Fireplace at Athelhampton Hall
Restoring a historic fireplace
Athelhampton Hall was first built in 1493 under the care of Sir William Martyn. His heirs expanded and improved the building with multiple additions and renovations over the centuries, from various Wings to a gatehouse and turret. Although the main house still stands to this day, the estate has grown in volume and facilities to become a renowned Tudor Hall museum.
Now a Grade I listed building, the Hall is considered the first of its kind to become carbon neutral. The recent renovations developed by Spase Design applied to the Hall as a whole, adding solar arrays, Tesla batteries, and insulation.
Our team at Mann Williams was appointed to help specifically with opening up the large fireplace in the main Elizabethan kitchen, believed to be one of the oldest kitchens in the country in continuous use.
Project Lead
Project Team
- Location Dorset
- Completion 2022
Repairs and discoveries
The original fireplace had been covered up by modern appliances and brickwork. Structural underpinning was necessary before any modern alterations could be removed; while the fireplace was initially built to be self-supporting, the two extra floors added above it by previous owners meant the whole structure might collapse without sufficient support.
After the works, the kitchen range was discovered to include not only the main fireplace, but also two bread ovens and an Elizabethan “hob”.
The Hall is now open to visitors again, ready to display its carefully renovated interior to the public.
