Swarthmoor Hall

Client

Religious Society of Friends

Project cost

£400,000

Location

Ulverston

Project Description

Restoration and conversion of 16th century Quakers' meeting hall

We were lead architects for this historic Grade II* meeting hall across five phases of work including stable block conversion, new car parking and the creation of a meditation garden.

Swarthmoor Hall is in a semi-rural location on the outskirts of Ulverston in Cumbria. The Hall is a Grade II* 16th century detached building surrounded by a collection of former agricultural buildings and linked by gardens with fields beyond. The Hall's importance is that it was the focus of the early Quaker movement in the late 1650s, which continues to the present day.

We have been working on the site for seven years carrying out five phases of work; Quinquennial Inspection report for the historic hall, stable block conversion, new car parking, and the creation of a meditation garden.

Following the Quinquennial survey, further specialist investigation has taken place to reveal the timber decay in the Great Hall ceiling. These repair works were completed in 2012.

A later phase of bedroom improvements and the provision of a café on site were completed in spring 2015.

Key Features

  • All development proposals carefully inserted within the historic context using the principles of architectural significance to guide our decision making processes.
  • Using locally sourced materials, for example using local oak for the timber repairs in the historic rooms and second hand sourced slate for reroofing and roofing repairs.
  • Using vernacular dry stone walling techniques for rebuilding stables and boundary walls.
Client Testimonial

‘BTP understood our vision from the very first brief. The team has extensive previous experience, which instilled a level of confidence that the restoration of Swarthmoor Hall would be treated sensitively. We are most impressed with the final result.

Jane Pearson

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