Ideas For Renovating An Edwardian Home

Edwardian era homes, which were built between 1901 and 1910, are highly prized for their elegant proportions and light and airy feel. Although it was a relatively short period in history, it was a prosperous and productive time, and many of the houses built during this era display high standards of craftsmanship which have stood the test of time.

Why is it worth renovating an Edwardian home?

Although there is no single definitive style of Edwardian home, many of them share beneficial characteristics. They were often built in what we now refer to as the ‘leafy suburbs’ of towns and cities, which remain desirable places for commuters to live today.

One characteristic you will often find is that they are set back from the road, with a larger than usual front and back garden, with ample room for parking a modern car. Inside, they are often generously proportioned, with wide hallways and spacious living areas, as they were built at a time when land was more readily available.

Many Edwardian homes are also beautifully light and airy, with large bay windows to allow for good levels of natural daylight to flood the room. The front doors often feature glass panels, both set into the door, and above and to the side. Upper stories may feature decorative Juliet balconies and mock-Tudor woodwork on the exterior.

For those looking to add extra space, Edwardian homes usually have high pitched roofs which are ideal for loft conversions, and the generous back gardens often allow room for an orangery or kitchen extension.

Which features should you keep in an Edwardian property?

It is worth thinking carefully before removing any original features in your Edwardian home, as they will add value. If the building is listed, you will not be able to alter or remove them without permission.

Heating, electrics, drainage and plasterwork may need some attention to bring it up to modern standards. Edwardian homes were the first to have central heating installed, and the classic column cast iron radiators may still be in place. This style of radiator is currently making a resurgence, although modern versions are made of stainless steel.

Other classic Edwardian features include parquet flooring, carved fireplaces, cornicing, and ceiling roses. Colour schemes tended to be brighter and more neutral than the preceding Victorian era, and the muted natural paintwork is currently very fashionable for homes from all eras.

In terms of interior design, the Art Noveau movement was the presiding influence of the era. This emphasised flowing curved lines, and was inspired by the plants and flowers of the country garden. Pastel colours and floral designs which were popular in the era are currently very fashionable, so updating the interior of an Edwardian home should be very easy to do.

Edwardian style bathrooms often made a free-standing roll-top bath the centre piece, with clawed feet and ornate decorative taps. Finishing touches included larger mirrors to reflect more light around the room, and woodwork finished with gloss paint.

If you are looking for cornice repair in London, please get in touch today.

Which Are The Most Popular Period Homes?

One of the most sought-after qualities in a home is often described as ‘character.’ But what exactly does this mean, and what gives a house character? Often, people mean a period property which was built before the First World War, particularly Edwardian, Victorian, or Georgian houses.

This is because many of these buildings have already stood the test of time, proving that they have been built from good quality materials by well-trained craftsmen. Many of them are also well situated, because land was more readily available and there were fewer restrictions on where new developments could be built. 

Modern housing is often built to a cookie-cutter mould, and there are regularly reports of shoddy materials and poor construction standards. Older houses have their problems too of course, but a well renovated period property can be a joy to live in, and will generally be worth more than a more generic modern house. 

Well-constructed Georgian properties (which were built during the era of the four successive King Georges I, II, III, and IV, between 1714 and 1820) are always in demand. Late Georgian era townhouses with distinctive white stucco rendering, sturdy black doors and window frames, and symmetrical framing are especially popular. 

Victorian homes, built during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1801), tend to be more variable in quality, as by this time, massive industrial expansion meant that a lot of new houses were built to accommodate the burgeoning city populations. However, there are many fine examples to be found.

Edwardian properties (built during the reign of King Edward VII between 1901 and 1910) tend to be less functional, and more spacious and aesthetically pleasing than Victorian houses. They are often found in pleasant suburban areas, and are well proportioned, with front and back gardens, porches, and bay windows.

All of these styles of property may still have the original features which give them that distinctive character. For example, they may have moulded coving (where the top edge of the wall meets the coiling), and architraves (moulding around the doorframes), ceiling roses, and high skirting boards.

