Revitalising and expanding a Lake District heritage asset 🌿
We crafted a spacious, dynamic and design-centric concept, involving the replacement of an outdated single-story kitchen and family room. Crucial to the project was the enhancement of panoramic views showcasing the breathtaking landscape - a feature overlooked in the original structure.
Additionally, the proposal prioritiwed the restoration of thermal and airtight efficiencies, which had gradually failed. The revitalisation effort extended beyond mere cosmetic improvements. A holistic approach addressed the property’s infrastructure, leading to the rewiring and replumbing of the original house.
Do you have a renovation project of your own? Get in touch with us 👉 link in bio
#Conservation #LakeDistrict #Architecture
Apr 20
Pre tender visit to Dallam Estate Three Towers 📍
We have been asked to prepare a tender for Historic England, who have been given delegated authority by Defra to support Historic & Archaeological Feature Protection Grants under Countryside Stewardship.
This is part of the Environmental Land Management scheme and provides financial incentives for farmers and land managers to protect and improve the environment, including the historic environment.
These grants are awarded via the Rural Payments Agency. The Countryside Stewardship Heritage Service has a remit to provide pre-application support, application assessment and post-award monitoring for the RPA.
A great opportunity to contribute to the preservation of our historic landscape 👏
#Architects #HistoricEngland #Architecture
Apr 17
Two of our Architects, Will and Luke, recently had the opportunity to attend a heritage skills training day at Levens Hall 🙌
The session was led by accredited Conservation-Restorer and Stonemason Brendan Teasdale, delivered as part of a grant-funded re-roofing project at Levens.
The morning began with an insightful presentation exploring the use of lime in building conservation. In the afternoon, they took part in a practical session focused on the application of lime mortar, learning how to prepare and mix it, before applying it to the Potting Sheds using pointing and wet dash techniques.
A brilliant day of learning and preserving traditional skills 👏
#Architecture #Conservation
Apr 16
Swipe to see the after... 👉
We were invited to design, tender and oversee the replacement of the dilapidated glasshouse and loggia at Leighton Hall, Lancashire 🍃
The project restores the historic character of the Grade II* listed building while bringing the space back into use. Original metalwork was carefully retained and refurbished, the loggia enclosed with timber doors to match the existing windows, and underfloor heating installed beneath the reinstated stone flags. A discreet contemporary extension to the rear provides new ancillary facilities, designed to complement the restored glasshouse and surrounding historic fabric.
This project brings a significant historic structure back into active use while respecting the architectural heritage of Leighton Hall 👏
#RestorationProject #Architecture #Lancashire
Mar 27
We`re taking the first steps in implementing our endorsed Whole Estate Plan (WEP) at Higham Estate, located beside Bassenthwaite Lake near Keswick in the Lake District National Park!
Luke`s recent visit focused on exploring opportunities for diversification, assessing the wider landscape and considering how the actions set out in the Whole Estate Plan could begin to take shape on the ground.
The assessment combines site observations with desktop analysis, including the use of LiDAR topography data to better understand the estate’s varying landforms, elevations and landscape character - helping inform how future changes can be carefully integrated within this sensitive landscape 🌿
#Conservation #Architecture #LakeDistrict
Mar 24
An update from Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens following the devestating 2023 arson attack and subsequent storm damage...
Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens (also known as St Cuthbert’s College) occupies a special place in the history of the Roman Catholic Church in England and urgent work is now underway to secure their future 🙌
A £400,000 grant from Historic England will help with the initial protection and clearance of the chapel, which will allow the next stage of surveying to take place. Repair works to the roofs and masonry of both buildings will ultimately prevent further damage to the decorative plasterwork inside the chapel.
We`re working on a programme of clearance work, to be followed by erection of scaffolding and scaffold roof to provide protection to the chapel. Once scaffolding is in place, we are set to complete a Fabric Repair Survey which will help establish full repair costs for the fire damaged chapel.
A major feasibility study is running alongside this project to develop a sustainable use for the whole of the Junior House complex.
We`re proud to be working on the protection of a nationally significant heritage site and the next chapter in Ushaw’s story. We will keep you updated on this project`s journey 💫
Drone footage by @wham.visuals
#Heritage #Architecture #HistoricEngland
Mar 22
We are fast approaching the final handover of our work at the Snaizeholme Valley 🙌
This project has seen the careful repair and conversion of three agricultural barns into welfare and storage facilities for the Woodland Trust. With ambitions to plant and grow over half a million trees across the valley, we’ve helped create a practical, future-proof base to support this transformation.
