The UK’s Biggest Building Restoration Projects

Restoring a historic building is rarely a quick and straightforward process, particularly if it is Grade I or Grade II listed. This means that you need permission from the planning authorities to make any changes, and the restoration must be sympathetic to the original character of the building and the surrounding area.

That isn’t to say that a building of historical or architectural importance has to stay frozen in time, and it may be possible to extend or modernise such buildings if required. However, sometimes a landmark building is so well known and loved that it has become part of the cultural fabric of the country, and restoring it is no mean feat.

Here are some of the most complex and challenging restoration projects that have been undertaken in the UK.

Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben

The Elizabeth Tower, better known to millions of people worldwide as Big Ben, recently underwent a huge five-year restoration project to modernise it and conserve it for future generations. The iconic clock tower is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has been a regular source of bongs for 160 years. 

The 96 metre tall Clock Tower was designed by the architects Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin and completed in 1859. The structure features some of the finest Victorian engineering and craftsmanship, but the effects of time, weather, and pollution had taken their inevitable toll.

The stonework had badly deteriorated and some of the ironwork was going rusty, not to mention the leaking roof and dated interior with no lift access. Furthermore, emergency repairs to bomb damage carried out during the era of austerity after the Second World War were inadequate and further problems had come to light.

Inside the clock tower, the stone spiral staircase that has been trodden by thousands of tourists has been conserved, and a glass box has been installed to give an unobstructed view of the clock mechanisms. The fully restored building re-opened in 2022. 

Wentworth Woodhouse

Wentworth Woodhouse in South Yorkshire is one of the UK’s largest stately homes, twice the size of Buckingham Palace. The original Jacobean structure has been added to over the years, eventually ending up in the hands of the wealthy Fitzwilliam family who made their fortune from coal. 

As the family’s fortunes declined along with the coal industry, the house was left to fall into a state of disrepair over the decades. When it was sold for £7m in 2017, it was in a badly neglected condition. The Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust (WWPT) was established, and a massive restoration project got underway. 

The eventual aim is to turn the house and the surrounding country estate into a tourist attraction and event venue with accommodation and office space. The WWPT are working with a team of volunteers and skilled traditional craftspeople to restore the once beautiful interior ceilings, fireplaces, and flooring to their former glory.

The vast project is expected to be ongoing for several decades, and the final bill will run into billions of pounds.

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Buildings That Are Listed For Unique Reasons

Over the past century, the biggest debate surrounding the preservation of architectural heritage has focused on the question of which buildings should be protected, which should receive listed building restoration and why.

With over 400,000 entries for listed buildings in England across three separate grades, there are countless unique stories that each write a chapter in the extensive history of the country.

Typically they are included for architectural reasons, by showcasing a particular aspect of design, building technique, or be connected to the history of people important to the nation.

However, some buildings have stranger justifications for inclusion.

A Building From 1981

There are very few listed buildings that were constructed after the Second World War, and almost none that are barely four centuries old.

However, Severels in Chichester makes the list as a Grade II* building designed by the Architect Walter Greaves, the man who designed the Royal Festival Hall.

The reason cited by the organisation was a matter of sheer quality; it was seen as such a fine example of post-war architecture that it became one of the newest buildings to get such a listing.

A Skate Park

The Rom Skatepark in Hornchurch, East London was the first skatepark in Europe to receive preservation status and the only one still in existence, as the Bro Bowl was demolished and moved.

Constructed in 1978, it was one of the few surviving parks from the early era of skateboarding, and as a result, was seen as nationally historically important.

A Zebra Crossing

In 2010, there were concerns that the famous Abbey Road music studios that provided the name to the last album recorded by The Beatles before they split in 1970 would be demolished. This fear was allayed when the studio was given Grade II status.

However, what was more unusual was that the zebra crossing outside of the studios which provided the backdrop for Abbey Road’s famous album cover would also receive Grade II status.

The Most Questionable Building Restorations In The World

The concept of architectural heritage and listed building restoration is relatively new and as a result the definition of what a good restoration is continues to change.

There are buildings which shifted public opinion from architectural blemish getting in the way of major development efforts to beloved listed examples of controversial architectural traditions in barely a decade, such is the rapid development of what it means to preserve and restore a building.

However, there are some restorations where the initial character of the building might have been neglected, to say the least.

Castle Of Matrera

In the ninth century, the Castle of Matrera was constructed to defend the town of Iptuci (now part of the city of Prado del Ray), but by 2010, the ancient walls had taken a beating from the elements, leading to the decision to restore it in a way that has drawn controversy to this day.

However, whilst the sheer white brutalist concrete walls of which the crumbling parts of Matrera are affixed to have received a lot of criticism, it does have its defenders, largely based on the notion that the concrete additions are designed to highlight what is left.

Château de Rentilly

Rentilly Cultural Park, 30km east of Paris, was previously a feudal estate before being converted into a cultural landmark and museum for contemporary art in 2014 when it received quite an unusual makeover.

The classic 16th-century chateau was given a second skin made of mirrors designed to reflect the beauty of the surrounding countryside.

