Working for main contractor, Ken Biggs; Techniglaze supplied and installed bespoke secondary glazing for this Grade II Listed building. Lower Lodge Gatehouse is the former entrance to the Ashton Court Estate situated in the Bower Ashton Conservation Area of Bristol. The building needed renovating to meet thermal efficiency standards for its transformation into a museum and gallery.
To help retain the character of the building, we installed secondary glazing from industry experts Selectaglaze. Techniglaze have worked in partnership with Selectaglaze for over 20 years so we knew they would be the perfect choice for this project. Selectaglaze specified Series 45 hinged casement windows with gothic arched heads to create an uninterrupted view of the original glazing.
The original windows featured irregular single glazing approximately 3mm thick. They were set into the stone with leaded lights and extremely slim sightlines. It was imperative to preserve the building’s character while eliminating draughts and water ingress from the inefficient and leaky frames.
For the window installation project, 18 windows required treatment. All the windows were irregular in shape and size, so oak timber frames were manufactured and installed to accommodate the secondary glazing. It was essential that the oak frames were a tight fit to avoid any negative impact on the property’s traditional and unique aesthetic.
The installation of the hinged casement windows was a complete success. The units were colour matched to the stone to seamlessly blend in with the original building. The secondary glazing is fitted with high performance seals to maximise thermal performance and features low-E glass to further improve the building’s heat retention capacity.
Lower Lodge Gatehouse has now been successfully restored to its former glory. With funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Bristol Buildings Preservation Trust, the ambitious restoration project has revived a unique property with a rich architectural history.
The Gatehouse was originally built in the early 19th century as an extravagant entrance to the main house. Ashton Court Mansion is a well-known gothic property in the local community and was home to the Smyth family for 500 years. The entrance, built by Henry Wood, realised the vision of owner Sir John Hugh Smyth, mansion resident at the time.
At Techniglaze, we are extremely proud to have been part of such a high profile and worthwhile project. By protecting and preserving historical buildings, we are passing down architectural inspiration for future generations.