They may also have ornate fireplaces and dado or picture rails. All of these features can be restored to their former glory by specialist craftspeople if they are looking a little worse for wear. Beautiful white plasterwork can really add a finishing touch to a room, especially when set off with a bolder paint or paper on the walls. 

Even if you buy a period home where many of the vintage features have been removed or damaged beyond repair, it may still be possible to find ideal replacements in salvage yards. Fireplaces were commonly ripped out of Victorian homes during the 1970s for example, or even just boarded over. There may be a work of art lurking behind the plasterboard. 

If you are thinking of purchasing a period property, you will have to be prepared for some extra maintenance and upkeep, as the electrics, damproofing, and energy efficiency may not be up to modern standards. However, many people consider the rewards of a beautiful and well-proportioned home to be well worth the effort. 

If you need any help with listed building restoration, please get in touch today.

4 Tips For Renovating A Period Property

Renovating a period property brings the reward of a characterful and unique home, which can be a joy to live in. However, often these properties have not been well treated over the years, and it may take a lot of hard work to bring them up to a decent standard. Here are a few of the major points to consider when renovating an older building. 

Always check if you need planning permission 

Listed buildings, whether Grade I or II, will need planning permission and Listed Building Consent before even seemly essential and minor alterations, both inside and outside the property. For example, you cannot replace the windows in a listed building without consent, and in some cases, you may be asked to refurbish rather than replace them. 

Even if the building is not listed, you may well need planning permission for certain alternations or extensions. Furthermore, it is advisable to check if the building is within a conservation area. These are areas of particular historical and architectural interest, which are subject to extra planning controls and restrictions. 

Have a full survey carried out

It is definitely worth investing in a full structural house survey, rather than a more basic investigation, to get a thorough picture of the condition of the property. They are more expensive than regular surveys, but could save you thousands of pounds in the future, when unwelcome problems can unexpectedly rear their head. 

A full structural survey will uncover any hidden defects, and recommend the most appropriate course of action for remedial work. 

Check if you need to serve a Party Wall Notice

If you are planning to carry out work near or on a shared boundary, either internally or externally, you will need planning permission, and you will also need to let your neighbours know. It’s best practice to do this during an informal chat if possible, but you are legally obliged to back it up with a Party Wall Notice.

A party wall notice tells your neighbour about plans to work on the existing party wall or structure, or near to the foundation level of their property. You must give your neighbour at least two month’s notice, and obtain their written consent in the form of a Party Wall Agreement. 

Even if you are not working on the party wall, it is advisable to build up good relations with your neighbours, especially if they will have a lot of dust, noise, and disruption going on during the works.

Maintain the original features of the property

Part of the charm of an older building are period features such as fireplaces, cornices, and floorboards. Where possible, it is far better to restore rather than replace them, even in a non-listed building. 

Statement features, such as dado rails, ceiling coving, high skirting boards, period fireplaces, and architraves around windows and doors, are highly sought after in houses of Georgian, Edwardian, or Victorian vintage. If you want a second opinion as to whether they can be salvaged, it’s worth talking to a company which specialises in cornice restoration in London.

Stowe House Opens To The Public

Stowe House, the huge Grade I listed 18th century house on the border of Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire, has been opened up to the public this August. The rare opportunity to see inside the world-famous historic building, which houses a public school.

Stowe House is on English Heritage’s list of buildings at risk, and is also the register of the World Monuments Fund as a top 100 endangered sites of world significance. The Stowe House Preservation Trust have been undertaking an epic restoration programme of the interior, which has taken over 25 years and cost £26 million.

Nothants Live reports that guided tours will be available to take visitors behind the scenes, to see such masterpieces as the Gothic Library. This was designed by the architect Sir John Soane, and features a beautiful fan vaulted ceiling.

