The Priesthouse Little Shelford

Client: Mr and Mrs Beaton
Location: Little Shelford
Involvement: RIBA Stage 1-7
Type: New build and Refurbishment to Listed Building
Value: £Confidential
Contract: JCT D&B
Contractor: Coulson Building Group

Templeman Design were partnered with Coulson Building Group to facilitate the erection of a new swimming pool and refurbishment of the existing court yard complex, following the successful refurbishment of the main house.

Little Shelford is a picture postcard community 5 miles south of Cambridge. The Priesthouse is located next to All Saints Church and is positioned at the junction of Manor Road and Church Street. The site is located within a conservation area, and as the existing house was first built in 1858/9 holding a significant architectural interest, the building is also listed.

The challenge was to convert the existing courtyard complex into a unique entertainment space complete with Library and study on the first floor with storage, ancillary spaces and a wine room on the ground floor. An opportunity also arose to visually link the court yard space with the beautiful mature gardens, while still providing a weather proof link between the main house and courtyard complex. This was successful achieved by removing a section of the existing building and introducing a delicate frameless glass link. This provided both enclosure and uninterrupted views while minimising the impact on the heritage setting. The project developed and resulted in the installation of an external balcony to take advantage of the West facing elevation and view on open countryside.

In addition the project also included the demolition of an existing out building and erection of a new indoor swimming pool. The design of the new building reflected the architectural qualities of the existing main house. An important consideration was for the form and massing of the structure to be of varying height and footprint to maintained the look of a group of buildings, and not one large pool room. This has been achieved with the central part being the larger with its width and height having a proportional relationship to the former outbuilding. The design of the sliding folding doors are simply glazed, but for those in the larger central section having a simple gothic head detail providing a variation, and relationship to the main house.