The Priests House


 The Priest's House, Muchelney National Trust, Grade 1 property, the work for which, won
 J. Layzell and Sons the 1994   National F.M.B. Quality Award.

 The building required specialist repair work including French drain systems and dry stone walls, the repair and conservation of the leaning west wall and carpentry repair to the Medieval roof.

  All thatch had to be removed so repair to the decayed roof timbers could be made. Specially made steel rods were inserted and bolted to reinforce the remaining existing crucks, and purlins were repaired and realigned.

  Walls were repaired using as much existing material as possible or ‘stitched' with tile bands to show the repair. Modern paving slabs were removed from the North side garden and the concrete screed in the dining room removed to reveal original lias slabs which were cleaned and re-pointed using traditional lime putty which was slaked on site.

  Much of the damage to the building had been exacerbated by 1960's repair work which had to be reversed. This included the inappropriate use of concrete at cruck bases and emulsion paint which had to be painstakingly removed to reveal the original limewash below. Built into the property are a 1911 Earnest Barnsley cupboard in the sitting room and dresser in the dining room which were carefully protected while work was carried out.

  The building was updated to house new tenants and a new small kitchen was fitted to house modern appliances and new bathroom installed with one of the bedrooms. Near the study a downstairs loo was fitted under the stairs and a wash basin added to one of the bedrooms.