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.

November/December News

Some members of staff attended Saffron-Walden firework display, which was, if possible, even more fantastic than in previous years!   The November fogs and snow, and the December frosts thankfully did not last very long, and didn’t cause too much disruption. 

Listed below are just a few of the things we’ve been up to during November and December. 

• We are currently consulting English Heritage and North Herts over the extension to a beautiful Grade II* Elizabethan/Jacobean Farmhouse in Hertfordshire and for the conversion of a Grade II listed Brewhouse to a workshop.
• We have submitted an application for Listed Building Consent and Planning Permission to Uttlesford District Council for the conversion of a Georgian flint outbuilding into a home office at a local Grade II Farmhouse.
• Huntingdon District Council’s introduction of the Community Infrastructures Levy is causing a stir.  A charge is payable on ALL new builds and larger extensions to houses. Applicants will now have to pay a charge to the District Council and the charge amount is set by the scale of the new house or extension. Only a few Councils have currently taken up the levy but more are expected to follow suit.  Check out more on
  https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/giving-communities-more-power-in-planning-local-development/supporting-pages/community-infrastructure-levy
  
• The on-site works to the C16^th Hall House/court barn in Essex, with R J Hogg & Sons are busy and we are currently producing all the finishes and fitting schedules.
• The on-site works at the important Late Medieval Grade I Listed Country House in Suffolk by Rose Builders are going well. Excavation of the new Wood Chip Store floor has begun.  The new stone floors are now laid and looking fabulous in the Great Hall and the bathrooms.  Works to the roof are underway to the new extension.  
• On-site building works to the new WC and wash-up cupboard in the Vestry at Radwinter Church are almost finished by Lodge and Sons Builders.
• Church Builders Lodge and Sons are also on-site with us at Little Baddow Church doing essential roof repairs. The roof has now been stripped, and work has started on the timber repairs.
• On-site Works at Widdington Church are going nicely with R J Pinnock, we’ve discovered some old, coloured paintwork and the Donavon and his team at P&D decorator’s has conserved a nice Early English window, with decorative painted carvings.
• We are currently on-site at Pleshey House of Retreat with Byfords of Dunmow, who are carrying out work to provide five new En-suite shower rooms to their guest rooms.
• Building Work at the Rotunda is at an exciting stage, as the light fittings have been mounted, the external circular paving is now completed and overall finishing off is nearing completion.
• The Interior Design fitting out and building works at the Grade II listed Regency house in Essex is having the finishing touch. The old outbuilding are currently undergoing transformation into ancillary accommodate.  Air source heat pumps are being commissioned, which will provide all the heating and hot water to the house.  The Interior fitting out is now happening with the new KPT designed kitchen installed and the final curtains going up.
• Concept Design Proposal designs for a Kitchen extension to a Grade II listed Georgian, double pile former Rectory, are now with the client for their perusal. 
• On another Former Rectory, this one being Regency, we have started the concept design for internal alterations to create a new large Kitchen/Dining room in the service wing. 
• A local Grade II listed barn conversion is turning into a very exciting project, with Phase 2 of the Concept Design Drawings under way.  The owner is a well know furniture designer and manufacturer design and his approach  is for an honest conversion of the barn, so the C17th barn retains its agricultural aesthetic with very modern alterations, so the new and old juxtapose. The older medieval barn attached will be faithfully conversed using traditional materials and techniques. 
• On-site with Fairhurst Ward Abbotts at Finchingfield Guildhall, the Archaeology is almost complete. We are currently starting all the limewash decorations and the historic paintwork in the Guildroom has been conserved with a paraloid resin by specialists Hare and Humphreys. All the wide plank doors are arriving on-site for hanging.
• The Diocesan Advisory Committee have given us the thumbs up at Galleywood Church , where for Phase 1, it is proposed to relocate the organ to a new balcony at the rear and create a new youth room in the North transept. Phase 2 will be a new extension to the North aisle of the church to create a new hall, Kitchen and ancillary rooms for the wonderfully active and vibrant church.
• We held our Christmas lunch at the Eight Bells in Saffron Walden and secret Santa was good to everyone this year especially Peter, who got a book on the history of English Pub names, which, for a bunch of history boffins is unputdownable.
• Finally, we would like to wish all our wonderful Clients, Builders and Consultants a brilliant Christmas and a very Happy New Year. We’re looking forward to working with you all in 2013 and seeing building works progress/complete and starting some exciting new projects!  

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/
  
  
  
  
  

September News

We are lucky enough to be completely surrounded by agricultural fields in our barn office in Essex and September has brought the end of a busy harvest, with the tractors working through the night and fields already ploughed and harrowed. Some of us at KPT took the opportunity to pop out and gather some blackberries and damsons to make a few bottles of a little something, to keep out the cold in the long winter months ahead, hic!

