THATCHERS ARMS, Warley, Nr. Marlow

Meticulous building project transforms derelict pub

This listed, timber framed gatekeeper’s cottage is in the grounds of a busy working pub but had been unused for years, was derelict and about to have an enforcement notice put onto it. The brief was to initially make it structurally sound, wind and water tight, but the original oak beams had rotted badly in sections, but because of the listing had to be maintained. The team had to carefully cut out the damaged parts, source replacement ancient oak, painstakingly hand-shape it to fit and slot them into place using dowels and other historically accurate methods to fix them rather than using modern day techniques.

Working closely in conjunction with the local conservation officer, this was time-consuming job, but one that had to meet scrupulous standards.