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Hall House
HALL HOUSE Sawbridge, nr Rugby, Warwickshire
1995 – 2000
 This
Grade II* 15th Century timber framed house has undergone
many changes; originally the manor house, it consisted of an
open hall probably flanked by cross wings. In the 16th
Century a floor was inserted in the hall and the service
wing and cross passage were reconstructed. By the end
of the 19th Century it had been divided into four cottages.
During the 20th century the building became
increasingly dilapidated and the south wing was demolished
in the 1920s. By the 1980s the cottages were under a
demolition order but were bought by new owners who returned
it to a single dwelling.
Repairs had been made using whatever local
materials were available, resulting in a patchwork of
finishes but despite its many alterations, much original
structure remained including a timber mullioned window,
sections of the original thatch (by then covered with
corrugated iron) but most spectacularly, the decorated
arched truss which used to span the open hall.
 The
new owners did not wish to lose the varied character that
the building had developed and a carefully considered scheme
was prepared combining repair, adaptation and reinstatement.
The varied appearance of the exterior of the
building was retained; Timber framing was repaired using
traditional techniques and lost elements reinstated where
necessary to ensure the integrity of the frame. Both brick
and stonework were repaired using traditional techniques and
hard cement renders were replaced with lime plaster. Thatch
was reinstated over the whole of the building and limewash
was applied to all the walls, reuniting the varied character
of the building.
The interior was re-planned with a new
staircase, bathrooms and kitchen, while the decorated arched
truss, part of the original hall, is now a main feature of
the principal bedroom. |
