Kipping Cottage dates from the Seventeenth Century and has in it’s history operated as the base for a wheelwright business, developing in the C19th as a local joinery and carpentry business and more recently a single dwelling.

Country Life Article October 2024

The original timber framed thatched cottage was extended in the Nineteenth Century, forming an ad hoc timber framed wing to the North. The use at the time was as part of the joinery and carpentry business. Inspection showed that the extension had been constructed from materials left over from or secured through that business. It was a mix and match arrangement of unconnected components reflecting a business that was surviving rather than thriving.

The proposals were to refurbish and make sound the ad hoc timber structure built to the North of the historic cottage as a workshop for the wheelwright/joinery business in the C19th. This structure was then progressively altered as needs required, it is assumed to reflect the requirements of the business.
To include:

• inserting, initially mezzanine floors, for extended workshop and certainly for material storage.
• raising the eaves level at the rear to increase headroom at the rear and creating an asymmetrical pitched roof.
• infilling the floor between mezzanines to separate the attic from the ground floor.
• conversion of the ground floor to living accommodation.
• extension at the rear to provide additional living space including construction of a brick chimney as flue for a modern oil fire boiler.

The methodology for these ad-hoc structures was clearly – use what is available as salvage. Framing elements were evidently from elsewhere, windows and doors were also salvaged. Timber rafters were a mix of poles and sawn timber, roof ties and braces have been joined and strapped as required to extend them to the required length.

The result was a building with little fabric value but with a significant contribution in terms of character, especially when related to the use of the building and local employment context.

It is this ad-hoc nature and subservience to the original house that needed to be preserved to secure it’s longevity.

The Proposal therefore maintained the envelope to preserve the character and variation of the existing windows and doors but with refurbishment and repair.

Timber cladding was replaced where rotten but preserved where sound. Minor variations between original and new added to the ad-hoc aesthetic and development history rather than detracting from it.

The rear extension made use of painted brickwork and timber to remain sympathetic to the existing. To introduce a visual distinction between old and new the new roof is pre-weathered zinc; which is an appropriate material for the proposed roof pitch but different from those used on the existing.

The extension was proposed to be habitable primary space, not ancillary or utility. And used to provide modern thermally efficient living to help compensate for the inefficiencies of the existing and remove pressure to upgrade elemental performance.

The objective was to maintain the unique character of the existing buildings fabric. Replacement of existing structural elements with modern replacements to modern structural dimensions would change the character. Therefore the introduction of a secondary steel frame and posts, supporting a new floor, and existing eaves and ridge, met the desired conservation objectives for the building and retained the character of the building fabric and local setting.

The alterations to the main house at Kipping Cottage did not affect the older more intact original cottage dating from C17th and C18th. They affect the younger C19th element constructed as an ancillary workshop space and adapted over ‘time and changing use’ requirements to provide living space for the dwelling as it is today.

It was constructed as a low budget building and simply required some fabric and structural improvement to maintain it’s longevity and increase energy efficiency and practicality.
Externally the appearance from the public realm is similar but refurbished. The character of the building remains. The contribution to the wider area remains sympathetic and consistent.

No harm was caused to either the setting or the original fabric of the main house. The fabric of the C19th envelope was retained, maintaining the narrative of the building development in a historic context.