Wessex Restoration Expert care for Britain's historic homes

Wessex Restoration

Expert care for Britain's historic homes

Latest Articles

The Cellar Reconsidered: Diagnosing Damp Below Ground in Old Wessex Homes
Heritage Materials

The Cellar Reconsidered: Diagnosing Damp Below Ground in Old Wessex Homes

Cellars and below-grade rooms are among the most misunderstood spaces in historic houses, and the remedies applied to them are frequently the cause of the next problem. This guide explains how to distinguish condensation from groundwater and failed tanking, why sealing an old cellar can create fresh difficulties, and how ventilation, drainage and breathable repair can bring stability without erasing character.
The Quiet Anatomy of Old Floors: Assessing Movement in Historic Timber Floors
Heritage Materials

The Quiet Anatomy of Old Floors: Assessing Movement in Historic Timber Floors

Suspended timber floors in old Wessex houses rarely fail without warning. This guide sets out a measured way to read sag, squeak and spring, inspect joist bearings and underfloor ventilation, and decide when conservation-minded repair is preferable to wholesale replacement.
When the Wind Drops: A First-48-Hours Triage Plan for Old Wessex Houses
Seasonal Maintenance

When the Wind Drops: A First-48-Hours Triage Plan for Old Wessex Houses

High winds and driving rain rarely leave a historic house unchanged. This guide sets out a calm, documented sequence for the first two days, from safety checks and temporary weatherproofing to the point where insurers, conservation officers and specialist trades must be involved.
Where the Rain Goes: A Roof-to-Ground Water Plan for Old Wessex Houses
Seasonal Maintenance

Where the Rain Goes: A Roof-to-Ground Water Plan for Old Wessex Houses

By early November the ground is already saturated and the roofline is working harder than at any other time of year. This guide follows rainwater from eaves to soakaway, explaining how hopper heads, cast-iron gutters and ground levels conspire to protect — or quietly undermine — cob, flint and lime-rendered walls.
Swollen Stiles and Stubborn Locks: Repairing Historic Front Doors in Wessex Homes
Heritage Materials

Swollen Stiles and Stubborn Locks: Repairing Historic Front Doors in Wessex Homes

Of all the joinery in an old house, the front door works hardest and complains least. This guide sets out how to read the faults in an original door — dropped hinges, swollen stiles, split panels and tired ironmongery — and how to commission repairs that keep the timber, the fittings and the character of the house intact.
From Stack to Hearth: A Measured Chimney Inspection for Historic Wessex Homes
Seasonal Maintenance

From Stack to Hearth: A Measured Chimney Inspection for Historic Wessex Homes

Before the first fire of the colder months, a historic chimney deserves a calm and methodical assessment rather than a hurried glance up the stack. This guide sets out an interior-to-roof inspection routine for old Wessex houses, explaining what may be checked safely, when a registered sweep or conservation specialist should be called, and how to reconcile the pleasures of an open hearth with the long-term care of historic fabric.
Cracks, Bellies and Lath: A Conservative Approach to Historic Plaster Ceilings
Heritage Materials

Cracks, Bellies and Lath: A Conservative Approach to Historic Plaster Ceilings

Historic ceilings rarely fail without warning. This guide explains how to read cracks, sagging and fallen patches in old Wessex plaster, distinguish settled decoration from lath failure, and plan lime-based repairs before cosmetic filler makes matters worse.
Breathable by Design: Specifying Paint and Finish for Old Wessex Walls
Heritage Materials

Breathable by Design: Specifying Paint and Finish for Old Wessex Walls

A paint specification for a historic house is not merely a decorative afterthought; it is part of the building's moisture management. This guide explains how to assess existing coatings, select vapour-permeable finishes and choose colours that respect cob, flint and timber.
Breathability Under Examination: A Field Guide to Mortar in Old Wessex Walls
Heritage Materials

Breathability Under Examination: A Field Guide to Mortar in Old Wessex Walls

Cement pointing can look neat while quietly trapping moisture in an old wall. This field guide explains how to read mortar, carry out simple checks and ask the right questions before repointing a Wessex flint, brick or cob building.
A Gentle Advent: Decorating a Historic Wessex Home Without Leaving a Mark
Seasonal Maintenance

