ISG Jackson - General Development - Essex

Date: 20 Aug 2008

ISG Jackson Special Projects has successfully completed an historically important external refurbishment contract at the Grade II listed, Loughton Hall in Essex. The painstaking refurbishment of the Queen Anne-style building, for client Redrow Homes (Eastern) Ltd, has been overseen by English Heritage and now completed, the Hall's future use is restricted by covenants and planning consents to either educational purposes or as a private nursing home.

Preservation and maintenance of the authenticity of the building's fabric has been central to the refurbishment at Loughton Hall and ISG Jackson Special Projects was careful to restore and re-use existing materials wherever possible. Any new elements introduced to the building, such as roof tiles, brickwork, or replacement window frames, were all carefully selected to ensure the closest possible match to existing features.

A grand Romanesque style portico at the front of the building represented a key challenge during the restoration project. This once impressive timber structure was in a poor state of repair and was structurally unsound, requiring complete replacement of five supporting columns, which were designed and carved to perfectly match the existing supports. Underneath the eaves, specialist contractors reinstated hand carved egg and dart ornamental cornice mouldings, which were expertly matched with the existing decoration.

The gable ends of Loughton Hall are now resplendent with a period yellow buttermilk lime render, to which the ancient art of pargeting, or stamping a decorative pattern into the wet render, was applied. An Essex Pattern, which features a repetitive seashell motif, can now be observed on the gable ends and across the bay windows on the Hall. The roof mounted ornamental lantern-shaped structure, termed a cupola, was also extensively renovated with new wooden mouldings, hand beaten leadwork and a replacement weathervane.

Michael Manning, divisional director for ISG Jackson Special Projects, commented: "Loughton Hall has proved an excellent showcase to demonstrate the technical skills and expertise of our project team, who have delivered an outstanding and sympathetic restoration of this historically important building. Through early involvement in the scheme and by adopting a partnership approach with conservation body, English Heritage, ISG Jackson Special Projects has effectively allocated resource to the most demanding aspects of the refurbishment, keeping the project on programme and within budget."

Rebuilt from an earlier 16th century hall that burnt down in 1836, Loughton Hall was designed by architect W Eden Nesfield for the Maitland family. Requisitioned by the army during the Second World War as an officers' billet, the building was eventually sold to the local council, with the Debden housing estate built on much of the land.

Refurbishment of Loughton Hall forms part of a package of community benefits including major highway improvements in the area, traffic calming measures on Borders Lane, and a new access point for the college's improved campus.

Loughton Hall

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