Ash Cottages are situated to the west of the River Ash at a prominent crossroads in the centre of Little Hadham, Hertfordshire. The site comprises a grade II listed building which forms this row of cottages dating from the 17th and 18th Centuries. The long rear garden also contains a garage and a small barn. The entire site is within a conservation area and a flood risk zone. All the buildings were in a state of disrepair and had been subject to ongoing damp ingress and water damage.
We were asked to repair, refurbish and (where possible) to re-model the buildings to create a comfortable single family dwelling, a separate home office and a separate annex. It was also important to upgrade the external fabric of these buildings to achieve the best thermal performance possible within a listed setting.
By opening up the rear catslide extension to the main house we formed a single central family space to unify the separate cottages and create a single home. The removal of the ceilings created a generous space that allowed views of the previously masked first floor facade of the original 17th Century cottage, a feature that met with approval from the conservation officer involved.
The project received planning permission and Listed Building Consent in September 2023. Construction commencing Spring 2024.
The opening up of the ceilings in the catslide extension revealed the original pargetting to the rear wall of the 17th Century cottages that had been masked by the later construction. The original window positions can also be seen. These features will now form a key decorative element in the new kitchen space.