Major reordering of St Martins Eynsford

Work on this Grade I Listed Norman church dating from the year 1100 comprised reordering by total removal of the nave pews and the installation of a new stone floor with underfloor heating. In addition, the underused north aisle was screened off and utilised to provide kitchen facilities and meeting rooms on two floors. Additional storage was provided in the south transept together with a new lighting and audio installation followed by complete redecoration.

New accommodation within the 16^th century north aisle included mezzanine floors supported by carefully detailed brackets to achieve a direct bearing on the historic stone moulding. This avoided damage to the historic fabric. The floors included glazed floor panels to allow borrowed light into the kitchen and store below.

Existing floor to the nave and north aisle comprised a mixture of timber pew platforms and stone. The new floor repeated the distinctive slope up to the east end and comprised stone laid on a limecrete slab with recycled glass insulation and included underfloor heating.

During works a vaulted brickwork crypt was located and found to be much larger than historic records suggested. 12 lead coffins stacked two high were discovered, records were made and the crypt was capped. Stainless steel reinforced was used to enable the limecrete to span from the vault over the zone of disturbed material around. 

With the church on a sloping site the location of the DDA compliant level entrance conveniently coincided with a disused basement boiler house. This allowed a small entrance and toilet extension to be built re-using the existing foundations. 

The comprehensive scheme provides the flexibility, accessibility and welcome needed to enhance the church’s role at the centre of village life, whilst preserving the beauty and character of the building.

Client

PCC of St Martins Eynsford

Architect

Clague Architects

Value

Undisclosed

Photography

Clague Architects

Tags

Ecclesiastical, Historic