It did do this, to the architect’s credit, but in doing so a lot of the traditional character of the house has been lost considerably, and it has since been described as looking akin to the Death Star from the Star Wars franchise.

There is a defence that can be made for the designer’s intentions, but at the same time, it is also a building that is remarkably easy to hate.

Restoring A Period Property Properly

Period homes can be charming and appealing and come with a wealth of interesting history. However, due to the age of these properties, they often fall into disrepair.

If you have purchased a period property and are hoping to restore it to its former glory while keeping many of the original fixtures and structure in place, there are many ways you can renovate without ruining any of its existing features.

The first place to start will be the exterior of the home. This is often the first place that deterioration will be noticeable as the outside of the property is exposed to the elements.

Taking the time to have the roof, exterior fixtures and brickwork examined and repaired professionally will ensure your home looks fantastic and can preserve the charming original features of the property and prevent further damage.

Regular maintenance such as repointing and replastering, as well as keeping an eye on roof maintenance will ensure the property looks good from the outside and is stable and secure as well as leak-free inside too.

Many period homes have had a DIY job or two since they were built, and although some of the original features may have been removed or replaced entirely, you can often find hidden gems.

Removing new plaster, flooring tiles and wallpaper can reveal beautiful details that have simply been covered up rather than replaced. Many old homes have incredible original wooden flooring or tile waiting to be unearthed under their modern carpet.

It may also be a good idea to have any painted areas of the home stripped. Often, previous owners will have simply painted doors and bannisters, even the occasional ceiling rose,  to save on the cost of replacing, and you may find original fixtures underneath the gloss.

If you do not find any original features, look into potentially honouring the style of the home by adding modern twists on a classic design. Stained glass, tiling and even lighting fixtures can all be fitted to replicate the original look of the property.

What Is Listed Building Consent Required For?

In England, it is a criminal offence to carry out renovation or construction works on a listed building without listed building consent. This can include demolition work, extensions and any material alterations that you want to have done.

Listed building consent is what planning authorities fall back on to make sure that any changes you want to make to a listed building you own are sympathetic to the original character of the site, helping to protect the original heritage of buildings of special architectural or historic interest.

All types of works are covered under the rules, as are all parts of the building covered by the listing protection, including structures and objects fixed to it and to any structures or objects found in the area of land around and associated with the principle building (as long as the work in question would affect the character of the site).

It’s often thought that a listed building’s special interest only lies in the various features that can be found onsite, such as the plasterwork and the fireplaces. This, however, is a common misconception and, in fact, the special interest of a building is found in its architecture and history.

If there is a surrounding area of land included under the listed protection, it is generally advisable to get in touch with your local planning authority so you can make sure that you can carry out the work you have in mind without contravening the law.

It’s unlikely that you’ll need listed building consent if you plan to replace old materials on the building for new ones on a like-for-like basis, as long as the repairs won’t affect the overall character of the site. But, again, it’s advisable to check with your planning authority first.

For help with listed building restoration, get in touch with the Ovolo London team today.

The Fascinating History Of St Bartholomew’s Hospital

St Bartholomew’s Hospital, known colloquially as Barts, is the oldest functioning hospital in Britain. It was founded an astonishing 900 years ago in 1123 by a courtier of King Henry I, and has been the site of many important medical discoveries. It is also a building of architectural merit, and has undergone some extensive renovation works. 

The hospital still stands at its original site in West Smithfield, London, having survived the Great Fire of London in 1666, and later on the Blitz during the Second World War. The hospital was originally part of a Priory that was closed during the dissolution of the monasteries in 1539, although fortunately the hospital was permitted to continue. 

All of the mediaeval buildings of the monastery were demolished in the eighteenth century, and the architect James Gibbs rebuilt it around a main square with four wings in the 1730s. Today, the North Wing that includes the Great Hall still survives, along with the East and West Wing.

Further buildings were added throughout the years, including a purpose built lecture theatre in 1791. Since then, the hospital has remained an important centre for medical teaching and training, and a School of Nursing was added in 1877. In 1948, the hospital was incorporated into the NHS, and today it is a specialist cancer and cardiac care centre.

This March, the hospital celebrated its 900th birthday, and to mark the occasion it has launched fundraising campaigns for the heritage, health care and research of the hospital. 

The Grade I listed North Wing of the hospital houses an extensive range of paintings by the artist William Hogarth, as well as a large collection of other artworks and hospital archives. The Great Hall contains one of the most important interiors in the UK. The astonishingly ornate plasterwork ceiling is decorated in gold leaf by Jean Baptiste Michel.

The walls are adorned with portraits of donors among other artworks, and the Hall has always been used for social and cultural purposes rather than to care for patients. 

In January, the Barts Heritage charity celebrated the funding award of £4.9m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Match funding has been achieved from other donors to take the total to £9.5m. The money will be spent on repairing the famous Hogarth Stair and the Great Hall, plus educational and cultural schemes.

St Bartholomew’s Hospital chief executive Professor Charles Knight OBE said: “The North Wing has been at the heart of our hospital for hundreds of years – most recently as a wellbeing hub for our busy NHS teams.”

