grade II* listed house restoration, reading
a grade II* listed house in the heart of reading, with links to the former king's arms inn and the jesse family. when its owners unknowingly allowed unauthorised works, the house faced enforcement action (formal council steps to reverse the work) and close local attention.
we stepped in to mediate with the council, researched the house's history in depth and agreed a way forward with the conservation officer. specialist repairs followed, including roof repairs, spliced structural timbers, lime plaster, panelling repairs and cornices copied from the originals, making the house sound again and fit for modern family life.
get the right advice before you pick up a hammer.
most problems with listed buildings start with good intentions and the wrong advice. putting mistakes right costs far more than avoiding them. specialist input at the start protects the building, the owner and the budget.
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a floor that remembers
walls removed long ago are traced in the new floor, where changes of material mark where each one once stood. beneath, a lime-based heated screed (a breathable base for underfloor heating) keeps the house warm without trapping moisture in its historic fabric.
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research as evidence
our research into the king's arms and the jesse family gave the council a deeper understanding of the house's significance. the principal planning officer acknowledged its value in shaping the agreed approach.
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a way forward
working with reading's conservation officer, we agreed how the unauthorised work would be corrected. that steered the owners away from enforcement action and towards a practical solution everyone could support.
