Roof Restoration on a Listed School Building

Scaffolding is now down as we near the final stages of roof repairs on this Grade II* listed school building.

The project has focused on making the structure safe and watertight, while carefully preserving key historic features — including an ornate painted ceiling of national importance.

We were brought in after structural issues were discovered in the roof above the main mansion house at the heart of Hoe Bridge School. As one of the school’s bursar shared:

"Nye Saunders were recommended to us after our structural engineer discovered that some minor cracking in the grade 2* listed mansion house at the heart of Hoe Bridge School was caused by significant decay to the roof structure above.  This was compounded by the need to protect nationally important painted ceilings immediately below the affected areas.  Richard and Adam’s expertise and knowledge of historic buildings combined with an understanding of the issues of working in a school environment have meant we have been in safe hands through the project.

Nye Saunders dealt directly with the local planning authority to obtain listed building consent for the necessary repair works, negotiating with the conservation officer to establish a pragmatic approach to the project. 

Opening up works in previously inaccessible areas revealed significantly more repairs were needed and Nye Saunders, in conjunction with the rest of the design team, ensured the school governors were aware of the need for the essential works and the consequences of inaction. 

Nye Saunders’ involvement has proved invaluable in ensuring the essential works have been carried out with as little disruption to the school as possible.  The school are very pleased with the finished result of the project.

We would highly recommend Nye Saunders Architects.”

It’s a great example of how thoughtful conservation can protect and extend the life of historic buildings — even in complex, sensitive environments like schools.

If you're responsible for a listed school or heritage property, we’d be happy to talk about how we can support your next project.

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