by Rose Builders.
•  Professional photography will soon be carried out at the church of All Saints, Great Chesterford; the church of St. Mary the Virgin, Radwinter; and at the church of St. John the Baptist, Leytonstone; so do keep watching our website for these exciting photographs to appear very shortly.
• Church Builders Lodge and Sons are on-site with us at Little Baddow Church, where tiling of the roof has now started.  Good news in that no timber repairs were required on the Nave.
•     Works on-site to The Gatehouse at Pleshey House of Retreat, with Byfords of Dunmow, is nearing completion.