Ightham Mote in Sevenoaks

This is the winner of a Diploma

Repair and conservation of one of the oldest and loveliest medieval manor houses to survive in England. Dating from 1330, it is hidden away in a secluded location in the Kentish Wealds. The aim of the project was to secure the structural integrity of the building and to allow safe public access.

The main problems dealt with were the erosion of the masonry at and below water level, the decaying timber frame and roof structures, as well as wet rot and insect infestation due to water penetration. The approach taken was to accept all the historical layers of the building, retaining the most recent work while conserving and recording the older layers beneath it. The building remained open to the public during the conservation work, which was ground-breaking in its attempt to educate the public to traditional building work and conservation techniques.

“For a complex programme of repairs to and conservation of a fine moated manor house retaining the many layers of changes made over time, while encouraging public access in order to learn from the process of restoration.”