West Barn in Somersall, Chesterfield is a beautiful four bedroomed detached barn conversion, with a stream running alongside, situated in the tranquil Derbyshire countryside.
Situated in a conservation area on the outskirts of Chesterfield, the Grade II barn, which formed part of a group of buildings originally belonging to Derbyshire’s Somersall Hall, is thought to date back to 1631.
Agricultural in appearance with three distinctive rows of triangular ventilators, the barn was built from stone with a slate roof and a gable end filled in with brick. On the side facing the road, is a single storey hipped roof extension, thought to have originally been a wheelhouse or cart shed, and at the front of the building is a timber framed wagon entrance with brick infill and a stone slab roof.
When Barry Corker bought the property in 2015, he had plans to significantly upgrade an earlier conversion made in the 1980s, in order to create a more spacious and light-filled interior, whilst keeping within strict planning requirements and Listed Building consent.
With its experience in restoration and conservation of listed properties, Gowercroft Joinery, was appointed to replace almost all existing softwood windows (approximately 19 in total) with larger bespoke timber casement windows. These were supplied with sympathetic narrow Accoya® timber frames in a durable split paint and stain finish.
At the back of the building, where there had originally been a two storey high shed door leading into the threshing barn, the existing single patio door was replaced with fully glazed bi-fold doors, stretching across the width of the entire wagon entrance with Accoya® cladding above.
The original windows on top of the wagon entrance were also increased in size to form expansive glazed panels designed to let more natural light into the family bathroom. The porch at the rear of the garage was extended to create a utility room.
Barry Corker said: ”The team at Gowercroft were extremely helpful in guiding us through the planning and Listed Building consent. They had the skill and craftsmanship to adapt their standard range of windows to the bespoke requirements of the project, enabling us to maintain a sympathetic appearance entirely in keeping with this historic property and its surroundings.”
Please see the gallery where the timber casement windows and bifold doors can be seen in their picturesque Chesterfield location.
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