Repair Projects

Otley Hall

Otley Hall in Suffolk is an important building with late Medieval origins that is rightly listed Grade II*.

We were tasked with repairing some of the 15th Century timbers on a rear gable at eaves level; the heavily moulded tie beam had suffered from decay and made worse by the voids being filled with cement mortar. The studs above needed several repairs but the brick infill panels are thought to be original 15th century work so they were just as precious as the framing and were dealt with in the same careful manner.

Having identified the extent of the repairs we agreed a method statement with Suffolk Coastal District Council and the owners and were allowed to proceed without the need for listed building consent. All brick panels that were at risk of detaching were photographed and taken down then laid out exactly as they were in the frame, the remainder were protected and held in place with plywood. We then cut out the decayed sections and carefully fitted a large dry patch to the tie beam. With that temporarily held in place we projected the lines of the adjacent mouldings onto the patch to enable us to accurately cut them into the new section with a mix of power tools, hand tools and a couple of specially made tools. Having fixed the repairs into position the brick infill panels could then be refitted and laid in new sand and lime mortar.

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