16th CENTURY house and former pub - works to mitigate against damp and wood rot

Subject to planning approval, inspection and paint removal trials, work was undertaken to reduce damp in the rubble stone walls and rot to the timber frame 

This section to the front of the original building had been encapsulated in cement repairs and a thick build-up of impermeable masonry paint for many years

The front plinth wall with the paint removed and repointed with lime putty-based mortar; a 3m long section of seasoned English oak and a new French drain have been added

The rear elevation where rising damp had become trapped by new paving, an inadequate French drain,  slate upstand and cement repairs/fills - much of the oak soleplate had rotted  

The aim was to keep as much of the original oak as possible, a new section of seasoned oak scarfed in on the right hand side

A  line was cut across the modern sandstone paving to widen the French drain - which was carefully dug out (with the approval of the County Archaeologist) and lined with a permeable ground membrane before new gravel was added; the exposed old oak (and the new) was protected and toned-in with casein paint; lime pointing and a lime mortar haunch throw off rainwater; all the materials can better 'breathe'

The two main elevations of this 1580's cottage suffered in condition and appearance from a series of unsympathetic cement repairs to the brickwork/pointing and losses to the oak frame over many years

Failed cement pointing around the brick panels was replaced with lime mortar to protect both brick and timber against water ingress and insect infestation - and allow moisture to evaporate 

Failed render was removed from the horizontal beam (below the jettying) and lime render patches added between the beam and exposed joists above; here at the jetty corner some improvised and inadequate wood repairs were removed and replaced with seasoned English oak

Failed bricks were replaced with reclaimed bricks to match and areas repointed, with stainless steel 'helibar' reinforcement where cracking had appeared under the window and finer cracks filled with a lime/brick dust mix

The timber frame had suffered the worst decay wherever in contact with impermeable cement repairs

The completed side elevation; the oak frame was further protected here against the weather with casein paint - and to better match its appearance at the front and elsewhere

The bedroom ceiling of this thatched cottage had long ago started to collapse, possibly due to alterations to the rafters when the dormer was added, but also the weight of household goods stored above (now removed)

Much of the lime plaster and snapped lath was being held in place by sticky tape!

The rafters had reclaimed oak extensions bolted in place to gain support from the window head; also an oak hanger was attached/hooked to the purlin above

Much of the failed lath was replaced with new riven oak, all fixed with stainless steel screws (hammering nails in place not an option!)

The new haired lime plaster had to follow the undulating and 'historic' shapes of the joists and rafters above

The appearance (and light) is greatly improved - seen here before the application of a permeable emulsion

'The Four Seasons' in terracotta, the complete remodelling of the lost statue 'Spring' (using the NT photographic record) and the restoration of both arms on 'Summer'