At the heart of the scheme is a renovated `hub` barn, providing staff welfare facilities, office and meeting space and a dedicated health & safety refuge area. Alongside it, two sensitively repaired stone barns have been brought back into use, offering secure storage for vehicles and equipment.
Delivered within the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the approach has prioritised conservation and robust rural performance - retaining the character of the existing buildings while ensuring they are safe, functional, and durable for year-round use.
The result is a set of facilities that support day-to-day operations now, and the valley’s long-term restoration ambitions for decades to come.🍃
#Renovation #Architecture #YorkshireDales
Mar 19
We were honored to have led the award-winning restoration of Eshton Hall, a Grade II* listed country house in North Yorkshire 🏆
Our work addressed previous substandard repairs, focusing on roof and guttering systems to prevent water ingress and structural damage. This project exemplifies our commitment to preserving historic estates through sensitive, sustainable interventions.
#Restoration #Architecture #HistoricEngland
Mar 12
Bringing new life to Fazeley Town Centre 👷
Our proposals transformed the historic mill into 50 characterful apartments, arranged around a central corridor, with a contemporary new escape stair sensitively added to complement the building’s scale and industrial heritage.
The annex was divided into a range of 2-4 bedroom townhouses while make full use of the annex and its dual aspect which over looks the canal and the new residential units being constructed within the wider site 🙌
#Conservation #Architecture #HistoricEngland
Mar 10
We`re proud to be working with Levens Hall Estate on a carefully agreed programme of conservation works guided by a deep respect for the site’s history, heritage and environment....
The works include:
🌿 The re-roofing of the cockloft
🌿 Chimney repairs and limewashing
🌿 Comprehensive leadwork replacement
🌿 Timber repairs
🌿 Repairs to gutters and downpipes
Alongside the physical works, the project places a strong emphasis on skills-sharing, with training provided to the estate team and estate workers from neighbouring properties. This involved training in traditional materials and techniques, including limewash, lime mortars and leadwork. Additional CPD days will open this knowledge more widely, supporting best practice in the care, repair and understanding of historic buildings.
Through every stage our approach remains rooted in context, preserving the past while building for the future.
Drone credit: @wham.visuals
#Conservation #Architecture #Kendal
Feb 19
St Chad’s sits at the heart of an urban and deprived community in Gateshead and is currently on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register.
We have been involved in several phases of repair over recent years, particularly to the complex roofscape of eleven roofs, including earlier works to the tower and nave following a successful Roof Repair Fund application. Further targeted repairs have addressed dry rot and long-standing water ingress ⛪️
#Gateshead #Architecture #Heritage
Feb 16
A new chapter is beginning at Crosby Granger Architects... After 11 years of leadership and dedication within the practice, Paul Crosby is stepping down as director and branching out as a specialist high ropes conservation architect.
We are moving forwards with the same values, dedication to quality and commitment to excellence. Our ongoing projects and upcoming work remain uninterrupted with the same experienced team ensuring continuity as Crosby Granger Architects begins its next chapter.
Join us in wishing Paul every success as he takes his conservation expertise to new heights - literally!
Feb 13
In July of 2020 we completed the Lake Head Visitor facilities in one of the most sensitive sites in the newly designated UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Lake District National Park 🏔️
Positioned at the gateway to some of the UK’s most iconic landscapes, including access to Scafell Pike and the shores of Wastwater, Lake Head is a place of both beauty and intense visitor pressure.
Commissioned by the National Trust, the project forms the first phase of a wider, long-term programme of carefully considered improvements in Wasdale. The new facilities were introduced to enhance the visitor experience while reducing impacts on local residents and businesses, without encouraging increased visitor numbers to this remote valley.
The new facilities have been designed with a keen awareness and understanding of the landscape and environmental sensitivity 🌱
Despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, the project was delivered on time and well within budget, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the project team and John Carr Construction Ltd 👏
#LakeDistrict #Architecture
Feb 12
A contemporary family retreat 🌿
Set within a private estate of mature trees, Water End House forms part of a unique collection of dwellings centered around Derwent Bay House. Rebuilt after storm damage in December 2015, the new two-storey home embraces a modern yet context-sensitive design, featuring full-height ground floor glazing and a zinc-clad timber upper floor.
