Work is well underway to restore a historic grain barn at the Countryside Regeneration Trust’s (CTR) Pierrepont Farm in Surrey, thanks to a legacy donation to the charity.
Stephen Freeman, from Yorkshire, made an incredible £900,000 donation in his will to the CRT, a national charity promoting nature-friendly farming to help reverse biodiversity decline and combat climate change, which has made it possible to renovate the Grade II listed barn in Frensham.
Kerriann McLackland, CRT’s head of estates, said: “We have completed the initial stripping out stage of the refurbishment and are working closely with the local conservation officer to preserve as much of the historic integrity of the barn as possible.
“Then it will be full steam ahead with the rest of the work. It is going to take some time to carefully repair the original roof timbers, and until then, the building is safely protected under a temporary scaffold. Once the temporary scaffold is removed, visitors to Pierrepont Farm will be able to start seeing the restoration unfold.
“It is an exciting project. Reinstating the Grain Barn to its former glory as the gateway to The Old Dairy and a facility that local businesses can benefit from will be another important milestone in the CRT’s development of Pierrepont Farm.”
The £1.2 million restoration will use both traditional and innovative techniques to make the building as environmentally sustainable as possible.
Natural building materials will be used, including hemp blocks for insulating the walls, traditional lime render and timber fibre insulation in the roof.
Architects Robin Sjoholm and Thomas Housden, from eco-building specialist architecture firm Outpost, said: “It’s important to save this historical building because it is very much a part of the Surrey Hills National Landscape.
“The Grain Barn will be heated by air source heat pumps, which use three times less energy than conventional gas boilers and electric heaters, and the building will be well insulated to retain heat.
“The most effective way that we can all help meet the goals that our country has set for the reduction of carbon emissions is by better-insulating buildings to reduce energy use.”[GJ1]
Wildlife surveys have also been carried out on the site during the planning process, and bird and bat boxes will be installed.
The barn will become home to five new local artisan businesses, who will join those already based in the Old Dairy, including a brewery, silversmith and jewellery makers, artists, designers, furniture-makers, cheesemakers and a handmade fudge shop.
Kerriann added. “We hope the building will be ready for tenants to move in by late summer 2025. We encourage interested businesses to get in touch and ask for our marketing brochure.
“We could not have done this renovation without the incredibly generous donation of Mr Freeman.”
Terry Freeman, the nephew of Stephen Freeman, said: “My uncle lived a quiet, private life. He appreciated the countryside. I think he would be highly delighted that his legacy will be supporting the work of the charity and small independent businesses.”
[GJ1]Store instead of barn