He added: “Sharing Historic Barts will secure the future of this beautiful building into the next century and beyond so that future generations can continue to be inspired by the magnificent ambition, art and architecture that is St Bartholomew’s heritage.”

The Hogarth Stair adorns the walls of the grand staircase and depicts Biblical stories at an impressively large scale. 

If you would like some information about listed building restoration, please get in touch with us today. 

4 Of The Best Gothic Revival Buildings In England

The Gothic Revival style of architecture emerged in England in the late 18th century. It was strongly influenced by the elaborate and lofty Gothic style that dominated the later Middle ages in Europe, particularly for cathedrals, churches, libraries, and colleges. The Gothic Revival or Neo-Gothic style was also applied to domestic buildings.

Strawberry Hill House

The most famous example from the late 18th century is Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham, London. It was built by the writer and politician Horace Walpole between 1749 and 1776. The white stone exterior features decorative circular towers, turrets and battlements with arched windows and doors.

The interior is even more extravagantly decorated, with elaborate carved cornices and ceiling roses, ornate shelving and furniture, and painted ceilings. It’s a house that divides opinion, but there’s no denying the great skill and craftsmanship that has gone into creating and maintaining it over the years.

The Palace of Westminster

This world famous building is home to both the House of Lords and the House of Commons. There have been royal residences on the site since 1097. After the original palace was destroyed by a fire in the 16th century, it became the seat of Parliament, only to be partially destroyed by fire again in 1834.

The building was reconstructed in the Gothic Revival style that still stands today. The Neo gothic design is attributed to Charles Barry, but he was assisted in his work by Augustus Welby Pugin, and some believe that the latter should have been given the greater credit as the architect despite being only 23 at the time.

John Rylands Library

The John Rylands Library and research institute on Deansgate in Manchester is regarded as one of the finest examples of Neo-Gothic architecture in Europe. It opened in 1900 after being commissioned by Enriqueta Augustina Ryland in memory of her late husband, who was a successful businessman and philanthropist.

The library was designed by the architect Basil Champneys. The exterior is built from distinctive dark red Cumbrian sandstone, while light shank stone is used in the interior. The interior of the library is reminiscent of a cathedral with its high vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows. 

Liverpool Cathedral

Liverpool Cathedral is the largest cathedral in Britain, and the eighth largest church in the world. It was designed by the architect Giles Gilbert Scott. He was appointed after a competition was held and his design won the approval of the committee, who considered Gothic architecture to inspire greater devotion than any other.

Some members of the committee argued against it as they preferred the restrained Renaissance or Classical style of architecture. However, Scott’s design won the overall contest and construction began in 1904 using the distinctive local red sandstone.

The huge scale project was not fully completed until 1978, 18 years after Scott’s death. The belltower is one of the largest and tallest in the world, and is the fourth tallest structure in Liverpool. 

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3 Amazing Listed Buildings In London

Listed buildings will always be of particular interest, celebrated for their special architectural and historical interest. The older a building is and how rare examples of its specific kind are, the more likely it is to be listed.

We’re very lucky in England to have more than 400,000 listed buildings around the country and we’re very blessed with an incredibly rich architectural history - particularly in London, which is home to some of the finest examples of architectural design and style.

Going on a tour of the capital looking for some of the best listed buildings to be found there would be a wonderful way to explore the city. Here are just three of our favourite examples of listed buildings in London for you to put on the must-see list.

Battersea Power Station

The decommissioned coal-fired Battersea Power Station is Grade II-listed and can be found on the south bank of the River Thames. It’s one of the biggest brick buildings in the world and is renowned for its original Art Deco interior design and fittings.

It’s made up of two power stations, which were built in two stages between 1929 and 1941. Construction was put on hold because of the second world war and the site was eventually finished in 1955. It was given listed status in 1980 on account of its outstanding interest on architectural grounds.

Senate House

One of the most iconic features on the London skyline has to be Senate House, a stunning example of Art Deco architecture designed by Charles Holden (best known at the time for designing London Underground stations).

Construction on the Grade II-listed building began in 1932 and it was given listed status in 1969. You may well recognise its beautiful Art Deco interiors, as well as its impressive exterior and courtyard, as it’s been given the Hollywood treatment many times, including in Batman Begins, The Theory of Everything and The Dark Knight Rises. 

It was also the inspiration for the Ministry of Truth, the landmark building in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four.

The Lloyd’s Building

The Lloyd’s building - also known as the inside-out building - is Grade I-listed and prized for its architectural innovation as a late 20th century design by one of the most significant modern architects of the time, Richard Rogers.

The site itself takes its name from Welshman Edward Lloyd who opened a coffee house in Tower Street way back in 1688. The shop served as a meeting place for merchants, shipowners and seafarers, as well as the first-ever underwriters who insured ships and their cargo. 

The Portland stone arched entranceway to the building is a World War I memorial arch that was designed in 1922 and is all that survives of the original building, later to be restored and re-erected on Leadenhall Street.

Do you need help with listed building restoration at the moment? Get in touch with the Ovolo London team today to see what we can achieve.