Listed Buildings - A Case Study

Pachesham Farm

We regularly carry out sympathetic replacement or re-instatement work in Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings.

A particularly challenging project was Pachesham Farm near Leatherhead in Surrey.

Pachesham as a place has a history dating back to at least Anglo-Saxon times.

In the Domesday Survey ordered by William I (The Conqueror) the overlord of the Manor of Pachesham is named as Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, who was in fact The Conquerors half brother and his Deputy, ruling England during Williams' absences in Normandy.

The surviving records also show that previously the land was held by one Aelmer under both the unfortunate King Harold and his predecessor, Edward the Confessor.

This Listed farmhouse was probably the Home Farm of the Pachesham Park Estate and was originally built in the 16th century with later additions in the 17th and 18th centuries.

We were contacted in November 2003 at the start of a major refurbishment to include the phased replacement of the timber windows.

We provided initial budgets, specifications and designs during the November of 2003 and were instructed to proceed with the Planning Application for the works in February 2004.

By June 2004, after revisions to the original application and on site meetings with the planning officer, Planning Permission had been gained.

Permission was gained for replacement Timber Windows with Putty Glazed Sealed Unit Double Glazing, Rectangular Leaded Lights and to Re-use the existing Window Furniture.

The existing windows were not the originals and had rectangular leaded lights.

The planning officer reasoned that the 16th century originals would have been Diamond Leaded but in view of the fact that not all of the windows were being replaced, agreed to allow rectangular leaded lights to be used again.


Re-use of the original window furniture was a major stipulation of the Planning Consent.

The windows were manufactured from West African Sapele hardwood and white finished in the factory with spray applied, micro-porous paint.

Glazing was carried out using Distressed Lead in order to provide an authentic aged finish. The Double Glazed Sealed Units were secured by Traditional Putty Glazing rather than a modern standard bead glazing system.

The original window furniture, traditional black finished handles and locks, were carefully removed from the original windows and re-fitted to the new windows.

Following the successful completion of the first 5 windows during August 2004, we have replaced a further 13 windows in 3 further phases up to July 2006.

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