This Longhouse is thought to date from the circa 15th century and constructed with thick rubble stone walls. The interior is subdivided into rooms along its length with cross passages leading through apposed doors across its length. There was an upper storey within the roof space and the original doorways have been reopened, and floors reintroduced as part of the scheme.
The original roof would have been thatch at a much steeper angle than the slate roof covering seen today. Evidence of this can be seen on the rough a varied internal wall surfaces, together with stone alcoves and other features. It was our intention to keep as many internal features exposed as possible without depleting the energy efficiency of the building. The windows, roof, floor, and plaster finished walls have been over insulated to accommodate the exposed features while also improving on current Building Regulations.
Heating and hot water is provided by an air source heat pump and solar thermal panel connected to a large thermal store and underfloor heating. Additionally an oak timber frame extension has allowed a southerly/south westerly area of glazing to gain the benefits of solar gain, using the original stone walls and floor as thermal mass with a highly insulated oak clad frame structure.
During works on site it was necessary to underpin as many of the walls were found to be built on subsoil only. This proved to be a challenge during the harsh winter of 2009-10 when the ground was frozen solid for a long period.
