Issue 42 summer 24 web - Flipbook - Page 69
Above, figure 2
The drainage system, beneath the concrete slabs laid in
the 60’s, was rediscovered during the shallow excavation
of floors. We found that the concrete covered an intricate
design of red brick arched culverts and sumps built at
different time coming from inside the building designed
to drain-off water for cleaning the stables.
The roof structure was revealed when the asbestos ceilings
were removed. Dr M C Bridge, from Oxford Dendrochronology Laboratory, visited the site on the 16th
April 2021. Dr Bridge reported that “the roofs appeared
to have used primary timbers in nearly all locations, with
the exception of a couple of timbers in the north-west corner, where a principal rafter on the north side, and the
main east and west beams have a number of mortices that
do not appear to relate to their current purpose, and these
may well be re-used timbers […] in the same room the
king post and the East and west beams also have signs of
possible reuse. On the North range, Long softwood joists
span across all three rooms (about 7m) […] an unusual
construction that requires more expensive unnecessary
long joists, that give the impression they may have come
from a larger building, quite possibly from the demolished
Wren’s Stables (Fig 4).
Above, figure 3
has been achieved without compromises and revealed, in
its simplicity, by a campaign of dedicated observations,
opening-up and site visits; in all, the challenge has helped
to achieve a better understanding of the building, an
improvement of the building environment, with a positive
impact on the historic asset.
The removal of the asbestos boards showed an unusual
construction that creates a fire separation between the
East range Stores at Ground Floor and the flats above,
sandwiching two red plain tiles with a lime mortar layer
in between. Some of the red roof tiles retained their timber pegs when removed in their original location. They
were placed by Soane on the underside of the flat floorboards and fited to the main ceiling joists with an inch
square stud each side. The presence of the timber pegs
has given us the impression that they were certainly reclaim from not far.
In “Easy Access to Historic Buildings” published in 2015
Historic England recognises that everyone should be able
to enjoy easy and inclusive access to the historic environment. Removing the barriers to access can allow many
more people to use and benefit from the historic environment, and if done sensitively need not compromise the
ability of future generations to do the same.
Under the Disability Discrimination Act 2010, businesses
and other organizations have a duty to make reasonable
adjustments to ensure that people with disabilities are able
to access their services and facilities.
Red tiles are not common on the RHC site, all buildings
have Westmorland green slate roof tiles, but there is not
surprise to know that the demolished Wren’s stables had
a plain red tiles (Fig 5).
The concrete slab floor introduced steps throughout the
Stables, its removal has allowed the building to return to
a levelled access that has immensely helped us to achieve
DDA compliance all throughout the buildings around the
courtyard; at the same time, enhancing the Grade II*
listed building.
Essential element of RHC brief set for Peregrine Bryant
Architects has been to achieve accessibility throughout
The Soane Stables. I am very proud that the brief given
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