Sustainably designed, the property is heated via a biomass system fuelled by wood pellets, while lime mortar and a breathable timber frame with cellulose insulation ensure a high-performance, environmentally conscious envelope. Burlington blue/grey stone walls provide privacy and complement the estate’s mix of architectural styles, creating a contemporary home that sits harmoniously in its woodland surroundings 🪵
Do you have a project we can help with? Get in touch with us through the link in our bio 🔗
#LakeDistrict #HouseRenovation #Architecture
Jan 30
Last week we did something a little bit different! We were thrilled to be guest sponsors at @thegathernetworking event at @thevenuebbb in Kendal, where we had an `Absolutely Fabulous` evening with Helen Lederer 🎤
The team had a great evening connecting with other business people from across Cumbria and we definitely had plenty of laughs as Helen shared personal stories and honest insights from her book `Not That I`m Bitter`.
Great people, great atmosphere 🙌
Jan 28
Tucked away in a peaceful corner of the Lake District, surrounded by damson trees that gave it its name, Damson Fell has watched over its village since 1903 🌳
We were appointed to carefully refurbish and extend the house, creating a home that respects its heritage while responding to modern family life. The reconfigured interior now provides six generous bedrooms and six bathrooms, while three principal reception rooms continue to enjoy a southerly aspect across the front of the house.
A new two-storey extension has been designed to sit quietly within its context - proportional to the original north gable, set back from the corner and tucked beneath the existing projecting verge. At its heart is a light-filled open-plan garden room, with large sliding doors opening onto a level patio, dissolving the boundary between inside and out.
The project also included significant landscaping works, reshaping the garden to respond to the new extension and removing the awkward level changes of the old layout 🪴
Do you have a renovation project of your own? Get in touch with us through the link in our bio 🔗
#LakeDistrict #HouseRenovation #Architecture
Jan 27
A contemporary educational shelter hidden in the woods above Windermere 🌲
Designed for the National Trust, this project puts sustainability at the heart of its architecture: re-used tyres packed with slate quarry waste form the foundations, straw bales rendered in lime and clay create warm, breathable walls, and sheep’s wool insulation, rammed earth and adobe blocks add natural thermal mass.
All the oak, larch and beech came from storm-felled trees in nearby Monk Coniston - giving fallen timber a second life.
One of the few modern buildings featured in Pevsner’s The Buildings of England - Cumbria, described as “an exercise in sustainability” and praised for fitting its woodland setting “beautifully while being entirely contemporary.”
Completed in 2007 with £35,000 Sustainable Development Funding from the Lake District National Park 🙌
#LakeDistrict #Conservation #Architecture
Jan 23
Lakeland Barn transformation 🌾
This late 17th / early 18th century Grade II listed barn, set within the curtilage of a historic farmhouse in the Lake District National Park, has been carefully reimagined to provide two new bedroom suites - without impacting the character or setting of the main house.
Guided by conservation principles, the design keeps external change to a minimum:
👉 Two new vent style window openings that will match the existing and new oak framed windows to all window openings
👉 The retention and refurbishment of the existing barn doors
👉 Reconfiguring the internal layout to form new rooms using plastered timber partitions and high-level glazing
👉 Repointing the exterior walls and new rain water goods
👉 New perimeter land drainage, new soak away and package treatment plant
👉 Extension of GSH pump to supply domestic hotwater and UFH
👉 Bespoke joinery and bathrooms
Inside, the barn now houses two en-suite bedrooms arranged around a central bay, using plastered timber partitions and high-level glazing to bring in light while respecting the historic fabric. Sustainable upgrades include an extended ground source heat pump, underfloor heating, and new drainage systems - blending heritage with modern comfort.
A quiet, respectful conversion that lets the barn remain a barn - just with a new story to tell ✨
#LakeDistrict #Conservation #Architecture
Jan 20
Hidden in the Lancaster landscape is a remarkable piece of 19th‑century architectural heritage…
We were introduced to the unique Egyptian Revival Gillow Mausoleum in Thurnham by Simon Gillow Reynolds, a descendant of Robert Gillow who was at the heart of Gillow & Co Furniture company.
The circa 1830 mausoleum, attributed to sculptor, architect and Egyptologist Joseph Bonomi the Younger, predates the nearby Church of St. Thomas & St. Elizabeth and showcases Britain’s 19th‑century fascination with all things Egyptian - from its sloping `battered` elevations to recessed elegant papyrus columns.
