Restoring a listed seventeenth-century cottage to its former glory

Description: Restoration, extension and landscaping of a Grade 2 listed seventeenth-century cottage
Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Project duration: Three years
Completed: 2007
Project value: In excess of £100k

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Originally dating from the seventeenth-century, Randall’s Cottage is Willison Construction’s head office and home to the partners in the business in Prestbury, Cheltenham. The property is a striking Grade 2 listed thatched cottage featuring many original timbers and carefully restored brick-panel walling.

Originally built as a black and white cottage, the property was acquired in a rundown condition several years ago. Since then, the main cottage has been sympathetically restored and a contemporary single-storey kitchen, office and fourth bedroom have been added – integrated perfectly with the original thatched cottage and meeting the strict planning constraints applying to such a listed property.

During renovation (fitted in around a busy contracting schedule for the company’s clients), many wall timbers were replaced, while others were cleaned and re-oiled to restore their natural appearance. Many of the cottage’s whitewashed bricks were removed and reversed – transforming Randall’s cottage from the original ’black and white’ cottage to today’s stunning natural timber and red-brick property. At the same time, the cottage’s original soleplate was replaced with timber reclaimed from an old lock at Gloucester.

Working within the strictest planning requirements, carefully considered internal improvements have been added. These include Cotswold stone flooring with ‘wet’ underfloor heating in the new extension, screwed and dowelled random oak floorboards to complement the cleaned and re-oiled oak beams in many of the original rooms, and new windows throughout.

On completion of the building, a driveway was constructed and an overgrown garden was completely re-landscaped in keeping with the rest or the works. The result of three years’ dedicated work is a unique blend of traditional and contemporary architecture that distinguishes Randall’s Cottage as a much-loved landmark in the heart of Prestbury.

Build highlights

• Major restoration within strict Grade 2 listed constraints demonstrates Willison capability
• The build tested the contractor’s renovation expertise, sensitivity and good taste.
• Judicious use of reclaimed materials complements thoughtfully re-used original materials.
• Carefully considered restoration decisions (e.g. the reversal of the original bricks) enhance the cottage while respecting its design heritage
• Acceptance of constraints imposed by the original building (for instance, no upstairs bathroom was installed because doing so would have meant cutting though a key beam)
• Judicious integration of contemporary features works perfectly with the cottage’s core architecture

Ultimate client benefit

A stunning renovation and restoration showcase for the contractor, a character-rich yet practical home, and a practical business base that clearly demonstrates the quality of workmanship, attention to detail and sheer passion for property restoration that drives Steve Willison and his team.