These are projects and designs that were not built or manufactured.
Ryewater, Bishops Down
Ryewater was a proposed re-modelling of an old house with a very long main elevation. I could not steer it past the owner’s planning consultant. West Dorset District Council’s reputation was such that an appeal would have been essential. We were very fortunate that our 2 Dorset built projects were just within the jurisdiction of North Dorset District Council beyond the negativity of WDDC.
Ryewater was a proposed re-modelling of an old house with a very long main elevation. I could not steer it past the owner’s planning consultant. West Dorset District Council’s reputation was such that an appeal would have been essential. We were very fortunate that our 2 Dorset built projects were just within the jurisdiction of North Dorset District Council beyond the negativity of WDDC.
Cerne Abbas
This proved to be an entertaining saga. I was asked by the owners to design a scheme to renew 24 and 26 Long Street Cerne Abbas. No 24 was of considerable age. No 26 seemed to be late 18th century with a lovely staircase from that period. Next to no 24 was, and remains, a structure known as the Toilet block. Cerne Abbas is rightly renowned for the beauty of its street scene of which this is the only but severe disfiguring feature.
I designed a remodelling of the street elevations. To create more value I included 2 classical small houses for the land at the rear and a courtyard garden area. There was to be a terrace to accommodate the rise in the site. To deal with the Toilet block I proposed two options. One was to reface its exterior to create a classical elevation. The other was to resite the Toilets elsewhere and erect a classical small house with brickwork in Flemish bond and with grey salt glazed headers and stretchers from H G Matthews. They produce beautiful bricks exactly as they were made in the 18th century. I have included images of the Toilet block with an overlay of the new elevation. I also have included drawings of the proposed house.
Since the project would have an impact on the street scene I arranged an evening public meeting in the Village Hall to explain the project. This attracted a full house. This was surprised me since that day the owners had told me that they had asked an Irish builder to come up with a scheme and would not proceed with mine. They had also put up leaflets during the day around the village to this effect.
However it seemed to me that it was likely that my scheme would be much more attractive to the villagers as well as create more value. It was by no means certain that the owners would keep control of the site. Accordingly I went ahead with the meeting. The village seemed to be more concerned about the Toilet block being re- sited than anything else. I was courteously received save for small outbreaks of bigotry – the project receded.
This proved to be an entertaining saga. I was asked by the owners to design a scheme to renew 24 and 26 Long Street Cerne Abbas. No 24 was of considerable age. No 26 seemed to be late 18th century with a lovely staircase from that period. Next to no 24 was, and remains, a structure known as the Toilet block. Cerne Abbas is rightly renowned for the beauty of its street scene of which this is the only but severe disfiguring feature.
I designed a remodelling of the street elevations. To create more value I included 2 classical small houses for the land at the rear and a courtyard garden area. There was to be a terrace to accommodate the rise in the site. To deal with the Toilet block I proposed two options. One was to reface its exterior to create a classical elevation. The other was to resite the Toilets elsewhere and erect a classical small house with brickwork in Flemish bond and with grey salt glazed headers and stretchers from H G Matthews. They produce beautiful bricks exactly as they were made in the 18th century. I have included images of the Toilet block with an overlay of the new elevation. I also have included drawings of the proposed house.
Since the project would have an impact on the street scene I arranged an evening public meeting in the Village Hall to explain the project. This attracted a full house. This was surprised me since that day the owners had told me that they had asked an Irish builder to come up with a scheme and would not proceed with mine. They had also put up leaflets during the day around the village to this effect.
However it seemed to me that it was likely that my scheme would be much more attractive to the villagers as well as create more value. It was by no means certain that the owners would keep control of the site. Accordingly I went ahead with the meeting. The village seemed to be more concerned about the Toilet block being re- sited than anything else. I was courteously received save for small outbreaks of bigotry – the project receded.
Bridge in the Chinese Taste
This was to tempt a dear friend to erect it across an arm of his extensive lake near Sherborne under the trees gracing the water’s edge. He has resisted but slowly he will succumb – I hope.
This was to tempt a dear friend to erect it across an arm of his extensive lake near Sherborne under the trees gracing the water’s edge. He has resisted but slowly he will succumb – I hope.
A much valued client embarked on a splendid project to erect a large butterfly dome and gardens near St Albans only to be overtaken by the national financial crisis which frustrated further progress. This design was for the dome roof and would have been made with toughened laminated glass with all the hues in the spectrum changing all the time. It was not to be.
East Grinstead country house
The original house, owned by a great friend of ours, is shown here with a preliminary design for its reconstruction. Modern technology has brought opportunities for classical buildings denied to our ancestors. The sketch of the East Grinstead house was the seed of a possible contemporary classical house but it did not grow.
The original house, owned by a great friend of ours, is shown here with a preliminary design for its reconstruction. Modern technology has brought opportunities for classical buildings denied to our ancestors. The sketch of the East Grinstead house was the seed of a possible contemporary classical house but it did not grow.
Miscellaneous
I have included some basic designs of common joinery items which may assist others. I have also included a design for a trellis porch with alternative designs for either side. There is also a design for a bracket on an open string staircase which works well. A sufficient projection of the scotia moulding is needed to allow for the bracket to fit under it. Ideally the riser should be made with a mitre at the open end so that the bracket can be mitred into it.
I have included some basic designs of common joinery items which may assist others. I have also included a design for a trellis porch with alternative designs for either side. There is also a design for a bracket on an open string staircase which works well. A sufficient projection of the scotia moulding is needed to allow for the bracket to fit under it. Ideally the riser should be made with a mitre at the open end so that the bracket can be mitred into it.
