The Experts Behind Listed Building Repairs
The UK is home to numerous listed and heritage buildings, which are an integral part of the country’s cultural and architectural history. Maintaining and renovating them requires a careful and informed approach. J.Layzell and Sons are renowned, award-winning conservation contractors, based in Somerset. The Lloyd & Whyte Heritage team caught up with them to find out more about what they do and asked them for their advice on maintaining older character properties.
Skills handed down through generations
J. Layzell and Sons were founded by the current owner’s great, great grandfather, Jeremiah Layzell in 1896. Jeremiah was a joiner and wheelwright, making carts and wagons for the local agriculture industry. Fast forward 129 years, and their yard is still based in Horton, just outside of Ilminster, a village that Jeremiah lived in, having left his original family home near Honiton, Devon at the young age of 18.
In 1901 Layzells renovated the church in Horton and two branches of the family employed around 70 men.
However, after two World Wars and The Depression, this number dwindled and Layzells now have three full-time employees, plus a trusted workforce of specialists and craftsmen that they sub-contract.
The older brother Edward, is a member of the Federation of Master Builders, and joined the family firm as a teenager. Edward takes up the story….
Maintaining and renovating listed and heritage buildings in the UK
“We have a thorough understanding of all the planning considerations, traditional materials, and craftsmanship involved. Our job is to ensure that all work complies with planning regulations while preserving the historical integrity of the building.
Listed buildings are legally protected, meaning alterations, repairs, and renovations require Listed Building Consent from the local planning authority. We have three categories:
- Grade I – Buildings of exceptional national importance (e.g., castles, cathedrals).
- Grade II* – Particularly important buildings of more than special interest.
- Grade II – Buildings of special interest, making up the vast majority of listed buildings.
Here at Layzells, we have worked on all three categories including a number of churches, and have undertaken hundreds of grade 2 listed building repairs. We have close ties with the Churches Conservation Trust. Many churches stand empty, but as long as they host one service a year, then they can remain consecrated and in commission.
Key planning considerations for renovation
We often get asked do you need listed building consent for repairs and the answer is yes you do! When planning renovations on a heritage building, we look at factors such as Listed Building Consent, because any structural changes, extensions, or alterations must be approved. We always check requirements for any listed building roof repairs and listed building window repairs. Any design and new elements must be sympathetic and should blend seamlessly with the original structure, using period-appropriate materials, which is crucial for preserving authenticity.
We also need to ensure the structural integrity so that modern interventions do not compromise the building’s stability. Any eco-friendly upgrades must be balanced with historic preservation.
If a building is in a Conservation Area or part of a World Heritage Site, additional restrictions may apply. Your local council can also advise. If we don’t get the necessary permissions before making changes, we could face legal action, fines, and even demands for restoration to the original state. It’s just not worth taking that risk. We work closely with architects who are aware of these considerations.
Traditional building materials and craftsmanship
Heritage buildings were constructed using time-honoured techniques and materials that are different from modern building practices.
Stonework and masonry
Many historic buildings, particularly churches, manor houses, and townhouses, (the latter typically being grade 2 listed building repairs), feature stone construction. Over time, exposure to the elements leads to erosion, cracks, and structural weakening. We use traditional hand-carving techniques to replace damaged stone while ensuring a perfect match with the existing fabric.
We get a lot of our stone from a company in Somerton, who offer Bath Stone (an Oolitic Limestone), Blue & White Lias and Ham Stone from Ham Hill.
It is important that traditional lime mortar is used instead of modern cement, as it allows the building to “breathe”, preventing trapped moisture that could lead to decay.
Specialist materials from reclamation
For some stone work and handmade bricks we typically use a company called The Matching Brick Company in North Bristol for any specialist requirements. We also get reclaimed tiles, hearths, handmade bricks and some stone work from Busby’s Reclamation at Horton Cross near Ilminster. These are two suppliers we use a lot but other suppliers are also available.
Lime plastering and limewash
Modern plaster and paint can damage historic walls by trapping moisture, leading to damp problems. Instead, we use traditional lime plaster which is breathable and flexible, allowing the building to expand and contract naturally. Using cement mortar is a recipe for disaster. We then finish off with Lime wash, a natural paint made from slaked lime (quicklime or calcium oxide, mixed with water and pigments) which gives us a durable and authentic finish.
Unfortunately, if you use modern paints, even those that proport to be “breathable” you can get into trouble. We plastered the gable end of a local church and then they just got the local painter and decorator to paint it. The result bubbled and we had to strip it all back and re-plaster it, finishing off with the limewash they should have used in the first place!
Wattle and daub
Many timber-framed buildings, particularly Tudor and medieval houses, feature wattle and daub walls. This is where hazel or willow branches (the wattle) is woven into a lattice and coating it with a mixture of clay, straw, and animal dung (the daub). We see them all cracked and even crumbling so we reapply new “daub” made to our own specifications.
Timber repairs and oak framing
This is an area of work that we undertake most frequently, including on barn restorations and some modern structures too. The oak beams and timber framing deteriorate due to rot or insect damage. Repairing these structures involves expert joinery techniques, such as scarf joints or mortise-and-tenon repairs to ensure new timber blends seamlessly with the original.
We can’t get elm anymore due to Dutch Elm disease having killed 90% of Elm trees in the UK. We have a good English oak supplier in Dunkeswell, who calls us when he has a good tree and we buy the whole tree off them. We store it outside here at our yard, to allow air to circulate and dry it with a cover over the top. We’d use typically up to three trees per project depending on needs and size. It takes at least five years to season oak which is why it’s so expensive to buy!
Organisations such as Historic England, The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB), and The National Trust provide valuable guidance on best practices, grant funding, and conservation techniques.
Final thoughts
It takes time and skill to maintain these special properties. We could build two new-build houses in the time it takes to repair just one heritage house but that said, maintaining and renovating a listed or heritage building is both a challenge and a privilege.
This work is so much more interesting than ordinary building work. You never know what you are going to come across and we have to be adaptable. We come across new issues as we go, so when we quote it’s always with a caveat and we revise the budget as needed in many cases. We always document what we have done as we go.
By using appropriate materials, working with skilled craftspeople, and following conservation principles, we can ensure these architectural treasures stand the test of time for generations to come. I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.