We’re pleased to share the completion of our recent conservation project on a Grade II listed, 16th-century timber-framed building in Cheshire.
This vernacular building was suffering from years of use of modern techniques that didn’t meet the needs of the building. The use of non-breathable modern building materials, such as gloss paint to the oak framing, cementitious render and mortar, mastic and PVA additives meant that the building was unable to breathe. The building had major damp and rot issues. It has now been carefully repaired and restored using traditional methods.
The existing timber frame structure was carefully recorded and removed, then replicated with new oak framing to match with mortice and tenon pegged joints, joined by hand using long-established carpentry techniques. The wall panels have been finished with a traditional lime render and lime wash, which not only respects the building’s original materials but also ensures breathability – helping the structure manage moisture and remain healthy for years to come.
At a time when traditional craft skills are under threat, we at R. Moore Building Conservation are helping keep them alive. This week’s Guardian article highlighting the UK’s growing ‘red list’ of endangered crafts – from Welsh thatching to ship’s figurehead carving – makes it clear just how fragile our hands-on heritage has become. Conservation projects like this one don’t just safeguard old buildings; they provide vital opportunities for skilled craftspeople to practise and pass on their knowledge.
It’s always satisfying to see a historic building brought back into good order – not overdone or sanitised, but made sound and capable of standing proud again as part of the living fabric of our heritage.
You can read more about the background to the project here.
