I’ve been on a variety of site visits recently that have posed different questions.
A stunning former rectory ... is there space for a discrete new dwelling in a corner of the garden? A typical Devon Grade II thatched cottage, hugely altered but still sensitive to further alterations, and a large manor with some old unauthorised works to sort out, which also left me scratching my head trying to work out the phasing (and sense) of some of the room configurations! I love the variety that comes from dealing with historic buildings and meeting the custodians who cherish them.
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This year I am purchasing 1m2 of wildflowers through #mysquaremetre for every new instruction I receive and I’m very happy to have recently reached my 10m2 badge.
My 10m2 will mean: 🌸 5,000 wildflowers will be planted and maintained for 30 years 🐝 Each of those 30 years, 120 bees will have sufficient food for their whole lifetime 🐭 It will provide the territory for 1 family of field mice 📱 Capture enough CO2 to offset charging my iphone for 3 years And, it will ... 🌺🐭🌼🐝🌸 look beautiful! 🐝🌸🌼🐭🌺🌸 I am looking forward to seeing it grow and also reaching my 50m2 badge! Congrats to Edward Crowther for such a great initiative! Monday will mark the beginning of a new chapter for me as I start a part time role at The Planning Inspectorate. I love a new challenge and am looking forward to this one, integrating this new work with my own lovely clients, old and new, in my heritage consutancy business.
I’ll be going back to 5 days per week to fit it all in, but will still have to make time every week for some water-based activities that keep me sane and help me focus. I look forward to letting you know how it’s going! I’ve had three fantastic Dartmoor site visits this week, travelling from east to west.
I’ve seen a C19 barn partially constructed from dry stone walling, revisited one of my favourite houses that is a rare Devon example of Mathematical tiles and visited a multi-phase mansion with extraordinary views! And all in the sunshine - as the cat on the hot slate roof will confirm! Sea and Moor on site yesterday. I love the idea of having my own private stretch of creek, although the house has some serious maintenance issues! The barns on Dartmoor were glorious, with a few special features like this little window.
Well it doesn’t look too bad ... (walks around the back) Oh! 😮 Such an interesting little cottage, definitely fallen on hard times!
I’m sure NDM Collins Architects will come up with a brilliant solution! Thanks to Nicola Quick MRICS FAAV for the instruction. Phew! Long first day back on site today - Somerset, Teignbridge and then finished off in Dartmouth as the light was fading.
Saw a beautiful example of a Grade II* Georgian Mansion with some Strawberry Hill Gothic details, a Grade II barn conversion and a riverside site within the Conservation Area. Lots to be getting on with and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in! Happy New Year to friends and colleagues old and new, I wish you health and happiness for the year ahead.
Started the year off with a lovely sea swim with dog, am ready for the year ahead now! A week or so of “lasts” of 2022 - last site visit, last day working at the lovely CoWorking Devon, last reports being completed.
I wish everyone a very happy Christmas and New Year and I look forward to working with you again in 2023 ... |
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I travel all over the south west on my site visits and every week I try to pick out an interesting historic item to write about here. Archives
April 2023
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