Conversion & New Build Housing Development

Residential Development, Kelham, Nottinghamshire

We were commissioned by the Civil Service Housing Association to prepare a proposal for the conversion of the disused barns and the construction of 15 new dwellings. The site of Home Farm was originally part of the Kelham Hall and is located adjacent to this historic structure. The site is bounded by Main Road (A617) to the north and the west, the Mission Dyke which drains to the River Trent and the garden wall to Kelham Hall. Originally home of the Manner-Suttons family, the original hall was destroyed in a fire on 27th November 1857 and Sir George Gilbert Scott was commissioned for the redesign of the hall as it now stands. This Sir G. G. Scott design is still deemed as one of the masterpiece of Victorian Gothic architecture of the time. Scott during the rebuilding of the Kelham Hall, seized the opportunity in an attempt to unified some of the farm buildings with his new design of Kelham Hall, utilised some of the earlier detailing of the complex and integrated them with the original Home Farm buildings. A detailed measured survey of the original buildings and land was undertaken, and a full photographic record made and drawings were prepared.

The farm complex is constructed in ‘Red Retford’ bricks with some specialist limestone detailing. The external facing brick walls were also further enhanced with consistent brick pattern details. Features such as dentillated eaves, decorative cut brick specialist lintels and sandstone window cills along with decorative brick arches over openings, which are heavily featured in Scott’s Victorian version of Kelham Hall, were introduced by Scott to the farm complex with acknowledgement to early architectural details. There were also detailing of tiles hanging and shingles. Roof to the entire farm complex are finished in small clay tiles in various sizes and shapes.

Scott’s introduction of the square brick tower with a steep clay tiled pyramid roof, along with the adjacent timber clad archway creates a central focal feature to the entire complex The conversion of the barns utilising these existing walls and features developed a conversion into eight units of varying sizes. The contractor has used traditional methods and wherever possible traditional materials, Sir G.G. Scott designed mullions, has been reproduced and special purpose made window units manufactured. Head and cill details have been replicated.

We also observed the issue of consistency within the development and took and adapted architectural details and features designed and built by Sir George Gilbert Scott’s within the farm complex and incorporated them to the new dwellings. Decorative cut brick specialist lintels, sandstone window cills and coursing to brickwork, details of brickwork patterns to gable walls and specialist chimney brick work details were replicated throughout the entire new build. Vertical proportions to the conversion scheme and the new build were also observed.

The layout of the housing scheme was designed as that the original focal feature within the site in the form of the Gilbert Scott Tower would not be distracted. The new dwellings were designed to groups in courtyard formation in order to provide the dwellings a sense of identity whilst reflecting the principals of the original crew yard to the farm.

The principal access to the site is flanked by two gatehouses,which are off similar size, proportion and form to the two disused gatehouses that controlled the main gate to Kelham Hall.

The development has been well received by all and has preserved an important part of the Sir G.G. Scott master planning of Kelham Hall.

Click here to view a pdf of the Kelham process.