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New Home is an Award Winner From This
A
Hethersett couple’s dream of turning derelict farm buildings into a
bright modern bungalow has not only become reality but has won them a top
local conservation award. Hugh
and Vic Redington moved just 50 yards down a private drive when they sold
Home Farm in Ketteringham Lane to set-up home in Pump Hall. It
was a huge risk for the couple who had the dream of turning the derelict
outbuildings, which included cart sheds, cow sheds and open stables, into
a spacious retirement home. “When
we bought Home Farm in 1999 it came with the outbuildings which were a set
of old barns in very tumbledown condition. The buildings had become
something of a liability and it would have cost us quite a lot of money to
have them pulled down, so we decided to do something with them. “It
really was a matter of use it or lose it and so we had plans drawn up. We
sold Home Farm last summer and Pump Hall was finished at the end of
September,” Vic added. Along
with three bedrooms, two reception rooms, a kitchen and a number of
bathrooms and toilets, Pump Hall also incorporated a very advanced heat
pump source that works under the floor. It also has a solar panel on the
roof and additional heating is available from wood burning stoves. The
whole building also works on light and open spaces and was awarded a high
commendation in the conservation category of the South Norfolk Council’s
2008 design awards. The
awards also recognised the contributions of designer Heather Longman of
Thurlton and builders David Fairhead Ltd, also of Thurlton. “We
are delighted with what has been achieved. We have a home full of interest
and character. We were aiming for a home that was both comfortable to live
in but which also had plenty of light and which was energy efficient,”
said Vic who previously had considerable experience of building work in
her position as Head of Old Hall School. Husband Hugh is also a retired
high school teacher. The
design of Pump Hall has incorporated much of the original brickwork and
its name harks back to the past. “The
original house on this site was called Pump Hall before being re-named
Goward’s Farm and then Home Farm. The land was still being farmed as
recently as 1998,” Vic added. The
judges praised the originality of the scheme and the close collaboration
between “designer, client and builder with clear evidence of attention
to details and a high standard of workmanship throughout. “Overall
the scheme has provided a low cost, low maintenance retirement home,
designed to gain maximum comfort and benefit from the original internal
spaces and from the aspect and setting of the building.”
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