The Old Laundry, Knole
The Old Laundry of Knole House is tucked neatly away from prying eyes within Queens Court. It provides a vivid reminder of key day to day activities of Knole House, and other significant stately homes. During 2015, A&RME were commissioned by the National Trust to lead an external fabric repair project, completed on site in October 2016 with Principal Contractor Paye Stonework & Restoration Ltd. This was followed by an internal refurbishment project, which is currently underway on site.
Parts of the house date back as far as circa 1450, which relate to some of the earlier building phases at Knole House. The original purpose of Old Laundry is still unknown, but during the 17th century, it was was converted to laundry use, with some of the Victorian fittings still surviving. Difficult internal circulation arrangements, and historic problems of damp have led to A&RME developing a significant programme of conservation led repairs & refurbishments to restore Old Laundry to it’s former glory within Knole House.
Clients:
The National Trust and Knole Estate
Contract:
2015-2018
Listed Status:
Grade I
The external repairs include:
- Repairs to the Kent peg tiled roofs and decorative red brickwork chimneys.
- Lining of the flues.
- Masonry repairs & repointing the Kentish Ragstone walls.
- Enlargement of all rainwater pipes leading to new below ground drainage runs.
- Newton's waterproof linings to the internal & external faces of the significant retaining wall.
- Re-rendering of the window reveals and internal faces of the parapets.
- Repairs to the leaded lights (including some in original iron frames).