inNotti The Newsletter of the Nottinghamshire Building Preservation Trust Limited 14 - 24 REGENT STREET NOTTINGHAM Main Facade Restoration 1986/87 The problems started some years ago but really came to a Administrator and Project Manager employed by each head when part of the eroded main cornice, at Nr. 20 building owner to prepare proposals for the restoration Regent Street, dangerously fell into the forecourt below. As work, obtain costings from appropriate contractors and the premises fo rm part of the W ellington Circus Con­ supervise the work servation Area, the Planners were contacted regarding the The initial study revealed many weathering problems, possibility of grant aid for the necessary repairs The par ticularly at roof and parapet levels, due to age, neglect, Planners quickly recognised the importance of the poor or inadequate mamtenance. Quotes for a compre­ buildings and that the problems w ith the fabric of Nr. 20 hensive scheme, including the complete restoration of were common to all six properties in the terrace, built about roofs and chimney stacks, were unacceptable to the 1850 as prestigious houses for emerging businessmen, by building owners because costs were very high. A less the prominent Nottingham Victorian Architect, T. C. Hine. extensive scheme, involving repairs to some stonew ork at A meeting of all owners and tenants of the terrace was set roof level plus the essential rebuilding of the badly eroded up and the idea of a Joint initiative prompted by the City brick parapets and built-up main cornice, together w ith Planning Department, with the prosp ect of possible grant brickwork repairs to the facade and some low-budget assistance from the City Council and English Heritage was improvement works at forecourt level, was finally adopted discussed, with myself fulfilling the role of Architect! and work started. Contmuedonpage2 Contents' 14-24 Regent Street. Nottingham I . Notes from the Secretary 2 . The Gables Farm. Little Carlton 2 The Gables Farm - Report fro'm the Owner 3 . The Gables Farm - Report from the Architect 4 . Newark and Sherwood District CouncilS ' A Layman's View 7 . Old Hall Farm. Linby 7 . The Repair of Morton Manor Dovecote 8 ,0 As '..-.ras lITIportant to protect and enha.... ce . e 'uruty' of the terrace m THE GABLES FARM terms 0 appearance, it was decided to adop a res oratIon approach, which LITTLE CARLTON, Nr. NEWARK mean mat the type and scale of remed al ork undertaken, in all major problem areas, was maintained, even though conditions encountered some­ tunes vaned from one property to another. The 'unity' concept was earned through with the choice of pamtwork colours, the style of the railings, name boards and forecourt improvements, etc. One of the major tasks was to replace eroded brickwork sympathetically and unobtrusively. All the shaped brick­ work gables were in a poor state and, although sections of the brick parapet had been previously 'repaired', the general condition and appearance was unsatisfactory. The best replacement bricks found were very close in size to the originals but varied slightly in colour and texture. By matching the original bond, selecting a suitable mortar and ensuring that all brickwork joins were maintained as tight as possible to match existing, a reason­ able standard has been achieved in the circumstances. Approximately three thousand new bricks were used in the remedial work. This important tImber-framed building had been standing derelict for many years and had been causing great concern to the Trust, as it had been given over to the The built-up main cornice, at parapet housing of pigs and poultry and generally neglected level. was in very poor condition and The building was identified and described in Professor Barley's book The had to be completely reformed, to English Farmhouse and Cottage but remained under threat from demolition and follow the original profiles, off the natural decay until It was purchased by a local builder, Mr. Barrie Roberts. existing brick corbel base which, fortunately, remained in reasonable We are all very grateful to Mr Roberts for Ca) buying the building and Cb) condition. The work was expertly employing such a capable architect to supervise the work. carried out, using traditional tech­ The following reports give the differing views of two people who are niques and equipment and the finished immediately involved with the building and, from this basis, form an interesting result reproduces the crisp and sharp archive item. impact at the head of the facade as originally conceived and built. The cornices and bays were all dressed in lead, as an added precaution. , , The work to the forecourt areas was very limited, due to cost. It was important to identify the original • Slide Evenings • Officers of the Trust landscaped beds between the