01398 331317

Building Work Complete

Headline – Castle Grove has completed its major redevelopment works. The project took two years to compete. As well as brand new state of the art accommodation for residents, there is a stunning centre piece, “The Orangery”.

Another Brick in the Wall

(Click on the pictures to enlarge)

Castle Grove has completed its major redevelopment works. The project took two years to compete. As well as brand new state of the art accommodation for residents, there is a stunning centre piece, “The Orangery” which provides a light and airy day room for everybody on site to benefit from. Click here to read more about it.

Before the building work got underway, an evaluation of the proposed site requested by Mid Devon District Council uncovered an 18th Century wall. It’s thought that a row of cottages existed on the site long before Castle Grove. “The Croft” was demolished somewhere between 1749 and 1760.

For a complete gallery of pictures, please click here.

Building Work

This is how “The Orangery” looks.

Building Work

Another view of “The Orangery”.

Building Work

A bird’s eye view of “The Orangery” including the patio area.

Building Work

The area between the two large trees now houses the “The Orangery“. It is joined at first-floor level to the school room (pictured left) which has been converted into two bedrooms on each floor.

Building Work

The old school room and land running along Castle Street now houses the new accommodation. The extension will steps down into the gardens, creating four new rooms.

Building Work

A shot of the old school room before the building work got underway…

…It definitely needed a facelift!

Building Work

Here are the exact details of where the new accommodation and “The Orangery” will be and how the school room will be developed.

THE BIG DIG

Before the new building work got underway and as a condition of the planning consent, an evaluation was requested by Mid Devon District Council on the advice of Devon County Council archaeological officer Stephen Reed.

Field archaeologists Cai Mason and Peter Fairclough from Context One Archaeological Services, Wincanton, Somerset, did the digging.

Cai said: “We don’t find stone walls that often because when a building’s demolished the stone’s usually taken away and used elsewhere. It’s nice to find such a complete structure.”

Nichola Burley, of Heritage Vision, Beer, compiled the planning application for Castle Grove’s owners, Ray and Isabelle Kenny.

She said: “The evaluation is being done before the builders get on site so alterations can be made to the plans if necessary. “As long as everything’s recorded then it won’t require an archaeological working group to be here during the build. It’s very expensive to insure against finds made at the time of a build, which is why it’s best to get it done now.”

The wall has been logged and covered up again. The artifacts found on the site have gone into the Devon Historic Environment Records.

[nggallery id=11]

(Click on the pictures to enlarge)

Posted in