TOFT HOUSE, THRESHFIELD Heritage Statement Feature: Window frames in South Elevation - windows 5,6,7,12,13 Description Softwood painted casements with side hung opening lights. Single glazed. Simply constructed probably inserted mid 60s, early 1970s. See drawing No.12 for typical cross section through jamb. Modern drawn sheet glass. Heritage Significance An early photograph shows multi paned 8 panel timber windows in sets of three. Middle section sliding sash (circa 1900). Present windows are modern and glazing panels made as large as possible to maximise daylight. Proposed Work Replace the windows and form rebates deep enough to take Slimlite double glazed units. Justification Rebates in existing windows may not be deep enough to accommodate double glazed units. Secondary glazing panels would be too numerous and cumbersome to store and would spoil the look of the interior of the windows. Feature: Gable windows no W1 and W8 and proposed window W10 Description Softwood painted fixed casements. Drawn sheet glass single glazed with horizontal glazing bar. Hood mould to window head. Heritage Significance W1 is a window formed in an earlier doorway - possible formed at the same time as the door and window in the south facing outshot. W8 is also a window probably inserted at the same time as W1. This is on the basis of a view that there would not have been windows in the west gable of the original farmhouse. Slender timber sections - particularly the glazing bar. Proposed Works Renew the frames in softwood to create rebates deep enough to accommodate Slimlite double glazing units. Windows painted white - both to have opening lights. Window 10 - proposed new window which will be the only source of natural light into the new bathroom. Reclaimed gritstone surrounds to match W8 including the softwood frame. Justification To bring the house up to present day living standards. 1

Feature: Original 3 light window illuminating the scullery/pantry - W4 Description A three light window with chamfered gritstone jambs, head, cill and mullions. 3 softwood painted casements with horizontal glazing bar. Top half of the central panel has a top hung opening light with a gauze mesh fly screen on the outside. Heritage Significance The window is an original part of the house. Although probably not original the timber casements are very old. The single glazing is likely to be crown glass. Proposed Works The proposal is to carefully take out the masonry components, mark them and rebuild in the proposed kitchen extension. New softwood painted window frames with double glazing as before. Justification To adapt the house to the owner's needs as has been done over the centuries. Feature: Landing Window W3 Description A two light window. Fixed casements set within chamfered gritstone surrounds and central stone mullion. Each softwood frame divided into three by two slender glazing bars Heritage Significance An original window illuminating the lower flight of stairs. Proposed Works Raise the head of the window and install reclaimed chamfered gritstone jambs and mullion placed on top of existing components. Install new softwood frames to receive double glazing. Two mid section top hung opening lights to ventilate the staircase. Stonework around stone opening made good. Justification To increase daylight into the existing staircase and create a more pleasing balance between the wall and window. At present the amount of walling above the window head is oppressive. Feature: Bathroom window W9, small bedroom window W10 and kitchen window W2 Description These windows are relatively modern and formed to bring the functioning of the house up to accepted living standards of the day. W2 installed probably mid 1960s created in part from original chamfered gritstone jambs with modern sandstone head and part jambs to create increased natural light. Window frames are softwood painted 2

with EJMA profile. Top hung opening light in right-hand panel has storm proof detailing. Stone mullion between the two sections of window has been chosen and positioned to carry a cast iron vent stack. W9 has been cobbled together from early gritstone components probably originally in position before the alterations were made to form the bathroom and back bedroom. The softwood window frame is of modern profile, single glazed with top hung opening lights. W10 - bathroom window installed probably late 1950s. New square section sandstone surround with softwood painted casement and top hung opening light with central muntin. Single glazing of the period. Proposed Works All the windows would be taken out and older parts re-used in the proposed extension. New double glazed softwood frames installed. Justification To recreate some of the harmony of the fenestration of the original building. Feature: D1 - current main entrance to the house. Description Softwood painted with applied vertical planted battens, fake strap hinges and small 6 piece glazed vision panel. Heritage Significance An indication of the changing taste in door design required by the occupants at the time and the perceived need to indicate its status as the main front door. Proposed Work Replace with softwood painted framed and filled vertical boarded door to match existing D9. Justification To simplify the design with understated detailing. Feature: D6 - present kitchen door Description Modern softwood painted battened and boarded door with letter plate. Square cut sandstone full length jambs and one piece head. Door bottom has probably been repaired. Heritage Significance None other than reflecting the design thinking in the 1960s. Proposed Work Form a doorway into the kitchen through the side (west) wall of the proposed extension. Re-use existing stone jambs and head but with a grit blasted finish and the jambs split in order to insert horizontal ties. New softwood painted. framed and filled vertical boarded door. 3

