Refurbishing a historic country house
This is a substantial country house situated on the outskirts of a market town, set in its own parkland with an attractive group of outbuildings. An estate has existed here since the 11th century and although there are earlier parts, the house was probably given its current layout in 1740. The house boasts some fine features: the central entrance bay has an Ionic Venetian doorway with a matching window over and internally there is fine timber panelling, both early 18th and late 19th century, 18th century fireplaces and an open-well stair with turned balusters, fluted newel posts and decorative brackets.
The house was in need of considerable repair, including complete re-roofing, but the interior required the most attention. We completely refitted it and removed recent partitions to regain the elegant proportions of the original rooms. We opened up the back stair hall with new newel posts and a simple broad arch over the foot of the stairs. We widened doorways along corridors into arches allowing longer views and more light into the rambling first floor.
View of the house
Dining room showing oeil-de-boeuf window – after
Living room – after
Breakfast Room – after
Back stair hall – before
Back stair hall – after
Back stair hall – before
Back stair hall – after