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
Burwalls House

The Burwalls site consists of a substantial historic Grade II listed main house and stable block annex and lies in nearly 5 acres of land adjacent to Brunel’s world famous Clifton Suspension Bridge. The main house is in the Jacobethan style and was constructed in 1872 as a private dwelling by Joseph Leech, a local entrepreneur and owner of the Bristol Times and Mirror.

The site was purchased in 2014 by Kersfield Developments who obtained permission to split the main house into 5 impressive apartments, convert the Stable block in to 2 units and for the construction of 4 new detached dwellings.

The main house has been extended at various points during its history and some of the current works in this sensitive conversion were to remove elements of the more recent additions which are detrimental to the original building.

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CASE STUDY
Castle Drogo - Phase 2

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CASE STUDY
The Gainsborough Bath Spa

The Gainsborough building situated in the heart of Bath was formerly part of the City of Bath College. A Grade II listed building from the Georgian period designed by John Pinch the Elder. The conversion to a 5* luxury hotel presented many challenges. The new multi-storey Lower Borough Walls wing reflects the host building architecturally. In the heart of the hotel lies Spa Village Bath, which is quite unique insofar as it has access to the natural thermal mineral-rich waters, making it the only natural thermal spa inside a hotel in the UK.

The main stair protection was particularly challenging as enclosing it was not an option from a conservation perspective. A solution of discreetly placed fire curtains operating on the fire alarm system to provide protection was developed. There are also isolated areas with sprinkler protection to provide an alternative to passive fire protection.

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