For a private client
Structural oak frame restoration – medieval manor house
Location: Hertfordshire
Completion: June 2025
Scope: Timber frame investigation, repair and reinstatement
Overview
This intricate conservation project focused on the restoration of the primary oak frame structure of a medieval manor house. As part of a wider programme of sensitive heritage works, our remit included a detailed structural investigation, removal of unsympathetic 20th-century interventions, and the careful reinstatement and replacement of compromised oak members within the original frame.
Investigation & survey
Our works began with a full internal and external survey of the timber frame, working closely with conservation architects and a structural engineer experienced in historic buildings. Non-invasive techniques were used where possible, supplemented by localised opening-up to assess the condition of concealed timbers.
We identified a number of 20th-century engineered timber ‘repairs’ softwood alongside original oak elements which had been either poorly spliced or boxed in. Many of these later interventions were found to be causing more harm than good, trapping moisture and accelerating decay in adjacent original timbers.
Removal & repair
Following approval from the local conservation officer, all non-original timber repairs were carefully removed. Wherever structurally viable, original oak beams, studs, braces, and plates were retained and repaired in situ using traditional joinery techniques. This not only preserved the building’s historic fabric but also allowed us to work to the irregular geometries typical of hand-hewn medieval timber.
Decayed sections of the original frame were conservatively cut back to sound material and prepared for new timber splices.
Reinstatement
Where original elements had deteriorated beyond repair or had been historically removed, new structural replacements were crafted from premium-grade English Oak. Each replacement beam, stud, or brace was individually hand-shaped and aged to match the character and profile of the surrounding original frame.
To ensure the longevity of the repairs while respecting the integrity of the historic structure, all new oak was spliced into the existing frame using stainless steel fixings and concealed plates, where required. Traditional pegged mortice and tenon joints were used wherever possible, providing a sympathetic structural solution aligned with the building’s original construction methods.
Outcome
The result is a sensitively restored structural frame which retains the character and craftsmanship of the original medieval building, while securing its long-term structural integrity. Much of the original timber has been preserved and given a new lease of life, while unsympathetic modern repairs have been replaced with historically appropriate, high-quality materials.
This project demonstrates the effectiveness of combining traditional conservation techniques with modern structural understanding, ensuring that the historic core of the manor house will endure for generations to come.
