Underfloor heating in 18th Century hall restoration

When undertaking a major refurbishment or restoration project, retaining the character of the building is an important consideration. All too often, home owners’ plans fail to take into account the original style of the building, and the results of unsympathetic restoration projects are usually disappointing.

The owners of grade II listed buildings, such as Wooldale Hall in the Pennines, are legally required to retain certain original features, usually of architectural significance. The challenge lies in the designer’s ability to do so and still incorporate those modern features which provide the high standard of living we now expect in the 21st Century. With its ability to provide optimum warmth with no visible intrusion on the living space, underfloor heating rises bravely to this challenge.

Wooldale Hall, until recently in desperate need of renovation, was built in 1714, with some parts older still. When rebuilding, the Hall’s owners were keen to keep the original features and chose character Georgian windows, for example, combined with the newly-restored original shutters. Decorations were carefully chosen to be in keeping with the building, and traditional materials used wherever possible.

A Hall built for luxury should, of course also retain that element in any restoration project and modern luxuries including underfloor heating were selected to bring a modern touch without intruding in anyway on the careful restoration of a period building. A water underfloor heating system was chosen and laid under the stunning York stone flagged floors – a simple, effective combination of new and old.