CORNER FARM
Retrofit & Renovation - Grade II Listed Building
Completed
Corner Farm is a Grade II listed farmstead featuring a C17th cottage, later infill, barns, and a 20th-century rebuild in a linear layout. Adaptations over the years, especially in the 1980s, resulted in lost history, with original floor coverings removed and large barn openings reduced to garage sizes. It faced issues with damp, cold, and mould, worsened by modern cement plaster and poor ventilation.
The goal was to restore character and modernize the home for 21st-century living, focusing on reduced energy demand and a healthy environment. Thermal modeling identified measures to boost energy efficiency by 73%. Walls were stripped to stone, insulated with woodfibre, and finished with lime plaster and clay paint for breathability. The floor features recycled foamglass insulation beneath a mixture of lime and concrete. Heating is provided by an ASHP, with solar panels and battery storage minimising the requirement for imported electricity.
The design merges modern sensibilities with traditional materials. It creates interconnected spaces without an overly open layout. Large barn openings enhance natural light and emphasise the agricultural heritage of the kitchen, linking interior and exterior areas. The kitchen, positioned as a central object in the vaulted barn, features solid oak boards and clean detailing, reflecting the barn's character. The exposed concrete floor adds to the practicality of the space.
The barn features a historic cobbled area, relaid over insulated lime screed for a characterful boot room floor. The few remaining original flagstones have been reused in the utility and main entrance. Historic beams and joists have been salvaged from beneath layers of varnish. A new oak staircase replaces a 20th-century addition, with panelling connecting it to the study's glazed wall. Black metal spindles on the staircase reference farmers' metalwork from previous centuries.
Photos: Ed R S Aves
Contractor: Hook Norton Construction
Landscaping: William Curtis Landscape and Garden Design
Solar: Aspey Energy
Lime Specialist: TyMawr
