A VISITOR morning was held at a historic town centre building this week to show the restoration progress made so far as part of a £1-million conservation programme.

Restoration to the Grade II listed building in Church Lane, Tavistock, also known as Foulston’s House, began in November and on Tuesday invited guests were able to see how the work has progressed.

Number 1 Church Lane, built around 1825 and designed by architect John Foulston, is the first privately-owned building of historic and architectural merit to undergo conservation work as part of the Tavistock Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI).

The regeneration programme involving the restoration of buildings of historic merit, enhancement of public realm areas and complementary activities to raise awareness of the town’s heritage, is being funded by a Heritage Lottery Grant of nearly £1-million.

During the visitor morning the roof structure was exposed, providing an opportunity to observe all the work in progress, including timber, external joinery and masonry repairs.

Commentary tours were held jointly by project architect Simon Crosbie of Le Page Architects and Carl Heslop, managing director of main contractors Obedair Ltd.

THI project manager Martin Searle said: ‘The contractors are making good progress with structural repairs to roof timbers and external window and door repairs and reinstatement. Due to its poor condition, they have also had to take down the triangular masonry pediment on the south elevation and this will be rebuilt to match the original, including the decorative render mouldings. The roof will be reinstated using felt, new softwood battens and natural slates.

‘The project is due to be completed in mid-April.’

Carl Heslop, Obedair Ltd, said: ‘Obedair are really proud of the work we are completing to restore Church Lane and we are committed to providing as much information as we can to the traditional materials and methods of construction being applied on this project.’

Simon Crosbie, of Le Page Architects who was also the project architect for the recent THI-supported roof repairs at Buthers’ Hall, said: ‘To be involved with another Townscape Heritage Initiative scheme project is a remarkable opportunity for us as a practice but also to be a part of a collective project team which is working tremendously hard towards what will be an amazing architectural transformation and restoration of this beautiful building’s envelope.’

As well as the Heritage Lottery Grant funding, the THI regeneration programme is supported financially by Tavistock Town Council, West Devon Borough Council, Devon County Council, the West Dartmoor LEAF and private owners.

It was highlighted that although the THI is able to make grants to private owners in the interest of saving and restoring some of the most significant historic buildings in Tavistock, there are strict ‘clawback’ conditions that prevent such owners making ‘quick profits’ from public funding.

There is a requirement for the grant to be repaid on a sliding scale if the owner disposes of his/her interest in the property within a period of ten years following the completion of the scheme and for that period the owners make a financial commitment to a management and maintenance programme to ensure that the restored buildings are kept in good condition.

Pictures by James Bird