stone All members are reminded that the At the December meeting of the nnpon aflL ~lVh ~ lu e al llY ~ lIle l lill\jiYidi r'''''Tln,......11 nf r..A"'.:ln '.:l rTOl'Ylont th o fnll rY'I1ulnrf landscaped beds between the stone All members are reminded that the At the December meeting of the entrance paths but gravel topped very enjoyable series of slide evenings Council of Management, the following tarmacadam was selected, from a continue to be held. officers were elected for the year: number of options presented, as the Chairman - CIlr. F. Higgins most maintenance free and, therefore, The next meeting is: Vice-Chairman - Cllr R Gilbert acceptable solution. An earlier Friday 1st July Hon Secretary - Mr G. A. Turner proposal, to restore the shrub beds as "Berriedale" original, was rejected because of Hon Treasurer - Mr. ]. Farrer Clifton Lane, Ruddington concern over upkeep and consequent The members elected at the AGM to effect on appearance. Low cost railings The meeting starts at 8.00 p.m. represent the membership on the were introduced to add interest and Council of Management were: Mrs. I. protection to the gravel beds and to Skirving, Cllr. M. Horrocks, Mr. B. prevent access for parking cars. Only Allebon, Mr. F. Hoskins, Mr. D. Garnett two original railing posts remain and and Mr. M. Eaton. these have been retained in position at the entrance to Nr. 14 Regent Street. New railings, to match the originals, • Pantiles were too expensive. Trees have been Philip Needham has 1000-1200 • Coach Trip planted in five of the forecourt areas reclaimed bluelbrown glazed pantiles, Watch out for the forthcoming coach and their full impact will start to show m the next few years Identical mounting originally from the Vale of Belvoir, but trip in June, which will be to historic boards for nameplates plus numerals relevant to certain parts of buildings in Derbyshire. were included to maintain consistency Nottinghamshire, in hand. Details are now being worked out as far as possible Anyone interested can contact him but any suggestions for this, or other Allan Mulcahy • on Mansfield 22743. visits, would be welcome. THE GABLES FARM, liTTLE eARLTON Report by the Owner, Mr. B. W. Roberts condlllon, coming from some old people's bungalows in Sutton-In-Ashfield, approximately 10112 miles away. I bought the Gables Farm, Little Carlton in 1984. It was a Grade j[' Listed Building, The Infill panels were reinforced and msulated, as opposed to the wattle and daub being originally a half-timbered building and the now known history is later detailed and rendered m modern materials but It was visually very satisfactory We did have It had been empty for some 20 years when I purchased it and the only attendants problems at the outset with leaking, due to the oak shrinkmg but, over the months, we were cattle, pigs and other animals from the local farm, who had been allowed to have smce filled this with mastic and, hopefully, this has now stopped. roam m the house as they wished. The house keeps warm but the central hall. being so high, does create insulallon The concrete bUild 109, in the front of the house, spout ItS appearance and, when problems. thIS was taken down, It was clearly evident that an elegant gabled house was covered We have underpinned the brickwork and formed a foundation and inserted a by the large concrete buildmg and the various tile hangings and other coverings, chemical damp-proof course. which surrounded the structure. The ground floors on the wmgs were concreted and left for carpet, but the inner The other buildmgs, which surrounded The gables Farm, were ideal fo r my needs; hall floors were concreted and then laid with slabs; the natural stone slabs came from the stables I converted into an office - being a small bUilder, this was ideal for my 29 Church Street, wng Bennington, the house where [ lived previously, for some 20 needs; the existing milking shed I converted to a workshop, storage bUilding and log years. The slabs were collected, over many years, from various sites; some stone store and the front end was divided, to provide a laundry and airing facilities for steps, used from a barn at Brant Broughton m Lincolnshire, still show heavy wear from clothes. farmers' boots. The five bay garage was built from existing materials of a farm building, which I The through passage to the inner hall was tiled with red hand-made quarry tile purchased from a Mr. Dakin of Sulton-on-Trent The bUildings were at Broxholme, paving, taken from the old thralls in the pantry areas within the house when [ bought near Saxilby in Lincolnshire, on a farm which he owned. The bricks were taken It The step splitting the levels m thiSarea was taken from the house's dining room and down, one by one and cleaned and rebUilt and the trusses were re-erected and the shows many years of use.