As a cause close to his heart, Simon sought our specialist advice on this fascinating repair project to preserve his ancestors’ resting place. We’ve carefully assessed and recorded the significance of this exceptional building, inspecting its unusual all-stone structure and sketching out its detail to inform a light touch proposal to guide sensitive repairs, including reinstating lost sections of sandstone roof and improving stone guttering to make it more resilient against changing climate 🌎
The project has gained national recognition. Grants were successfully secured from The Georgian Group’s Cleary Fund (£9,109.76) - their largest grant in 2025 - and the Historic Houses Foundation (£20,000) 👏
We`ll look forward to sharing more updates as work begins on site this spring 🙌
#Thurnham #Conservation #Architecture
Jan 16
Revitalising a Sunderland landmark 🙌
Hutchinsons Buildings, known locally as Mackie’s Corner, is a Grade II listed Victorian building at the heart of Sunderland’s historic high streets. Built in the 1850s and shaped by fire, rebuild and change, it remains a defining feature of the city’s commercial quarter.
Now part of Sunderland’s Historic High Streets Heritage Action Zone, the building was carefully repaired and safeguarded for future use through a heritage-led regeneration programme with Sunderland City Council and Historic England.
Our work focused on sensitive repair, retention of historic fabric and targeted interventions, from stonework and roof repairs to reinstated shopfronts and improved drainage, ensuring this landmark can once again play an active role in the city ✨
#HeritageDesign #Conservation #Architecture
Jan 5
Along with Dominic Roberts, we lead a team of consultants to restore historic buildings in Burton-in-Kendal 🙌
The Partnership objectives were:
🔸 Restore and repurpose heritage buildings, boosting investment confidence and protecting the area’s environmental quality.
🔸 Enhance the public realm, improving floorscapes and visual character in The Square, the community’s central gathering space.
🔸 Promote heritage skills and community understanding, highlighting the benefits of building conservation, craftsmanship, and contextual design.
Working alongside Historic England, the team also developed a national housing exemplar, demonstrating how sensitive housing growth can regenerate rural villages and market towns while monitoring economic, environmental, and social impacts.
Through the Public Realm Improvement Plan, the project set a clear vision for The Square, combined stakeholder input into a cohesive scheme, incorporated community involvement via heritage training, and delivered works that truly reflect the local identity 👏
A great example of how design, heritage, and community can come together to sustain and enhance our built environment.
#HeritageDesign #Conservation #Architecture
Dec 28
We`re proud to act as Inspecting Architects for St. Helen’s Church, a Grade I listed gem recently added to Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register ⛪
Over two phases (2017–2019), we tackled critical masonry decay caused by inappropriate cement mortars and water. Works included:
👉 Re-roofing the chancel
👉 Stone repairs
👉 Mortar indents
👉 Friable stone stabilisation
👉 Traditional limewashing
With support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project also provided craft skills training, archaeological investigation and a new guidebook to celebrate and safeguard this historic site.
Swipe to see the before and after 👏
#HeritageConservation #Architecture #EnglishHeritage
Dec 22
Restoring history with a light touch ✨
No.1 Longhouses, Kentmere, is a 17th-century farmstead with centuries of history woven into its walls.
Our approach focused on sensitive restoration - removing inappropriate modern additions, repairing and retaining original fabric, and using traditional, breathable materials to restore balance and performance.
Where new spaces were needed, like the barn conversion and ancillary outbuilding, the design was guided by minimal intervention, preserving the agricultural character and open feel of the property. Thoughtful additions like a few windows and rooflights bring in natural light without disrupting the building’s historic essence.
The result is a careful blend of heritage and functionality, keeping the story of the farmstead alive while gently enhancing its living spaces 🙌
#HeritageConservation #Architecture #Kentmere
Dec 19
We’re proud to announce that we`re officially certified as a Green Small Business 🌎
This government-led initiative encourages organisations to make meaningful, measurable reductions to their carbon footprint over the course of each year and to document their improvements within an online database.
Becoming a certified Green Small Business isn’t just a badge for us - it’s a reflection of the values that guide our architectural practice. We’ve invested in a series of upgrades to make our studio more energy efficient and environmentally responsible.
👉 Solar panels now provide us with clean, renewable energy.
