Cherished local buildings given a top heritage gong

The awards recognise and reward high quality conservation, restoration and good design of newly built projects and encourage the use of traditional skills and crafts. The presentation tookplace yesterday at Pangdean Old Barn, Pyecombe.

There were 24 Awards and 23 Highly Commended projects announced this year at a sold out awards luncheon presented by the President of the Trust, The Rt Hon Lord Egremont DL.

This year saw a number of award winners in Brighton ranging from the Kings Road Arches, which involved the reconstruction of 26 arches, built around 1880, which received two awards for The Cairns Tower and the New Boarding Houses.

The Cairns Tower was originally constructed in 1880 but the College ran out of money and so work stopped at first floor level. Finally in 2014 the works were completed, over one hundred years later.

Chairman, Dr John Godfrey DL, who announced the Awards at the 17th annual lunch, said, “More than any other year it is those projects that have concentrated their efforts in the use of traditional skills and building crafts that have achieved the best results.”

Each winner receives a hand crafted slate plaque to be displayed at the winning site.

Steve Hodges of Hodges & Marten received a Building Craft award for his lead work on Lewes Old Grammar School. The school also picked up a Highly Commended award in the Public and Community category.

Among other award winners was Hellingly Community Park, Hailsham East who picked up a Highly Commended award in the Landscapes and Gardens category.

Winners: Lewes Old Grammer School, Lewes (Building Craft), Wilbur Lawn, Hove (Building Craft), King Road Arches, Brighton (Commercial), The Rathfinny Estate, Alfriston (Commercial), The Fathfinny Estate, Alfriston (Commercial), Pyecombe Church, Pyecombe (Ecclesiastical), Fairlight End, Pett (Landscapes and Gardens), St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Eastbourne (Landscapes and Gardens), Holly Tree Grove, Walberton (Large Scale Residential), Brighton College, Brighton (Public and Community), Kino Rye, Rye (Public and Community), The Coultershaw Hertage Site, Petworth (Public and Community), Arundel Museam, Arundel (Public and Community), Chichester Festival Theatre, Chichester (Public and Community),Holmesdale Farmhouse, Fletching (Small Scale Residential), ChequersMead, Forest Row (Small Scale Residential), Folkington Manor, Folkington (Small Scale Residential), 4 Dymocks Manor, Ditchling (Small Scale Residential)