HERITIAGE AND DESIGN & ACCESS STATEMENT OLD WOOD HALL 8 DEAN ROAD STEWKLEY BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LU7 0ET Prepared: January 2021 AW Architectural Design Ltd Introduction This statement has been prepared to support the application for the renovation of an inglenook fireplace, restoration of wall finishes, new floor structure and new opening to Old Wood Hall, 8 Dean Road, Stewkley. This has been written by Andy Ward of AW Architectural Design Ltd, who is also the applicant & owner of the property. Old Wood Hall is a Grade II listed dwelling. The property is a C17 timber framed building with a thatch roof with a 2 storey C19 facing brick extension with tiled roof finish. There is also a single storey rear extension (circa 1970) with a felt flat roof and facing brickwork. Location The site is located in the village of Stewkley, in the administrative district of Aylesbury Vale District Council. The National Grid Reference is SP 84223 27053 (Fig 1). Old Wood Hall is located to the North of the village on Dean Road. Figure 1: General Location AW Architectural Design Ltd Registered office: Willows 1, Mill Farm Courtyard, Beachampton, MK19 6DS. Registered in England and Wales No. 10749119 2/13 AW Architectural Design Ltd Site The house is approximately 182m². There is a large garden and attached paddock to the rear. The site area is approximately 0.75 hectares. Figure 2: Location Plan Conservation Areas, Archaeological Notification Areas & Scheduled Ancient Monuments The site is not located within a Conservation or Archaeological Notification Area, nor is it a Scheduled Monument. Listed Buildings The site is a Grade II listed building (National Heritage List for England entry number:1213629), which is described as follows: Small house. C17, recased in brick C19. Timber frame shows to rear of right-hand bay and has central post to front, Thatch roof, half-hipped to left, central brick chimney. 1½ storeys, 2 bays. C19 wooden casements, 3-light to ground floor and upper left, 2-light to upper right. First floor windows are in thatch, Central half-glazed door in plain wooden surround and altered segmental head. Similar head over window to right. Interior: large double-sided fireplace has cambered lintel to right; left- hand room has chamfered spine beam with moulded end over fireplace. AW Architectural Design Ltd Registered office: Willows 1, Mill Farm Courtyard, Beachampton, MK19 6DS. Registered in England and Wales No. 10749119 3/13 AW Architectural Design Ltd Heritage and Planning The AVDC Local Plan contains the following heritage-related clauses: 4.143 There are over 2,800 buildings, bridges, statues and other structures in the District contained in Lists of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. Of these listed buildings over 200 are recorded as Grades I or II* and the remainder as Grade II. Buildings in Aylesbury were last surveyed in 1973. Those in Buckingham were surveyed in 1994 and lists for the remaining parishes were revised between 1981 and 1985. 4.144 The objective of listing buildings is to ensure their protection. The Council has a statutory duty to have a special regard to the desirability of preserving any listed building or its setting, or any features of special architectural or historic interest that it possesses. Listed building consent is required for all works that would affect a building’s special interest including internal work. 4.146 Many listed buildings can sustain some degree of sensitive alteration or extension without loss of their special interest. Cumulative changes reflecting the history of use and ownership are themselves an aspect of the character of some buildings, but in some cases successive works of indifferent quality can cumulatively be very destructive of a building’s special interest. Alterations, even of a minor nature must respect the individual characteristics of the building and ensure the survival of as much historic fabric as is practical. 4.147 The objective of listing buildings is to ensure their protection and this is best achieved by retaining them in their original form. However the demolition of inappropriate extensions to a listed building may be permitted, provided the retained section of the building is made good. Exterior The original C17 building is of timber-framed construction recased in facing brick and has a thatch roof finish. There is a 2-storey facing brickwork C19 extension with a clay tile roof and a single storey rear extension (circa 1970) with facing brickwork and felt flat roof. Landscape This application does not have an impact on the landscape setting of the property. Layout On the ground floor, in the original C17 building is the living room and lounge. In the C19 extension is the kitchen. The