👉 Secondary glazing has been installed throughout our building to improve thermal performance and reduce heat loss.
👉 We’ve upgraded to two new A-rated boilers and we’ve added 500mm of insulation in our loft.
As we continue to record our progress and explore new ways to reduce our carbon impact, we look forward to sharing more milestones along the way 🙌
#Architecture #SmallGreenBusiness #Sustainability
Dec 12
As part of our ongoing feasibility work for the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership CIC, we’ve been exploring a range of potential approaches to improving accessibility through Hincaster Tunnel 🏗️
These early options focus on how level access might be achieved while respecting the tunnel’s historic fabric and unique character - current ideas under review include options such as a boardwalk and a `Roman road`.
These ideas form part of an early-stage assessment, intended to help understand what might be possible in the future. Further structural investigation will be essential to determine how any intervention could be delivered without compromising the historic tunnel.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue the exploratory work and supporting the long-term ambitions for the @towpath_trail 🌿
#Architecture #Lancaster #LancasterCanalTowpathTrail
Dec 1
We`ve been appointed by the Lancaster Canal Regeneration Partnership CIC to explore the next steps in improving accessibility along the Lancaster Canal @towpath_trail 🍃
Our role is to prepare a feasibility study focused on the future potential of Hincaster Tunnel - a 346m Grade II listed structure and one of the canal’s most significant heritage assets.
The study will consider:
👉 How level access might be achieved
👉 How the tunnel’s historic character can be better revealed
👉 How this remarkable structure could become a true `jewel in the crown` of the Towpath Trail
This work builds on ongoing investment along the 28-mile route, including earlier upgrades near Stainton supported by Sport England, and more recent funding through the Rural Shared Prosperity Fund to continue improvements toward Holme.
We look forward to helping shape the possibilities for this much-loved route, celebrating the heritage of the important historic site while exploring ways it could become more accessible for everyone 🙌
#Architecture #Lancaster #LancasterCanalTowpathTrail
Nov 28
Located within the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Thwaite Farm is a working farm with a collection of traditional buildings steeped in rural character. We were commissioned to oversee the careful repair and conservation of the Grade II listed barn complex, ensuring its continued use and longevity within the landscape 🌿🚜
A detailed inspection and structural appraisal identified long-term issues including water ingress, timber decay, and structural deformation. The repair strategy focused on sensitive conservation, undoing unsympathetic past alterations and reinstating traditional craftsmanship throughout.
The barns were re-roofed using locally sourced Burlington Blue Strong slates, traditionally laid in random widths and diminishing courses to match the original vernacular form. Air-dried oak was used for replacing structural timbers, each jointed by hand to mirror historic techniques.
This project exemplifies a balanced approach to heritage and function - preserving the integrity of traditional rural architecture while supporting the ongoing life of a working farm 🌾
#HeritageConservation #Architecture #HeritageArchitecture #YorkshireDales
Nov 24
We’re so proud of our very own Amy Redman who, along with fellow SPAB Scholars Lucy & Libby, is carrying out essential hands-on maintenance to Lake District churches 👏
Amy, Libby and Lucy walked and sketched their way through these incredible buildings while raising funds for the Dance Scholarship Trust in 2020, and now for SPAB Maintenance Week 2025, they are re-visiting these churches to carry out essential maintenance tasks.
👉 Cleaning out gutters and gulleys
👉 Removing moss and vegetation from steps, walls and pathways
👉 Clearing rubbish from churchyards
👉 Hoovering dust and debris inside
These simple but vital tasks can make all the difference in preventing long-term damage and costly repairs.
Please join us in donating to support future SPAB Scholars to continue vital education and training in the conservation and maintenance of historic buildings through the Dance Scholarship Trust.
You can donate through the link in our bio 🔗
#HeritageConservation #Architecture #LakeDistrict
Nov 19
We led and project-managed the refurbishment of a once-overlooked circulation space between a school and its sports hall - reimagining it, in collaboration with award-winning artist Charlie Winney, into a dynamic and inspiring thoroughfare 🙌
Through a striking installation of mirrors and segmented photographic prints, the design invites students to engage with their environment in a whole new way - only when viewed from specific points do the fragments unite to reveal complete images of pupils in motion, celebrating their energy, teamwork and sporting spirit.
