The restoration included repairing much of the original oak frame, but also creating contemporary spaces that met the needs of modern family living.
At all stages there was a balancing act between preserving historic fabric and meeting current construction standards, conservation requirements and the practical realities of restoring a building more than 400 years old, states an interview with Cadman published by the Heritage and Traditional Building website.
The findings meant the project required a new planning application and Listed Building Consent to enable demolition and rebuilding of much of the southern section, according to the interview. Cadman Construction was already undertaking one of its most challenging heritage projects: restoring a Grade II-listed 16th-century longhouse in Suffolk. But for Stuart Cadman, Managing Director of Cadman Construction the challenge had an additional dimension: the centuries-old property was finally to be his family home. The restoration included repairing much of the original oak frame, but also creating contemporary spaces that met the needs of modern family living. Some of the biggest challenges didn’t emerge until we were actually working on it, mentioned Cadman in the interview. It was mentioned that at the south end of the house, the original oak frame was found to be a mix of oak and softwood. Much of the softwood had rotted beyond the point where it could be safely supported. The south chimney was also identified as a hybrid construction with limited historic significance.
For this centuries-old Suffolk longhouse the goal was never to restore what had been lost. For Cadman and his family, finishing the restoration is about more than moving into a beautifully renovated home. It means helping to secure the future of a building which has stood for more than four centuries. The original structure and chimneys might date from craftsmen working during the reign of Henry VIII, placing the property within a remarkable stretch of English history. The completed house is a marriage of two very different time periods. The historic fabric is visible and respected, while contemporary additions offer the comfort and performance expected of a modern family property. The project has also boosted Cadman Construction’s confidence in heritage work, giving the company greater insight into the risks, processes and practical challenges involved in listed-building restoration. To keep the story of the building alive, to write another chapter in it that would last for centuries.