Lavenham Priory, Water Street, DESIGN & Lavenham, Suffolk ACCESS STATEMENT Ref: 5576_DAS JAN 2021 5576 Listed Building Application: Internal Alterations Address: Lavenham Priory, Water Street, Lavenham, Suffolk Local Authority: Babergh District Council Client: Mr. & Mrs. M. Rigby Date: January 2021. Wincer Kievenaar Architects Ltd. Market Place / Hadleigh / Ipswich / Suffolk / IP7 5DN T / 01473 827992 2 E / [email protected] W/ www.wk-architects.co.uk 1.0 STATEMENT 1.1. ............................. INTRODUCTION render walls which are finished in a white lime wash. 1.4. ....................................LAYOUT This has been the exterior of building for some years, Lavenham Priory is an historically important early-16th Area 1 - The Kitchen (refer to section 2.1 for site and the applicant has no plans to change it’s historic century merchant’s house of grade 1 status, located in photographs) appearance. the historic village of Lavenham, Suffolk. The kitchen layout will be generally unaltered, with the existing two doors remaining in place. The existing Water Street is a wash with Listed Buildings of both The application includes internal alterations to the kitchen units will be replaced and upgraded, however grade II & I status, and the Priory faces 2 No. grade I property on both the ground and first floor. These this work will not affect the historic fabric of the buildings to the north. alterations relate to the following rooms, Kitchen, building. The existing modern concrete floor will be Great Hall, Great Chamber and the Dining Room. 1.3. .......................... USE AND AMOUNT removed and a new lime crete floor will be installed at a lower level matching the level of the Great Hall These alterations have been subject to a pre- Area 1 - The Kitchen (refer to section 2.1 for site adjacent. application enquiry with the heritage team at Babergh photographs) District Council. An online meeting took place on the The use of this room will remain the kitchen to the Area 2 - Great Hall (refer to section 2.2 for site 13th January 2021 which was attended by Thomas house. There are no alterations to the footprint of the photographs) Pinner (Babergh Heritage Officer), Mr & Mrs Rigby room, however there are proposed works to both the Again the layout of this room will be unaltered under (Applicants) and Philip Branton of Wincer Kievenaar existing fireplace and floor covered in detail in later the current proposals. 3 Architects. sections. Area 3 - Great Chamber (refer to section 2.3 for site During the meeting Mr Pinner generally considered all Area 2 - Great Hall (refer to section 2.2 for site photographs) the proposals acceptable, and confirmed that many photographs) The general arrangement of this room will remain, had genuine heritage benefits to the important listed The use of this room will remain, with no changes however the modern corridor linking both staircases building. The meeting was followed up with a formal to the existing dimensions of the room. There are in the property will be removed. This was a modern written response dated 20th January 2021, which proposed works to the existing step leading to the insertion relating to the building’s previous use as a again supported the proposals, however requested Hall, along with amendments to the floor finish. bed & breakfast. The removal of this corridor will open some further information and detail to support the up the room, and eliminate the awkward junction of application. Area 3 - Great Chamber (refer to section 2.3 for site the modern partition and the historic fireplace and wall photographs) painting (for further detail refer to Andrea Kirkham’s This further / additional information forms part of the The use of this room will remain as a bedroom. report attached). current application and addresses and clarifies the The removal of existing modern partitions installed The removal of the corridor will allow the current outstanding questions. when the building had a Bed & Breakfast use will be en-suite bathroom to be increased in size and benefit removed, and the existing corridor and en-suite will from the existing south facing mullion window. 1.2. .........SITE CONTEXT / CHARACTER ANALYSIS form a larger private bathroom serving the bedroom. The Priory is located to the western end and on the Area 4 - The Dining Room (refer to section 2.4 for site Area 4 - The Dining Room (refer to section 2.4 for site southern side of Water Street, Lavenham. It is situated photographs) photographs) in the Lavenham Conservation Area, and is considered The layout of the room will be unchanged, however The use of this room will remain as the main dining an important building to the Village. the reinstatement of the Victorian fireplace will provide room to the house. A previously blocked up Victorian The building has an exposed timber frame, with lime a focal point and heritage benefit to the room and fireplace will be reinstated, improving the space and property. reinforcing its use. 1.0 STATEMENT 1.5. ........................ SCALE AND MASSING to the Hall are proposed, increasing the tread depth Area 1 - The Kitchen (refer to section 2.1 for site allowing more head room as you exit. These alterations photographs) will not affect any historic fabric, however, will allow The proposed lowering of the kitchen floor will provide The current application includes no new additions to the opportunity to carry out some localised repairs flush access direct from the kitchen to the great hall, the building and only minor internal alterations , hence to the main floor and remove the square pamments, and adding a manageable step from the entrance the scale and massing on the building will remain as replacing them with the more sympathetic and passageway to the kitchen. It is consider that the existing. matching brick pamments salvaged from the works on link from the kitchen to the great hall will be used 1.6. ...............................APPEARANCE the kitchen floor. a great deal more frequently that the link from the passageway, so the proposals will generally improve Area 1 - The Kitchen (refer to section 2.1 for site Area 3 - Great Chamber (refer to section 2.3 for site the current access arrangement. photographs) photographs) The alterations to the kitchen will general remove There will be major visual improvements to the Great Area 2 - Great Hall (refer to section 2.2 for site inappropriate modern works which have no heritage Chamber with the removal of the modern corridor photographs) benefit to the existing property. The work to the stud work partitions, eliminating the awkward junction The alterations to the steps leading from Great existing fireplace will remove recent unsympathetic with the fireplace and wall painting. This removal Hall to the Hall are only minor, however the access and untidy brickwork and replace with a more will improve the proportions of the impressive room, improvement will be great. The step alterations will appropriate design, constructed reflecting the fine 16th allowing you to appreciate the full dimensions to all provide adequate headroom, avoiding the historic Century fireplace mirrored to the Great Hall (for further four corners. the removal of the partitions will also timber beam, and will also eliminate a dangerous trip 4 detail refer to Leigh Alston’s report attached). allow the important fireplace to truly return as the hazard. Currently when moving from the great hall to The proposed lowering of the kitchen floor includes focal point. The inclusion of the southern window in the Water Street entrance door, it is very easy to trip on the removal of a modern concrete floor believed to be bathroom and the increase in floor area, will achieve a the reveal of the steps. Increasing this width to the installed in the late 70’s/ early 80’s. It is the intention better suited en-suite reflecting the grand bedroom. existing wall aperture with naturally provide a safer that this recent floor is removed along with a concrete passage. The widening of the steps will also return sub-floor, without undermining the existing plinth wall Area 4 - The Dining Room (refer to section 2.4 for site them to them to their historic width, between the the foundation. It is proposed to install a more appropriate photographs) two timber studs. sublime lime crete floor including underfloor heating. The opening up and reinstatement of the Victorian The lowering of the existing kitchen floor will also fireplace will visually improve this modest sized room Area 3 - Great Chamber (refer to section 2.3 for site (internally) totally expose the existing timber sole plate and demonstrate the heritage evolution of the building. photographs) which is currently semi covered by the internal floor The new fireplace will provide both an additional heat The removal of the existing corridor adjacent to the finish. This reduction in floor level and the installation and light source which will add to the ambience of the great chamber will eliminate the direct linkage of both of the new limecrete floor will assist the building to room. stairs (without passing through the great chamber), breath naturally. The existing floor bricks with be however now the property is no longer used as a bed relaided, and suitable additions will be sourced if 1.7. ..............................LANDSCAPING & breakfast, this route is no longer required. required. The application includes no external alterations, and All bedrooms including the great chamber will have now landscape proposals. direct access to a staircase and the ground floor. Area 2 - Great Hall (refer to section 2.2 for site photographs) 1.8. ....................................ACCESS Area 4 - The Dining Room (refer to section 2.4 for site Minor alterations to the steps leading from Great Hall photographs) The proposals to the dining room will not affect the existing access arrangements.