ABOVE: The transformation and re-working of Larks Rise by Spice Building took the idea of an ‘extension’ to a completely new level
and well familiar with the processes involved in liaising with builders, Wyndham decided to take on the project himself – and completed the build to such a high standard he was soon being asked by locals and passers-by if he could do similar work for them. “That’s how Spice Building started and the last 15 years have been amazing,” he says. “We now have 18 employees and are a true full-service building company covering everything from initial demolition work to the final finishing touches.” With a successful track record of working on older properties (Spice
Building are currently converting two agricultural barns in West Rudham and converting the old Courts building on St James Street in King’s Lynn to six dwellings), Wyndham saw the property at Castle Rising as a real opportunity to do something rather special – in stark contrast to the initial thoughts of new owner Claire Smith. “To be honest, the house was in a terrible state,” she says. “I actually spent quite some time wondering what on earth I’d ever be able to do with it.” Purchased in probate, the small 2-up 2-down cottage (with a “horrible” 1960s extension and an impracticably small drive) had gradually deteriorated over
Below: The new hallway cleverly blends the old and new parts of the property together.
the previous decade or so, and the considerable size of the site was almost totally disguised by the badly overgrown condition of the exterior. Together with his regular architectural consultant Peter Gidney and structural engineer Jason Ford, Wyndham took the new owner’s ideas for the home and created a design that was as impressive as it was functional. “The property desperately needed expanding as the existing rooms were so small,” says Wyndham. “Claire wanted three bedrooms, a separate study, a larger kitchen, a new sitting room – and she also wanted the new rooms to be spacious. The idea of an extension was really the only solution, but although it got bigger and bigger it was always based on the way Claire wanted to use the house.” Work started in the spring of 2016, beginning with the demolition of the 1960s extension, the remodelling of the downstairs windows to let in more light and the removal of an entire ground floor. Spice Building also stripped out the old staircase, creating an impressive new hallway that cleverly linked the old and new parts of the building and allowed for the creation of a large and beautifully-lit lounge. The total build took around 10 months to complete, and has resulted in a substantial family home that sits perfectly and harmoniously within its beautiful village setting. But the real beauty of Larks Rise lies in the details – the retention of original timber beams, the use of carrstone, the creation of two distinct patio areas, and the inclusion of period features such as Victorian doors and tiles salvaged from local reclaim yards. It was a remarkably trouble-free build as well, the biggest challenge of marrying the wall plates and interconnecting the roofs being expertly solved by Wyndham’s bricklayers Pat, Dave, Richard and his son Grant who together have over 100 years’ experience. It’s a great testament to Spice Building that it’s already virtually impossible to tell where the original property ends and the new