Conservation areas are some of the most important places, holding decades or even centuries’ worth of cultural, historical and architectural value and should be preserved. Each conservation area will contain its own unique set of period houses, listed buildings, streets, trees and landmarks. Many period homes are usually made in the Victorian or Edwardian style, with traditional designs and materials enhancing their character.
At Timbertherm, we’ve worked in many conservation areas across the UK. One such area is Brockley in South London.
The Brockley conservation area was designated in 1973. It includes an appraisal that highlights its historical and architectural interest. The conservation area displays a variety of architectural styles and detail – popular in the mid to late Victorian period – with a distinctive street layout including tree-lined roads and with many houses showcasing scenic front and rear gardens.
There are historical buildings present in the conservation area that positively contribute to its character. This includes a collection of Grade II listed buildings such as Lea House, 160-186 Lewisham Way – the largest group of Grade II listed buildings in the area – St Peter’s Church, St Andrew’s Church, Predergast School and many more.
Period homes in Brockley mainly contain box-sash windows, with there being small but important differences amongst them. These differences can include in the design, how worn the materials, in which areas and the strength of the glazing, due to the different conditions each window has been exposed to throughout the years.
At Timbertherm, the majority of our work is on period homes and bespoke requests. With over 30 years’ experience, we understand the nuances, materials and techniques required to restore your period home’s doors and windows whilst not sacrificing its character, history and property value.
When restoring or enhancing a period home, there are different techniques and methods but we suggest that shortcuts should not be taken as they’ll have a greatly damaging effect. The unsympathetic restoration of a period home includes using materials that aren’t the original materials or close to them. This includes alternatives like PVC-u windows and doors that, while cheaper, are the less durable and energy-efficient, ruin your home’s aesthetic and greatly damage the properly value of your period home.
We’re members of the Forest Stewardship Council, meaning that we only use conservation-approved timber and primarily work to replicate your original designs, restoring them or enhancing where possible, never sacrificing the character and history of your home.