Chris Granger led on this project and his vision transformed a neglected underpass into a vibrant space - a true testament to the power of thoughtful design and creative collaboration ✨
#Architecture #SustainableDesign
Nov 18
Working across two of Cumbria’s most fascinating medieval sites, Burneside Hall and Gleaston Castle, we undertook an extensive programme of architectural investigation, condition surveys, and feasibility studies 🏰
The project explored each site’s 14th-16th century history, assessing their structural condition and developing costed repair and conservation strategies aimed at securing their future and removing them from the Heritage at Risk Register.
By analysing significance, repair needs, and sustainable reuse potential, we’ve helped lay the groundwork for future conservation and redevelopment - ensuring these remarkable fortified sites continue to tell their story for generations to come ✨
#HeritageConservation #Architecture #Cumbria #HistoricEngland
Nov 14
In the heart of Newcastle, Plummer House, a Grade II listed 1910 landmark, has been carefully reimagined as part of a major student accommodation development providing over 250 bed spaces 🛏️
As conservation consultants, we guided the sensitive refurbishment of the historic building and ballroom, ensuring every new intervention - from mezzanine apartments to a new four-storey staircase - respected the character and fabric of the original architecture.
Through detailed surveys, heritage assessments, and design coordination, we helped ensure that the old and new coexist seamlessly, preserving the building’s story while supporting its vibrant new life 🏛️✨
Do you have a project we could help with? Get in touch with us through the link in our bio 📎
#HeritageConservation #ListedBuilding #Architecture #Newcastle
Nov 11
Set within the heart of the Edale Valley in the Peak District National Park, The Sheepfold facility for The National Trust reimagines the traditional farm enclosure with a sustainable twist 🌿
Replacing outdated campsite amenities, the new standalone building blends seamlessly with its natural surroundings - drawing inspiration from the circular sheepfolds that dot the local landscape.
The design embraces renewable power and sustainable materials, reflecting The National Trust’s vision for a more responsible future across their properties 🏔️
#Architecture #SustainableDesign #PeakDistrict
Nov 7
We are excited to be working with the Lancaster @towpath_trail and Lancaster Canal Trust to explore access solutions for the historic 346m Hincaster Tunnel 🧱
Built between 1813–1818 using over 4 million bricks, Hincaster Tunnel is a remarkable feat of engineering heritage, yet it currently remains inaccessible. Our team is now developing feasibility proposals that balance innovative design, sensitive conservation and future public access 🙌
#Architecture #Lancaster #LancasterCanalTowpathTrail
Oct 27
Low House Farm is a rare and beautifully evolved Grade II listed linear farmstead tucked into the Newlands Valley near Keswick 🌿
Dating from the 17th to 19th centuries, the house, long-house and bank barn still retain their original structure and character.
Our approach focused on careful repair, removing unsympathetic modern additions and preserving historic craftsmanship - from the cruck frames of the long-house to the early inglenook fireplace.
This is conservation led by respect: minimal intervention, maximum authenticity ✨🏡
Do you have a project we could help with? Get in touch with us through the link in our bio 📎
#Architecture #LakeDistrict #Keswick
Oct 23
Morland Hall - transformed from ruin to one of Cumbria’s finest country houses through meticulous conservation and design 🌿
Originally completed in 1861, Morland Hall was built as a statement of prestige and ambition. After serving briefly as a Red Cross hospital during WWII, the hall was abandoned in 1945 and rapidly fell into ruin. By 1999, the once magnificent country house was roofless, overgrown and collapsing, with trees growing through former dining rooms 🌳
Crosby Granger Architects were part of the dedicated team that brought Morland Hall back from the brink of loss. Our conservation-led approach combined:
✨ Traditional building techniques
✨ Carefully detailed oak panelling
✨ Locally trained craftsmanship
✨ Sensitive integration of modern design and services
Working closely with an enthusiastic client, local craftsmen and the planning authority, we oversaw the project from early planning discussions through to site completion, including delivering hands-on training in lime plastering. Alongside the restoration of the 8-bedroom hall, the project included refurbishment of the historic service range and conversion of a barn into three holiday cottages.
The project was recognised by Eden District Council, winning the 2007 Conservation Design Award - a testament to the commitment, continuity of craftsmanship and respect for heritage at the heart of the scheme 🏆
Do you have a building project of your own? Get in touch through the link in our bio 🔗
#Architecture #LakeDistrict #Cumbria
Oct 20
Breathing life back into Thornthwaite Hall 🏛️
We are proud to have played a part in the sensitive conservation of Thornthwaite Hall, a remarkable Grade II listed 16th-century hall house near Bampton, Cumbria.
