Premier Construction

Gambledown Farm

Gambledown
Written by Roma Publications

Gambledown Farm

An outstanding project shortlisted in the Commercial, and Tourism & Leisure categories of the RICS 2019 South East Awards, is a scheme involving the conversion of traditional barn buildings to create luxurious holiday homes at Gambledown Farm in Sherfield English.

Gambledown Farm is a working family farm set in 270 acres of rolling countryside in the Test Valley, Hampshire close to the New Forest, Salisbury and Romsey.

The main contractor for the barn conversion project was Steven Stoodley, who the client commended as an “an old school contractor who works with great attention to detail.”

The project to create the new accommodation was split into two phases, due to the presence of bats within one of the buildings.

With lots of character, the existing buildings were sympathetically yet creatively developed to provide unique spaces within the existing structures. The site comprised three structures, all of which were very different in their spatial qualities.

The first phase of the project provided a two bedroom holiday cottage (The Cart Shed) with two bathrooms, whilst the second phase provided a three bedroom cottage (The Hay Barn), with three bathrooms.

The barns have all the modern conveniences but have retained original beams, and doors where possible to give the space a sense of history and character.

Richard Arnison-Newgass, owner of Gambledown Farm said: “We were very pleased to be shortlisted in the RICS Awards and that others recognised the thought that had gone into the project.

“The conversion involved three adjoining farm buildings dating back to the 1870s – one was a former cart shed, one was a stables and one had been a hay store and threshing barn.”

The works included the underpinning and re-slating of all the buildings, the brickwork of which was in good condition. A number of original openings in the buildings were utilised as windows, with two new windows also being added.

Richard Arnison-Newgass added: “The underpinning was a major element of the project and the roofing too, was a significant challenge, so we were fortunate in that we had very good contractors.

“It is always a challenge converting old buildings, because they don’t necessarily lend themselves to residential accommodation.”

Internally The Cart shed is part two storey and the hay barn is also two storey. Internal works included the installation of supporting steelwork to support the newly introduced upper floors.

Both properties are designed with spacious rooms. The ground floor of the Cart Shed comprises an open plan living area with a wood burning stove, beautifully appointed kitchen and a super king sized bedroom with a shower room.

The second bedroom is situated on the first floor with a king sized bed, a shower room and an additional day bed, complete with two single mattresses. A window has been installed on the upstairs landing looking down into the living space. An original door from a former dovecot has been installed in the building’s backloft.

The Hay barn incorporates three bathrooms and three bedrooms – one on the ground floor, with a bedroom and bathroom above, and an open landing overlooking the living/dining space.

With clean lines and a palette of grey, blue and green throughout, the property features exposed original beams as a nod to its rustic past, while a double height ceiling in the living room gives an added sense of space.

Internal natural light has been maximised via the introduction of two storey height glazing.

The kitchen has a large island work surface, ideal for family meals. The stair and doors are all oak, and the oak dining table in the kitchen is complemented by a bench and beautifully turned chairs.

The project also required the alteration of a number of other surrounding traditional buildings.

Further works included external landscaping to soften and embed the buildings within their landscape.

Richard Arnison concluded: “The main contractors did an excellent job and achieved a high level of finish, whilst delivering the project on time and on budget.”

Gambledown

Stoodley Building Contractors Ltd

Established in 1970, Stoodley Building Contractors Ltd is a local family construction firm based near Andover in Hampshire.

Following in the footsteps of his father, the company is currently owned by Stephen Stoodley. Stephen has over 22 years’ experience on a vast range of projects, from extensions and new builds to refurbishments and conversions. The Stoodley Building Contractors team is made up of local, fully skilled tradesmen.

The company was recently involved with the RICS nominated Gambledown Farm project. Stephen Stoodley commented:

“The Gambledown Farm project, which has been nominated in 2 categories for the RICS 2019 awards South East, was quite a challenge. None of the farm buildings I converted into holiday cottages had any foundations so we had to firstly under pin The Cart Shed (buildings 2&3) and The Hay Barn (building 1), which were built originally on clay and sand respectively.

New foundations for the much smaller Staddle Stone barn (building 4) were built literally off of 12 salvaged Staddle Stones from Romsey Reclamation Ltd placed on new concrete pads. The new foundations for the much larger multi-purpose Barn (building 7), along with the new Triple oak framed garage (building 6), were formed using more traditional foundation methods.

“Both The Cart Shed, Hay Barn & Staddle Stone barns were subject to bat licences but despite this all 3 buildings were completed within my time schedule.”

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Roma Publications