Billiards is a quiet transformation of the north wing of a Grade II listed hall.

The original house dates back to the 13th Century although was completely rebuilt in its current form in 1824.  The later ‘Billiards’ wing was added in 1897 as a two storey addition to the main house.  The ground floor housed a large social space for entertaining and opened up directly onto large south facing lawns.  The upper floors were connected to the grand central staircase via a gallery that was lit from above by extensive rooflights.

The late 20th century was less kind to the building and a local builder bought the house and demolished large parts of the service parts of the house.  An extension was added to the ‘billiard’ wing, partially sitting on the footprint of the former service wing.  Internal changes were made, effectively allowing the hall to be divided into two independent units.  The gallery was removed and the rooflights removed and internal glazing enclosed behind layers of plasterboard.  The large billiard space was subdivided, ceilings dropped and the house given an 80’s make over that made it feel more suburban than listed Hall.

Our work was to retain the wing as a connected but independent dwelling whilst unpicking the various layers to create a series of spaces that were sympathetic to the original scale and form of the building.  The 90’s extension has been adapted to move the entrance so that it now sits on axis with the windows to the south side.  A small extension has been added, built entirely from stone reclaimed from the demolition arisings.  A simplified standing seam metal roof removes a false parapet gable and results in the building now sitting far more subserviently to the original house.

Once inside, a series of smaller spaces have been consolidated to create a single large kitchen, dining space that makes the most of the south windows and views over the lawns.  The south facade has been gently cleaned and repointed, windows restored and the roof repaired.  The main door to this facade has been replaced and the fan light reglazed for the first time in nearly 50 years.  The resultant space is at once tall, light and yet homely.  The living room has been restored and whilst not to the full extended to the full extent of the original ‘billiard’ room, feels correct to the building.

The most significant move is the creation of a new staircase at the heart of the building.  The 80’s alteration had created a dark, convoluted stair in the corner of the building.  Our work has used the proportions of the original octagonal roof-light to create a new, contemporary stair that feels proportionally correct to the building.  Timber slats break down the acoustics of the space whilst adding a visual warmth.  A new metal and bent timber handrail is a contemporary play on the handrail of the main hall stairs. 

The first floor has also been completely renovated with the addition of a small shared shower space, the restoration of three bedrooms and the creation of a new principal bedroom ensuite.  The ensuite again celebrates and uncovers the original rooflight.  Whilst not glazed it provides a gentle nod to the original form of the ‘Billiard’ wing.

(Original glazed roof-light)

(Post renovation roof-light)

Overall, the changes feel as if the building has always been this way, a quiet, sensitive renovation that has pulled the home into the 21st century whilst fully respecting it’s listed building status.