A Gentle Advent: Decorating a Historic Wessex Home Without Leaving a Mark

Christmas decorations should be a temporary pleasure, not a permanent alteration. This guide sets out a heritage-safe approach to wreaths, garlands, lights and candles in old Wessex houses, from reversible fixings and load limits to a room-by-room checklist for the 2026 season.
Deeds, Maps and Marginalia: Tracing the Story of an Old Wessex House
Heritage Research

Deeds, Maps and Marginalia: Tracing the Story of an Old Wessex House

Before scaffold goes up, an old Wessex house can often be dated through deeds, tithe maps, census returns and listing records. This guide explains how documentary detective work complements the evidence in the fabric, where common red herrings lie, and how to turn findings into a measured repair plan.
When Works Need Permission: A Listed Building Consent Guide for Wessex Owners
Planning & Consent

When Works Need Permission: A Listed Building Consent Guide for Wessex Owners

Listed building consent is not a blanket ban on change, nor a paperwork exercise to be avoided. This practical decoder explains when consent is likely to be needed, how conservation officers assess proposals, and which pitfalls most often arise with windows, render and extensions.
Energy Efficiency

Warmth Without Harm: Insulating an Old Wessex House in the Right Order

Rising bills and EPC requirements have pushed many owners of historic homes towards retrofit, but old fabric responds badly to modern assumptions. This article explains how solid walls, cob and thatch actually behave, identifies the mistakes that cause lasting damage, and sets out a phased programme that begins with draughts, lofts and controls.
Cords, Sills and Second Chances: Why Original Sash Windows Deserve Repair
Heritage Materials

Cords, Sills and Second Chances: Why Original Sash Windows Deserve Repair

Original sash windows are among the most frequently condemned features of Britain's historic homes, and among the most frequently misdiagnosed. This guide sets out what a competent joiner can genuinely save, what a proper repair involves, and the circumstances in which replacement is the honest answer.
The Frosted Facade: Why Winter Viewings Can Mislead Buyers of Old Houses
Seasonal Maintenance

The Frosted Facade: Why Winter Viewings Can Mislead Buyers of Old Houses

Viewing a period property between November and February can be enchanting, but low light, wet ground and sealed windows often flatter serious faults. This seasonal checklist sets out what to inspect with a torch, what to ask the vendor while the weather is still against them, and why a proper building survey should be commissioned before spring.
The Building's Autobiography: Reading Alterations in an Old Wessex House
Heritage Materials

The Building's Autobiography: Reading Alterations in an Old Wessex House

Every historic house carries a physical record of its own changes: blocked doorways, soot shadows, patched flintwork and the faint seams of lost partitions. This guide explains how to read that record, photograph it and record it before repair work begins, and why that early reading is often the cheapest survey a homeowner will ever commission.
Repair Before Replacement: The Carbon Case for Keeping Historic Wessex Homes
Heritage Materials

Repair Before Replacement: The Carbon Case for Keeping Historic Wessex Homes

For owners of old Wessex houses, the most sustainable route is rarely demolition and rebuild. This article examines embodied carbon, breathability and planning consent, and sets out a practical framework for judging when conservation, retrofit or major intervention is justified.
Before the Specialist Arrives: A Room-by-Room Heritage Check for Old Houses
Seasonal Maintenance

Before the Specialist Arrives: A Room-by-Room Heritage Check for Old Houses

A measured inspection can help homeowners describe problems clearly and avoid unnecessary alarm. This room-by-room guide covers the early signs of damp, timber decay, failing lime plaster, stiff sash windows, uneven floors and outdated services, with notes on what to record and when to call a conservator or structural engineer.
Twelve Tasks Before the Frost: A Heritage-Safe Winter Plan for Old Houses
Seasonal Maintenance

Twelve Tasks Before the Frost: A Heritage-Safe Winter Plan for Old Houses

A practical, priority-led programme for November 2026, setting out the twelve maintenance tasks that matter most before hard frost arrives. The emphasis is on breathable repair, sound drainage and careful ventilation rather than quick modern fixes that can trap moisture in historic fabric.
Reading the Walls: Cob, Flint and Thatch in Wessex and How to Care for Them
Heritage Materials

Reading the Walls: Cob, Flint and Thatch in Wessex and How to Care for Them

A field guide to the three defining traditional materials of the Wessex region: earth-and-straw cob, knapped and rubble flint, and thatch. The article explains how owners can recognise each material, understand its particular vulnerabilities and commission repairs that match the original construction.

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