Restorations to Clattercote Priory

Clattercote Priory is a Grade II* listed building, now a private residence but originally established as a Gilbertine Priory in the 13th century, near to the village of Claydon, north of Banbury. Acanthus Clews Architects obtained Listed Building permissions and English Heritage grant aid to finance conservation and restoration measures, including the sensitive conversion of an adjacent small barn into a single storey house. The works revealed a magnificent 17th century stone fireplace to the kitchen, complete with stone fireback and mediaeval stone flag floors.

Windows previously bricked up were opened again and in one such removal the original timber window frame was exposed and reused in situ. Dormer windows were restored or reproduced with English oak and traditional cast leadwork. Stone mullioned windows were opened up and wrought ironwork faithfully reproduced. The stonework was conserved with lime mortar consolidation techniques, as well as using new cut stonework, together with repointing in lime mortar matching the original.

The minimum of new stone and timber was introduced, respecting the minimum intervention philosophy adopted. The project team found it very rewarding to be involved in one of the few periods of construction and reconstruction over 800 years following on from the late 13th century, early 17th century, mid 18th century and late 19th century.

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