Though recently reinstated as a single dwelling after years of partial use as a bank barn, the building continued to suffer from severe water ingress and exposure to harsh Cumbrian weather 🌧️
Our approach focused on reinstating the balance originally intended by its master masons. Through careful investigation and traditional material trials, we:
Conducted historic fabric and materials analysis
👉 Employed vernacular building techniques
👉 Roughcast rendered exposed elevations in lime mortar
👉 Finished with a breathable ochre limewash for long-term protection
The result is a sympathetic transformation that protects the structure while respecting its heritage. The new lime roughcast not only halts water ingress but enhances the visual authenticity of the hall within its rural setting - preserving its character for generations to come.
#Architecture #LakeDistrict #Cumbria
Oct 16
The unrealised successful planning application for a new Ullswater Yacht Clubhouse ⛵
Thoughtfully designed to sit comfortably within its spectacular Lake District setting, the clubhouse design blends craftsmanship, durability and contemporary design while remaining sensitive to the surrounding landscape.
Featuring two traditional pitched roofs oriented toward Ullswater and the western fells, the proposed building would have stepped subtly into the landscape to reduce visual impact from eastern viewpoints. A generous overhanging roof sheltering a terrace would offer year-round outdoor space for members.
Materiality plays a key role in achieving balance between function and context. The proposed design combines black corrugated cladding, timber boarding and large glazed façades, delivering durability and performance while echoing the character of local rural buildings 🪵
This proposed development represents a significant upgrade in both design quality and environmental resilience for the club, ensuring it meets the long-term needs of members and the community 👏
#Architecture #LakeDistrict #Cumbria
Oct 14
Live from site with Paul & Will in the Lyth Valley 👷♀️
We were recently on location at Inman’s Bridge and the Grade II listed limekiln, two important pieces of the valley’s heritage that are now at risk from weathering, vegetation and time 🌧️
Standing on the bridge, you can see the original 19th-century stonework beginning to shift, while moss and water erosion slowly take their toll. A short walk away, the limekiln rises from its triangular enclosure - an impressive reminder of the area’s industrial past, now partly hidden beneath ivy, ferns and self-seeded trees.
It’s inspiring to see the site up close as we begin the work to secure their future in the landscape 👏
#Architecture #HeritageArchitecture #LakeDistrict
Oct 9
Preserving heritage in the Lyth Valley 🌿
We`re proud to be leading conservation work on two remarkable pieces of the Lake District’s historic landscape: Inman’s Bridge and a Grade II listed limekiln.
Inman’s Bridge, a 19th-century stone cattle crossing over the River Gilpin, is the only surviving structure of its kind in the valley. Weathering and movement in the stonework have left it vulnerable, and careful planning is needed to secure its future. The nearby limekiln, built in the 18th or early 19th century, has withstood centuries of change but is now overgrown and in need of sensitive repair.
With funding from Historic England and Countryside Stewardship, we will be undertaking feasibility studies to guide their conservation. Our aim is to respect their history while ensuring these landmarks remain part of the working landscape for generations to come.
Read more about the project on BBC Cumbria through the link in our bio 📎
#Architecture #HeritageArchitecture #LakeDistrict
Oct 6
Live from site 📸 The Epiacum Roman Fort project is the perfect example of putting our ethos and 6 guiding principles into action...
🔸 Technical leadership - rigorous hydrological, structural, and ecological analysis.
🔸 Understated excellence - sensitive proposals that safeguard archaeology without over-engineering.
🔸 Committed to sustainable & sensitive architecture - working with the Edgars, Epiacum Heritage, Historic England, and volunteers.
🔸 Rich experience - past Roman and monastic sites (Senhouse, Furness Abbey, Burneside Hall) inform our approach.
🔸 Expertise - AABC-accredited architects, SPAB Scholars, and expert sub-consultants.
🔸 Hands-on dedication - community archaeology, heritage training, and practical site collaboration.
Our work provides a practical, fundable plan to protect Epiacum, enrich knowledge of the site, and make it more accessible, while accommodating the realities of a working farm 🚜
#Architecture #HeritageArchitecture #NorthPennines
Oct 3
