Project / Conservation

Sherborne House

Spase Ltd Alex Bancroft After South Front

Reviving grandeur

Despite being an 18th century Grade I-listed landmark, Sherborne House stood empty for over a decade. Its architectural significance and unique murals painted by Sir James Thornhill were left unappreciated, until the Sherborne House Trust put together a plan for its restoration and repurposing. We soon became a part of that plan, and were proud to help revive Sherborne House.

Project Lead

Iasonas Bakas

Project Team

Location Dorset
Client Sherborne House Trust
Completion 2024
Value £15m

Spase Ltd Jonathan Gooding during works14

Refreshing history

Beyond restoring Sherborne House, the client wished to turn the site into a cultural hub. This drastic change in use guided our structural interventions, from bespoke fabric repairs to amendments to the main structure for better circulation. To restore the House with efficiency and respect for the past, we worked on listed boundary walls and paving details to enhance the historic landscape around the building.

Adding to the past

New works were needed too, including complex excavations for a new plantroom basement and pavilion extensions. For the latter, we delivered the structural concept design of elegant glulam frames, which now house a large meeting room and bar.

Spase Ltd Jonathan Gooding during works4

Spase Ltd Jonathan Gooding during works11

Innovations underfoot

The many changes brought to the House led to the necessary strengthening and repair of floors to support increased loads. We used dynamic floor assessment methods to complete these works while sparing the team costly strengthening solutions.

We also designed an extensive drainage network and coordinated its installation with existing and new foundations and pavements.

A new start for the community

To realize the client's cultural and artistic vision, Sherborne House now welcomes the Dorset Visual Arts Trust, providing space for artists to display, discuss and share their work. This allows the wider area to enjoy Sherborne not only as a house to visit, but also as a space to interact with, and a place for communities to meet.