Here’s what else we’ve been keeping busy doing this month.

• Lime plastering is progressing well at the C16th Hall House in Essex, with R J Hogg & Sons. The scratch coat is on and calcifying. They are forming the internal partitions and repair the internal walls with first fix going in. The moat, which is an Ancient Scheduled Monument, has been carefully excavated under the guidance of Archaeology and the ground works are in full swing!
Construction Drawings are being undertaken for the repair and alteration works to the C16th Court Barn attached to the house. The scaffolding and ‘tin hat’ is up and over the Court Barn ready for the repairs and re-roofing to begin next month.
• At The Retreat House, Pleshey, Construction Drawings for new en-suite bathrooms for 6 of the bedrooms, and a new wheelchair access shower room for another bedroom are progressing well. The next phase will be the Construction Drawings for a new Meeting Room, which has been designed with a ‘green’ roof of sedum plants. Work is expected to begin on site before the end of the year.
• The PCC at Bush End Church are very pleased with their new Kitchenette, WC and balcony. If you are in the area, please do pop in to have a look. The Church is opposite Hatfield Forest entrance.
• At Radwinter Church, the new WC and Kitchen in the North Vestry are being fitted. The panelling with floral carving details is being fitted. The works will be completed by the end of October, in time for Radwinter Friends Day where they will be unveiling their new facilities.
• Roof Repairs are due to start soon to Little Baddow Church, with scaffolding to be erected during October. We are waiting for the appropriate timing to ensure no bats are present.
• Concept Design drawings are underway for conversion of a little flint and brick outbuilding into a studio/office, adjacent to a beautiful C17th house in Essex.
• We are to meet the DAC advisers at Galleywood Church this month to discuss the best location within the building for their organ.
• Concept Drawings for a Farmhouse in the Lea Valley are nearly complete, with the original features of the house re-instated, and a new two-storey wing replacing an 80s extension.
• The lime plaster at Finchingfield Guildhall is having its pargetting pattern applied. This is pattern being re-done as seen in old photographs. Plaster moulds where taken from a local building which has some original pargetting in the pattern. These are in a variety of sizes, and some are curved to take account of the un-level walls. The pattern is vertical chevron, with horizontal marks made by a wood horse comb. The whole process has been filmed and will be available shortly to see. We had a visit from Heritage Lottery, who are extremely pleased with the conservation work taking place there with KPT & Fairhurst Ward Abbott.
• Construction works to a Grade I Country House in Suffolk are progressing well. Works to the new purpose made woodchip store building have started, which will heat the house sustainably from wood on the Estate. Foundations have been laid for a new Morning Room extension to the existing service wing, and the structural opening up of the Kitchen is complete.
• At the beautiful Grade II Listed Arts and Crafts house in Essex, Concept Design drawings continue for a kitchen/breakfast room extension, incorporating timber details from this decorative house originally designed by famous Architect George Sherrin.
• Whilst Sibyl and Sarah were carrying out the survey of a barn, thought to date to the C17-18th, which sits within the grounds of a Grade II Listed Farmhouse, they made an exciting discovery! Up on the first floor, they found evidence of mullioned windows with shutter rebates, wattle and daub frame grooves and the peg hole on-top of the tie beam indicating it had a crown post. This all signifies that the smaller structure is in fact a lot older that first thought; more like circa 1550, or even older, and was probably built at a similar date to the Hall House.
• Building works to convert the old stables to ancillary accommodation continue at the Grade II Listed former public house in Essex under the guidance of G Illife & Sons. New terracing is being carried out within the grounds and the interiors are ready for decorating, with the bathroom refurbishments nearly complete.
• Works are booked in to start in early October at The Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Widdington, with R J Pinnock, who will be building for us a new oak screen in the tower, behind which will be new Kitchen and WC facilities.
• Works to Sibyl’s Grade II Listed Farmhouse, with Downham and Manser, are nearly complete. The house has had new plumbing, expertly installed throughout by A&B (Thaxted) Plumbers, with traditional cast iron radiator. This should make a huge difference to this C17th house which has never had central heating before. The Kitchen has a new breathable floor, with underfloor heating and all the plates and stud feet have been repaired, using conservation techniques.
• The Construction Drawings are due to commence on the highly significant Ancient Scheduled Monument site of Colville Hall. It has an astounding collection of Grade I & Grade II* listed barns and Courthouses, which date back to the C12th, and will be adapted and repaired to create a beautiful countryside wedding venue.
• On Sunday, 16th September, Nicola, dressed in pink hair-band with wobbly hearts, fairy wings and tutu, ran the 10k Race for Life, at Chelmsford Hylands Park, to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. She completed in an hour, and Sarah was there to witness the event! Nicola says a big thank you to all who sponsored her.