The exquisite plasterwork ceiling in the Large Library is thought to date from 1794, and includes an elaborate decorative theme of mythical creatures, symbols, natural forms, and sections that are gilded with gold. The Japan room, commissioned by Lady Anna Eliza Bridges, will also be open to the public.

There also the grand State Rooms, the awe-inspiring Marble Saloon, which features a stunning plasterwork frieze and unique ornate domed roof.

Outside of term time, Stowe House is available as a venue to hire for weddings, conferences, and other events. It has 880 acres of gardens which are managed by the National Trust, and has over 200,000 visitors every year. There is also a 9-hole golf course within the site.

The historic house has been used as a backdrop for Hollywood productions such as The Crown, Bridgerton, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, X-Men: First Class and Stardust.

If you would like some information on lath & plaster restoration work, please get in touch today.

Tunstall Town Hall To Reopen After Renovations

The historic town hall in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, is set to re-open after conservation work was completed to preserve some of its original features. The Grade II listed red-brick town hall was built in 1885, and was designed by Absalom Wood. It had suffered neglect in recent decades, despite containing some fine examples of craftsmanship.

Extensive restoration works, at a cost of £3.8 million, have been ongoing since April 2020. Much of the original plasterwork had to be removed to access the structure of the building. However, the ornate Victorian plaster covings have been restored to their original condition.

A grand staircase and other Victorian features, including decorative tiling, and etched doors and architraves (the moulding around doorways and windows) were restored. The stonework on the exterior of the building was also restored by specialist heritage stone masons.

Councillor Daniel Jellyman, cabinet member for regeneration, infrastructure and heritage has said: “Improving Tunstall Town Hall and moving much needed services into one building is a great start to improving the area.”

He added: “The building was in a much worse state of repair than first thought. The front elevation was rotating towards the street and some of the roof tiles had perished and after decades of limited investment, a lot of the structure had become a concern, with one of the first tasks to peel as much of the plaster and finishes to expose the structure.”

“The heritage improvement works for a beautiful building have helped us uncover some incredible features and really capture the craftmanship of historical architectural roots with in the city.”

Following the successful restoration, the Town Hall will now be put to use serving the community with a local library, a children’s centre, and a community hub.

If you would like some information on listed building restoration, please talk to us today.

What Can And Can’t You Do To A Grade II Listed Building?

Grade II listed buildings make up nearly 92% of all listed buildings, so if you have purchased a listed building, it is likely to fall into this category. They are subject to regulations because they are deemed to have special historical or architectural character. These laws guide and restrict what work can be done both internally and externally.

The age and character of the property is probably what tempted you to buy it in the first place, and many do make lovely and well-appointed places to live. However, they are mostly by their nature older structures, which might be in need of some renovation or adaptations to make them suitable for living comfortably and safely in. 

 Before starting on any work however, it is essential to have written permission from your local authority. Not to do so is a criminal offence, and you will be required to return the building to its original state at your own expense. You may face further penalties, such as a fine or even a custodial sentence. 

What about essential repair work?

It’s still best to seek consent, even if the work seems unavoidable to preserve the integrity of the building. They may stipulate that the repairs meet certain conditions, such as the use of similar materials, or lath & plaster techniques. In cases where something needs replacing, such as a window, you may be asked to have it refurbished instead.

Distinctive features, such as period fireplaces, should never be removed without permission, even if you think they are not worth renovating. It is always best practice to seek permission from the local authority, no matter what your personal opinion on the matter might be. 

If all this sounds off-putting due to the expense involved, you could research the grants available to restore or repair listed buildings. In some cases, the local authority may offer a small grant towards the cost of essential works. Historic England will consider applications for eligible buildings, although not all may be successful due to the high volume of demand. 

If you are turned down for a grant, there are some alternative sources you could try, such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund. However, they rarely offer funds to private homes, but there are a handful of other niche organisations to be found.

What if you want to extend the building?

Permission to extend the building might sound impossible to obtain, but this is not always the case. The regulations are there to make sure that any changes are in keeping with the character of the building and the surrounding environment, rather than to preserve it in its exact original state.

