Old Coach House, Deal

Located in Deal, Kent, this project sought to transform a derelict Coach House, itself set within the stunning grounds of a Grade-II Listed Georgian era farmhouse into a stylish self-contained two bedroom annexe with occasional use as a holiday home.

The ‘Old Coach House’ featured extant evidence as a former horse stable with heavily worn brick cobbles, hand water pump, crucible and barn doors. Early C20th alterations saw it sub-divided to house motor cars with evidence of engine oil changes scribbled on the walls from 1930 onwards. The attached c1897 ‘Glass House’ featured its original cast iron heating pipes and boiler house with wood store and following a rebuild in 1980 had since fallen in to a state of dilapidation.

Working closely with the Local Conservation Officer and likeminded client, we designed and planned for the buildings full restoration and renovation including reconstruction of the roof, internal ground and first floors and ‘back to brick’ wall repairs, lime re-pointing and substantial underpinning of the rear gable.

The building fabric was thermally upgraded using highly breathable methods of construction: Ground floor slab saw use of glass foam insulation topped with a ‘Limecrete’ slab and reclaimed brick cobbles reinstated. Internal faces of external walls and roofs were upgraded with woodfibre insulating boards prior to lime plastering. Floor zones were upgraded with natural sheepswool insulation and reclaimed floorboards reinstated. All existing external windows and doors were meticulously restored and upgraded with draught stripping and thermally efficient glazing. Rainwater goods were renewed with traditional cast-iron.

Ground and first floors were re-connected with a custom oak staircase, leading to an impressive first floor featuring vaulted ceiling throughout with exposed rafters for historic effect and conservation rooflights to enhance natural day-lighting and ventilation.

The property also features a remodeled shower room with high end finishes, fixtures and fittings as well as a handmade traditional kitchen, retaining the cast iron hand operated water pump to one corner and stone crucible to the opposite corner.

The grand finale saw the complete yet sensitive re-construction of the Old Glass House into a usable and impressive entertainment space. Comprising a patent-laminated-glazed and leaded roof carried over a slender steel frame clad in hardwood. Glazed elevations feature traditional ‘overlapping’ glass panes. Elements of reclaimed yellow and red brickwork have been rebuilt and feature French doors opening out onto a sublime natural stone terrace leading to a traditional brick walled garden.

The ‘in and out’ driveway saw external improvements being new hardwood double gates recreated to match the look of earlier examples but operated electronically and a resin bound surface with discrete surface water drainage.

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