Issue 36 2023 - Journal - Page 20
Above, photograph courtesy of homeowner
Recycled steel forms a proportion of the steel used to
make Clement Conservation Rooflights too. Manufactured as a modern reproduction of a Victorian original for
both a tile and a slate roof profile, these heritage rooflights
will lie flush with the roofline they are installed into, giving
a very traditional appearance. More importantly, the
range has achieved a British Fenestration Rating Council
WER of ‘A+’.
Sometimes double glazing is not an option and many
Conservation Officers will insist on single glazing for
sensitive heritage and refurbishment projects such as parts
of this incredible barn (above), tucked away in the
beautiful West Sussex countryside. Over six hundred
years old, the building had previously been updated in
parts over the centuries, but nothing like the complete
makeover it has had now. It has been lovingly restored
from top to bottom into a superb family home and
separate cottage.
Clement Conservation Rooflights were recently chosen
for the refurbishment of Grade II listed Stapehill Abbey,
a unique estate of 45 two to five bedroom homes, set
within beautiful gardens and grounds.
The new owners wanted to make the barn more
sustainable and efficient. Due to years of the building not
being breathable the wonderful timber frame had become
damaged. The inappropriate cement render was falling
off, so after much research it was decided to replace the
wall panels with hempcrete which is carbon negative,
thermally efficient and breathable whilst retaining the
property’s rustic appearance. As far as possible traditional,
locally-sourced products were used such as heritage tiles,
lime plaster, oakum, natural paints and genuine steel
windows.
The original Abbey House was built in the early 19th
century, with the monastic buildings dating back to the
1840s. The twin chapels were designed by Charles
Hansom in 1847 and the buildings were completed in
1851. Founded by a small group of nuns led by Madame
Augustine de Chabannes, the Abbey was home to The
Cross Abbey order of Cistercian Trappist nuns between
1802 and 1990.
As the barn is Grade II listed it was vital that the new
windows and doors matched the original metal fenestration. Clement SMW steel frames were the perfect choice
for a heritage project like this. Silicone fronted for an
authentic appearance, they outperform original or old
windows in terms of weatherstripping, maintenance and
security, decreasing draughts and giving better thermal
control. For this project, the single glazed leaded glass was
supplied locally by Silver Stained Glass.
Dorset based developers Ankers and Rawlings worked
painstakingly to retain the original artefacts and period
features of this historical site. They chose over 60
Clement Conservation Rooflights for the project including both slate and tile profiles in sizes 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
New steel fenestration products can, therefore, provide
an answer to the construction industry’s call for greener,
eco-friendly building techniques, as evidenced by the
amount and scope of steel recycling, as well as a tool for
homeowners and building contractors who are trying to
reduce energy costs and create more sustainable spaces
for us all to inhabit in the future.
The client said: “We love how the Clement windows have
helped bring our old barn back to life! They look so in
keeping with the historic building but are contemporary
enough to allow modern living.”
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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