Grasmere St Oswald's - Crosby Granger Architects

Role: Project Architect and Contract Administrator

Crosby Granger Architects were appointed at this highly popular and famous church, which is set within the idyllic village of Grasmere, right in the middle of the LDNP. The commission included research and understanding of the existing condition of the fabric, including looking through various archives including those at the SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) in London. The church dates back to the 12th Century and was originally rendered, over roughly constructed masonry walling, as is the common method of building in the area. In the 1890’s the render was stripped, those of the day believing that the beautiful masonry should be seen.

The rough stonework was then pointed in heavy strap-pointing of a cementitious nature, again, a fashion of the time. Within 30 years the church had to be re-rendered due to damp and water penetration, but was sadly re-rendered in an impervious, cementitious wet-dash. Over the years, the render has cracked and deteriorated, the church has become damp, and certain areas of high level masonry have begun to crumble. The Phase I proposals saw the tower stripped of its damaging render & re-rendered in a hot-mix lime render. The hot-lime was mixed on site & used immediately. Hot-mixed mortars are now recognised as the most common form of mixing & using mortars historically. Using the mortar hot increases the adhesion to the substrate & allows a regular, controlled carbonation process. These skills had been almost lost, but a resurgence is underway and the works at St Oswald’s are considered to be an important development in the material’s use in England.

Historic England have expressed an interest in being involved in the study and review of the project’s progress, using it for research of the hot-mix lime material analysis.

AWARDS – SHORTLISTED RICS 2018 CONSERVATION AWARD

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INSTAGRAM

Nestled in the Howgill Fells, the traditional barns at Thwaite Farm were deteriorating - until grant funding brought us onboard to help turn things around 🌾

Preserving their historic character was just as important to us as making them structurally sound. And while heritage conservation was the primary goal, the family needed them to remain practical, working farm buildings.

Watching these historic structures transform from vulnerable to secure was an emotional experience for the family - and we are so proud to have played a part in saving them for future generations.

This project is featured in our latest piece in Issue 52 of Conservation & Heritage magazine, alongside a look at how the approach used at Thwaite is now being applied across 21 further barns in Cumbria ✨

#Architecture #HistoricBuilding #Conservation

View Instagram post by crosbygrangerarchitects

Sep 7

29 1

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Nestled in the Howgill Fells, the traditional barns at Thwaite Farm were deteriorating - until grant funding brought us onboard to help turn things around 🌾

Preserving their historic character was just as important to us as making them structurally sound. And while heritage conservation was the primary goal, the family needed them to remain practical, working farm buildings.

Watching these historic structures transform from vulnerable to secure was an emotional experience for the family - and we are so proud to have played a part in saving them for future generations.

This project is featured in our latest piece in Issue 52 of Conservation & Heritage magazine, alongside a look at how the approach used at Thwaite is now being applied across 21 further barns in Cumbria ✨

#Architecture #HistoricBuilding #Conservation

29 1

Preserving a piece of Cumbrian history at Levens Hall 🏰

Sitting just outside the Lake District National Park, Levens Hall is famous for its Grade I listed parkland and the world’s oldest topiary garden. Welcoming over 30,000 visitors a year, this historic Elizabethan home requires thoughtful, traditional care to keep it looking its best.

So what repairs did we make? 🛠️

👉 Stripping away harmful cement render and replacing it with traditional lime mortar and limewash so the building can breathe.
👉 Re-roofing the hipped slate roofs and replacing lead details.
👉 Restoring parapet stonework and internal plaster.

Specialist conservation work like this ensures the Hall remains a safe, vibrant landmark for the public and the Bagot family for years to come.

#Architecture #HistoricBuilding #Conservation #LakeDistrict

View Instagram post by crosbygrangerarchitects

Sep 2

35 1

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Preserving a piece of Cumbrian history at Levens Hall 🏰

Sitting just outside the Lake District National Park, Levens Hall is famous for its Grade I listed parkland and the world’s oldest topiary garden. Welcoming over 30,000 visitors a year, this historic Elizabethan home requires thoughtful, traditional care to keep it looking its best.

So what repairs did we make? 🛠️

👉 Stripping away harmful cement render and replacing it with traditional lime mortar and limewash so the building can breathe.
👉 Re-roofing the hipped slate roofs and replacing lead details.
👉 Restoring parapet stonework and internal plaster.

Specialist conservation work like this ensures the Hall remains a safe, vibrant landmark for the public and the Bagot family for years to come.

#Architecture #HistoricBuilding #Conservation #LakeDistrict

35 1

We are proud to see our work featured in the latest edition of Conservation & Heritage magazine (Issue 52) 📖

Traditional barns are a fundamental part of the Lake District’s agricultural identity and World Heritage status. We are helping safeguard 21 agricultural buildings across the National Park through a major conservation initiative backed by the Lake District National Park Authority.

Preserving these structures not only protects our cultural landscape but also keeps traditional building crafts alive for future generations.

Read the full feature in Conservation & Heritage magazine (pages 70–73) ✨

#ConservationArchitecture #Heritage #LakeDistrict

View Instagram post by crosbygrangerarchitects

Aug 31

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We are proud to see our work featured in the latest edition of Conservation & Heritage magazine (Issue 52) 📖

Traditional barns are a fundamental part of the Lake District’s agricultural identity and World Heritage status. We are helping safeguard 21 agricultural buildings across the National Park through a major conservation initiative backed by the Lake District National Park Authority.

Preserving these structures not only protects our cultural landscape but also keeps traditional building crafts alive for future generations.

Read the full feature in Conservation & Heritage magazine (pages 70–73) ✨

#ConservationArchitecture #Heritage #LakeDistrict

19 0

St Oswald's Church

Grasmere

Role: Project Architect and Contract Administrator

RELATED PROJECTS

Eshton Hall

Furness Abbey & Piel Castle

Plummer House

Muncaster Castle

Thornthwaite Hall

INSTAGRAM

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