The one that went astray: Rob Lawton on new build in Conservation Areas. BRIGG NOT SO FAIR 19 and 20 Wrawby Street, Brigg, are two listed Grade II cottages, one early 18th century, the other mid 18th century, semiderelict and empty for the last five years. They are within the Conservatipn Area, and on the main shopping street. A scheme of refurbishment into two shop units with staff services/storage above was agreed with the owners, a property company from Sevenoaks. A local architect was appointed for the scheme. At an early stage in the proceedings the owners expressed the view that a separate identity for each unit was required, (the two had been knocked into one in the 1950s). While some internal walls would thus be coming out to provide 'unimpeded sales space' the party wall would be reinstated, and the central stack and stair wells retained. New shopfronts were proposed to echo earlier rotten and structurally defective units, but giving greater headroom and deeper fascias for signing. Preliminary investigative works quickly found serious problems with the structure and stability. Roof spread on the single ·storey shop was pushing the front elevation over the pavement by some 25cm out of true. Timber roof members were wormed or rotten and some had been repaired with gang nailed softwood side straps. The dormer was rotten from a leaking flashing. A reconstructed roof and dormer were clearly required. Reed ceilings and floors were found to be laid on badly wormed joists, many of which were fractured. Some of the timbers exhibited peg holes and tenons, suggesting reuse from a much earlier building. In the event all the floors were removed and replaced with new timber propped on RSJs but the ceiling heights were maintained. The brickwork of the front elevation on the two-storey unit was supported on a fractured timber shopfront lintel. Given the presence of two window reveals above, the architect took the decision to take down the brickwork CONTEXT 36 19 and 20 Wrawby Street, Brigg, before (above) and after (below) extensive restoration. ,. 15
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