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Old Yew Tree Cottage post conservation work. Credit - Farnham Building Preservation Trust.
Old Yew Tree Cottage post conservation work. Credit - Farnham Building Preservation Trust.

A New Start for Old Yew Tree Cottage

23 October 2024
England

The Architectural Heritage Fund (AHF) is pleased to have supported Farnham Building Preservation Trust with loan investment towards the repair and refurbishment of the Grade II-listed Old Yew Tree Cottage in Wrecclesham, Surrey, which has now been returned to its original glory.

Farnham Building Preservation Trust was formed in 1969 to rescue local historic buildings and bring them back into use. The Trust purchased Old Yew Tree Cottage in 2015 to ensure that sympathetic restoration was undertaken to high conservation standards, given the age and significance of the building.

The cottage is believed to be formed of two buildings built in the mid- and late-16th century, with the Trust undertaking significant research on the archaeology of the building and the history of its inhabitants as part of the conservation project. Surveying and recording carried out during the repair work, including dendrochronological dating of timbers, was able to trace the oldest parts of the house to 1551. With the building stripped back, the Surrey Domestic Buildings Research Group were also able to investigate and re-write their 1980’s report on the history of how the building was developed over time.

Through careful conservation work, many of the unchanged original features of the timber-framed building were repaired, including a brick fireplace and chimney dating to the early 1600s. The chimney stack was stabilised and dry rot was removed from the roof timbers. This high-quality repair of original features, alongside sympathetic alterations, including a new staircase, a new entrance, and a small extension to enhance circulation within the building, have allowed the Trust to renovate the property into a modern family home.

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Images: The interior of Old Yew Tree Cottage post conservation work. Credit - Farnham Building Preservation Trust.

With the house now back in residential use, the Trust has been able to repay its AHF loan investment of £65,000. These loan funds provided bridging finance for the cost of the repair and refurbishment works to the cottage.

The AHF has a range of funds, including loan investment, available for Building Preservation Trusts and other not-for-profit organisations across the UK who want to bring historic buildings back into use. To learn more, please visit: https://ahfund.org.uk/.

For more information on Farnham Building Preservation Trust, please go to: https://www.farnhamtrust.org.uk/.

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