Common Farm, Melbourne, Derbyshire

Common Farm is a perfect example of the fine substantial red brick farmhouses that punctuate the rolling farmland of south Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire. Listed Grade II, its square plan with four square rooms on each of three floors nonetheless lacked a single space suitable for the focus of a young growing family. 

A remarkably helpful and responsive Local Authority and Conservation Officer helped to quickly arrive at sympathetic though substantial addition using materials and forms from the local farm vernacular to expand the house, to integrate it into the generous garden and to take advantage of the views across the fertile landscape to the nearby town of Melbourne.

As well as sympathetic Local Authority, the project was blessed with a wonderful contractor, Rich Jennings, who was a pleasure to work with; intelligent, responsive and able to produce work of the highest standard. So high in fact that the Conservation Officer asked if she could use it for demonstrations of how to work with Listed Buildings.