The Walronds, Cullompton

Sensitively restored to act as a hub for community activity for all

The Project

The Walronds is a Listed Grade 1 building erected in 1605. It was originally constructed as a dwelling house but has been used as a meeting house at ground floor level with a maisonette formed within the two floors immediately over the ground floor.  The building was on the English Heritage register of buildings at risk.  The proposal involved the renovation and conservation of the building which includes improvements to fire safety.


Building Control

The refurbishment was carried out with great sensitivity under the watchful eye of architects Benjamin and Beauchamp.  Oculus assisted the Design Team by providing guidance on the fire strategy for the building. The historic fabric and need for limited intervention presented challenges for devising passive fire safety protection whilst avoiding having a significant impact on the building. A comprehensive understanding of the building fabric was a necessity and knowledge of suitable upgrading techniques to protect escape routes, ensuring occupants would be able to reach a place of safety in the event of a fire. 

Oculus liaised with the Design Team, Building Control Body and Fire Authority, obtaining the necessary approvals from the latter two bodies. The upper floors of the building are now in use as a holiday letting and the ground floor is used for a variety of community purposes.


CASE STUDY
Farmiloe Building - London

This spectacular Grade II listed Victorian building nestled in the borough of Islington was formerly a glass and leadworks completed in 1868 and owned by the Farmiloe family. For the past decade the building has been used as a filming location for movies such as Dark Knight, Inception and Sherlock Holmes as well as an event space.

Read More

CASE STUDY
Middleport Pottery

Middleport Pottery, the UK’s last working Victorian pottery was originally constructed in 1888 for Burgess & Leigh, a local ceramics company, where beautiful Burleigh pottery was produced using extremely rare skills.

In 2011, United Kingdom Historic Building Preservation Trust (UKHBPT) embarked on a long journey to save the site from closure and to protect the complex that houses historic machinery, archives and collections of the past. The traditional industrial factory and its original function have been conserved, repaired and regenerated for community benefit. The areas of museum demonstrate the skilful process being undertaken in a traditional manner. 

Read More

CASE STUDY
Tyntesfield

Tyntesfield is a spectacular Victorian Gothic Revival house with gardens, parkland and much more.  It had been the house of the Gibbs family for over 150 years. As the house was inherited by each generation of the Gibbs family, they stamped their own identity on the house and estate with different developments. The 14th June 2002 marked a new beginning for the house and estate when the National Trust announced their new acquisition.  The house was in need of extensive renovation and The National Trust set about re-roofing, re-wiring and re-plumbing the main house and generally improving access for visitor experience. 

Read More