Award-winning limestone gets top marks in prestigious Oxford renovations
Clipsham limestone is known for its incredible quality, provenance and heritage. It has become sought-after for its natural ability to blend with the UK’s most historic architectural landscapes – from the cloisters of Oxford University to the Palace of Westminster. Clipsham limestone is used in both restorations and new projects, with brilliant results structural and cosmetic results.
Clipsham limestone has become so synonymous with architectural success, it’s now award-winning – with several projects recognised for their innovation, sustainability, and architectural merits.
Rhodes House is a great example of this. Originally built between 1926 and 1929 at Oxford University, it required extensive restoration and redevelopment. The goal was to preserve the original 1920s facade, and update the building for modern usage in both teaching and housing students.
Design that earns recognition
Stone Federation Great Britain recognised Rhodes House with its award for ‘New Build Cladding, Traditional Handset’. Extensive works had been required, on a very enclosed site. Two porters’ lodges had needed to be deconstructed in order for the works to take place. The lodges were rebuilt later using salvaged stone, adding to the project’s sustainability.
The Rhodes House renovations involved a complex system of cladding. Stone ‘fins’ were added to mask a ventilation system, which was a necessary modern addition, sympathetically installed in the Grade II listed building.
The Stone Federation judges said that Rhodes House was a great example of a “tightly controlled, appropriate facade and landscaping work… the present-day architect and stone contractor have produced a delightful marriage between original and new parts. As the building begins to mature, the contrast between the two will combine and allow the exteriors to grow old gracefully.”
We’re very proud of our contribution to the work at Rhodes House, and the way that Clipsham limestone has been recognised for its versatility, sustainability, and timeless elegance.
Another prestigious project
Stone Federation Great Britain recently commended another project at Oxford University, that used Clipsham limestone in a sympathetic restoration. St John’s Cloisters, part of St John’s College Oxford, is a Grade I listed building, built in the 16th century. It is a magnificent example of the architectural heritage of this ancient educational institution.
The Laudian Library extension in the Canterbury Quadrangle was in need of repair and restoration. The columns were beginning to fail, and cosmetic repair wouldn’t have been enough. If this work wasn’t carried out, there was a risk that the building could become unsafe.
Clipsham Medwell was selected for repairs to the frontispieces of the Cloisters. It was one of three stones selected to blend with the existing architecture. The Stone Federation judges praised the results as “exceedingly well executed”.
Clipsham limestone: the perfect building material
As with Rhodes House, the work carried out at St John’s Cloisters is a shining example of the potential of Clipsham limestone. Clipsham continues to be a sought-after option for heritage stoneworks, and we at Stamford Stone are hugely proud to be the exclusive suppliers of this outstanding building material.
If you’re planning a project – whether a new build or a restoration – and would like to know about Clipsham limestone, you’re in the right place. View our case studies, detailing the extensive experience we have supplying and working on some of the most high-profile buildings in the UK. Or, talk to a member of our team to find out more.