Nestled in to 35 acres of landscaped grounds, this fabulous project dramatically enhanced the small ‘hamlet’ of historic buildings on one of Guernsey’s largest private estates.
The main house was built in typical Regency style in 1822, and behind it are two courtyards surrounded by a variety of buildings, the oldest of which is the ‘Chaplain’s Cottage’ which is the original dwelling on the site, dating back to about 1500.
Over a period of four years, we carried out conservation work, restored, extended and created entirely new buildings, re-ordered the landscaping and driveways and reinvigorated the estate. There are many different aspects to the project, which in itself is at least 12 projects in one; but in essence our brief was to restore the estate to its former glory as perhaps the prime residence in the Bailiwick, in a manner which retains its character and historic integrity and blends old with new construction. Whilst each building on the estate has its own distinct architecture, they blend into the landscape and other buildings with a sense of harmony, brought about by the use of traditional materials and skills combined with appropriate design. At the same time, modern technology such as heat pumps and sophisticated electronics have enabled the buildings to be as energy efficient as possible.