C17 & C19 buildings are linked via a doorway between the Living Room and Kitchen. The single storey rear extension accommodates a WC/utility. There are 4 bedrooms and a bathroom located on the first floor. There are two sets of stairs. One accesses two of the bedrooms in the C17 building and the other accesses the other 2 bedrooms and bathroom in the C19 building. PROPOSAL This application seeks permission for the renovation of an inglenook fireplace, restoration of wall finishes, new floor structure and a new opening. AW Architectural Design Ltd Registered office: Willows 1, Mill Farm Courtyard, Beachampton, MK19 6DS. Registered in England and Wales No. 10749119 4/13 AW Architectural Design Ltd BATHROOM BEDROOM 3 BEDROOM BEDROOM 2 1 BEDROOM 4 01 EXISTING FRIST FLOOR PLAN C17 C19 circa 1970 WC/UTILITY DINING Inglenook fireplace LOUNGE LIVING ROOM KITCHEN 02 EXISTING GROUND FLOOR PLAN Figure 3: Existing Plans AW Architectural Design Ltd Registered office: Willows 1, Mill Farm Courtyard, Beachampton, MK19 6DS. Registered in England and Wales No. 10749119 5/13 AW Architectural Design Ltd INGLENOOK FIRE PLACE: An inglenook fireplace has been exposed after removing a poorly built infill. It is believed the inglenook was in- filled circa 1980. The infill was delicately removed with hand tools only. The infill was not tied into the original structure, and therefore no damage was caused to the original asset by its removal. The void had been filled with rubble and shingle. As the infill had not been ventilated and the chimney had not been capped off, the walls have suffered from damp. This application seeks permission to renovate the fireplace and surrounding walls as detail below: 1 2 3 4 1. The lime plaster to the stonework over the beam has become loose or blown in areas. There are some areas that have been patch filled with either concrete of gypsum plaster in the past. It is proposed to carefully remove the loose plaster and modern filling by hand; ensuring the original lime plaster that is sound is retained intact. The areas to be repaired will be done so using lime to match the original finish. The areas that are of a depth greater than 15mm will be two part filled. The initial filling being haired coarse lime mortar (ratio 3:1 (sand:lime) with 2kg of natural animal hair per m³ of mortar). The second part being unhaired lime mortar (ratio 3:1 (sand:lime)) that is sponge float finished into the original lime plaster. 2. The internal walls of the fireplace are brick & stone that have many layers of paint over. The top coat is a gloss paint finish, which has caused damage to areas of the plaster. It is proposed to carefully brush off the paint back to the base finish. Areas to be filled will be done so using lime mortar (ratio 3:1 (sand:lime)). A top skim coat of fine lime plaster will be applied over. 3. It is proposed to deep clean the facing brick detail. The loose mortar will be raked out by hand and will be re-pointed using lime mortar (ratio 3:1 (sand:lime)) with a brushed finish. 4. The walls throughout the room have many layers of wallpaper that have prevented the walls from breathing resulting in the plaster falling away from the wall in many places, particularly on the stonework. It is proposed to bush back any loose lime, and re-point as required with a lime mortar. A scratch coat of haired course lime mortar will then be applied (ratio 3:1 (sand:lime) with 2kg of natural animal hair per m³ of mortar) with a top coat of unhaired lime mortar (ratio 3:1 (sand:lime)) that is sponged float finished. AW Architectural Design Ltd Registered office: Willows 1, Mill Farm Courtyard, Beachampton, MK19 6DS. Registered in England and Wales No. 10749119 6/13 AW Architectural Design Ltd AW Architectural Design Ltd Registered office: Willows 1, Mill Farm Courtyard, Beachampton, MK19 6DS. Registered in England and Wales No. 10749119 7/13 AW Architectural Design Ltd BEDROOMS 2 FLOOR CONSTRUCTION: The floor structure of Bedroom 2 has failed, making the room inaccessible. The original joists are approximately 80x100mm timbers. As the joists are undersized for the span and loads imposed, they have failed with several deflecting to the point they have slipped off the wall plate. Due to this deflection, the vast majority of the lath ceiling has failed and the main thing preventing the plaster from falling are the several layers of lining paper that have been applied in the past. There is also evidence where areas of the ceiling have been patch repaired with plasterboard and Gypsum plaster. It is not proposed to remove the joists, but instead remove the failed lathe and plaster ceiling to expose the original timbers. As the joists are not fit to remain structural, it is proposed to construct a new floor structure over.