This charming and extensive residential property in a North West Leicestershire village had a most interesting history, and had been extended at various dates during it’s occupation. It is not listed but is of historic and architectural interest. When KM Architects clients approached us, the original building and principle elevation of the existing house together with the setting in a mature garden were most attractive, but various additions over the years greatly detracted from it’s charm. The interior lacked clarity, as remodelling had been carried out when outbuildings had been incorporated and extensions added over the years in an ad-hoc fashion.
KM Architects clients wished to carry out remodelling of the interior of the house to be suitable for modern day living, convert existing outbuildings to form additional living space and extend the house further, particularly to the Northern end where it was assumed a previous extension had been demolished leaving an awkward internal level change together with an unattractive blank wall and a sharp dip down to the garden. KM Architects clients also needed a new garage block, and wished for any extension or remodelling to enhance the existing buildings and frame the original cottage.
The original early Georgian residential property was built in 1795 as the Canal Superintendent’s cottage for the Charnwood Forest canal in North West Leicestershire. The canal had a short history, opening in 1794 but being abandoned in 1808 just thirteen years later as the canal was found to be uneconomic. This was partly due to the loss in revenue after the closure of the canal for two years in 1799 floowing a catastrophic collapse of the local reservoir which fed the canal, and the cost of repairs to the reservoir.
The residential property in the North West Leicestershire village had a large garden or grounds, and a wing of outbuildings was attached at some point for a carriage, horses, other equipment and accommodation to facilitate the maintenance and working of the grounds at that time. It was still used as a house in the 19th century, and there were several minor additions to increase the room sizes to the front of the residential property, a seamless extension to the dining room and bedroom above, the addition of two bay windows to the principle elevation in the Victorian era, and a more conspicuous 1960s extension to the drawing room together with a conservatory.
Much of the large garden was sold off and became four separate plots, and around 1945 the building became a catholic seminary before again reverting to a private house in the 1960s or 1970s.
KM Architects design sought to rationalise the house and appearance, remodelling the interior to give generous spaces whilst respecting and enhancing the original historic residential property. The new extension to the North was contemporary in style, whilst to the South the unattractive 1960s extension to the drawing room was removed and a new entrance and entrance hall added which was sympathetically styled to blend in with the original.
Once all the building work was completed KM Architects clients were thrilled and delighted with their greatly improved and extended house in the North West Leicestershire village which fulfilled their criteria and exceeded their expectations.
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