Justification To create a solid weatherproof door of simple design to complement other existing external doors. Feature: External pointing to rear elevation Description The present pointing is a combination of original lime mortar with grit binder and an assortment of different materials used to patch up the remaining wall around the time of the mid 20th century interventions. Heritage Significance Part of the original fabric of the house which under analysis will identify the mix of mortar used at the time of its construction. Proposed Works Reduce the level of the garden to below the house floor level. Remove all existing pointing which is loose and no longer watertight. Other areas are unsightly. Allow the very damp scullery wall to dry out then repoint the whole elevation including any permitted new work. The choice of mortar will be determined after analysis by specialist manufacturer and a matching mix made specifically for this project. Justification To protect the existing fabric of the house from water penetration. Feature: Scullery/Pantry Description No longer used as a pantry due to improving living standards and modern storage equipment. The external wall and stone flagged flooring are wet and the stone keeping shelves have laminated due to the damp atmosphere. Heritage Significance The room indicates how the house was used when it was first built. The stone flagged floor will have no damp proof membrane and the slabs are probably laid on compacted earth. A small square of stone within the floor may have sealed off a sump or drain thought necessary to keep the room as dry as possible. Hooks in the ceiling show how meat, game and herbs might have been hung to cure or dry out. The stone shelves would hold produce at working level and keep food off the damp floor. A fly screen on the outside of the small opening light in the window indicates its former use. The room now holds a keep safe and an oil fired boiler. Proposed Works Lower the garden level externally and form a flagged access up to a new doorway when the existing window is removed. The doorway surround would be formed in reclaimed chamfered gritstone with mid way ties and the walling on either side made good. External repointing and internal plaster patching required. The door would be softwood, framed and filled with vertical boarding with a small glazed vision panel and a painted finish. A w.c. and basin is required with 100 x 50 softwood tanalised studding with plasterboard and skim finish. The partition would be wedged into place so as not to interfere with the stone flagged floor. All pipework within the room to be concealed. 4

Justification This has been made clear in earlier correspondence. The work is required to avoid the need for the applicant to remove working overalls and boots before entering the house proper and, in particular, the kitchen. Feature: Scullery floor Description Existing sandstone floor in random sizes - damp and uneven. Heritage Significance Original component of the house. The condition of this room indicates the failure of early forms of construction to keep out damp. Proposed Work The techniques described in the conservation manuals to combat damp problems are in some cases impractical. The advice is to prepare a sub base with 150 insulating granules of exfoliated clay with a breathable geotextile membrane on top and a lime based screed to allow moisture to percolate through the joints in the structure. It is assumed the damp floor would dry out when the water table lowers. Investigation of the existing floor is needed to determine what lies underneath and which technique should be used for the future. Justification To find a solution that will ensure the room is usable and up to current Building Regulation and health standards. Works that will be required but cannot be detailed without further investigation - for which planning consent is required. Perhaps these items can be conditioned if approval is forthcoming: Further investigation is required to determine how to detail the fireplaces when removing unwanted masonry i.e. 1960s interventions. This also applies to window seats where their boarded backs have warped indicating wet or dry rot Barrie Birch Architect 8 May 2016 5