To ensure the best chance of gaining permission for an extension, its best to have the plans drawn up by a professional architect who has some experience of working with listed buildings. Remember that any small changes to the original plan, or unforeseen changes that need to be made to the existing building, will need a fresh application of consent.

Morecambe Winter Gardens Celebrates 125th Anniversary

Morecambe Winter Gardens, dubbed ‘The Albert Hall of the North’ because of its elegant Victorian grandeur, is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year. The celebrated building features an ornate fibrous plasterwork ceiling, which has recently been restored to its full glory. The venue is staffed and run entirely by volunteers.

The Lancaster Guardian reports that the redbrick seafront building first opened in July 1897, and was originally known as the Victorian Theatre and Pavilion Hall, as it was an addition to the pre-existing Winter Gardens, which were constructed in 1878. From the outset, it was designed to rival London institutions in style and quality.

The grand exterior was designed by Mangnall & Littlewood from Manchester. The interiors, including the opulent plasterwork ceiling which was created as part of the auditorium, were designed by Dean and Co, and also by Burmantoft of Leeds. The lavish décor was based on the design of the Albert Hall.

The venue was granted Grade II* listed status in 1991, surviving a threat of demolition at the end of the 1970s. To celebrate the milestone anniversary, the theatre is hosting a series of special events, including a children’s party, free tours, and film screenings. 

For the past three years, the Winter Gardens have been undergoing a comprehensive restoration and regeneration programme, with funding received from the Theatres Trust, Historic England, and the Architectural Heritage Fund. The ceiling has been fully repaired, cleaned, and restored.

The venue has hosted Sir Edward Elgar four times in the early 20th century, and The Entertainer, starring Laurence Olivier, was filmed there. Many other stars of the entertainment world, from Laurel and Hardy to the Rolling Stones, have also performed at the Winter Gardens. 

If you would like some more information about listed building restoration, please contact us today. 

What Can And Can’t You Do To A Grade II Listed Building?

Grade II listed buildings make up nearly 92% of all listed buildings, so if you have purchased a listed building, it is likely to fall into this category. They are subject to regulations because they are deemed to have special historical or architectural character. These laws guide and restrict what work can be done both internally and externally.

The age and character of the property is probably what tempted you to buy it in the first place, and many do make lovely and well-appointed places to live. However, they are mostly by their nature older structures, which might be in need of some renovation or adaptations to make them suitable for living comfortably and safely in. 

Before starting on any work however, it is essential to have written permission from your local authority. Not to do so is a criminal offence, and you will be required to return the building to its original state at your own expense. You may face further penalties, such as a fine or even a custodial sentence. 

What about essential repair work?

It’s still best to seek consent, even if the work seems unavoidable to preserve the integrity of the building. They may stipulate that the repairs meet certain conditions, such as the use of similar materials, or lath & plaster techniques. In cases where something needs replacing, such as a window, you may be asked to have it refurbished instead.

Distinctive features, such as period fireplaces, should never be removed without permission, even if you think they are not worth renovating. It is always best practice to seek permission from the local authority, no matter what your personal opinion on the matter might be. 

If all this sounds off-putting due to the expense involved, you could research the grants available to restore or repair listed buildings. In some cases, the local authority may offer a small grant towards the cost of essential works. Historic England will consider applications for eligible buildings, although not all may be successful due to the high volume of demand. 

If you are turned down for a grant, there are some alternative sources you could try, such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund. However, they rarely offer funds to private homes, but there are a handful of other niche organisations to be found.

What if you want to extend the building?

Permission to extend the building might sound impossible to obtain, but this is not always the case. The regulations are there to make sure that any changes are in keeping with the character of the building and the surrounding environment, rather than to preserve it in its exact original state.

To ensure the best chance of gaining permission for an extension, its best to have the plans drawn up by a professional architect who has some experience of working with listed buildings. Remember that any small changes to the original plan, or unforeseen changes that need to be made to the existing building, will need a fresh application of consent.