Trust reveals the winners of its annual Sussex Heritage Awards
Wide variety of projects are recognised in 2020 awards, which were delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic
The winners of this year’s Sussex Heritage Awards have been revealed, celebrating architecture, design, traditional building skills and craftsmanship.
The annual awards ceremony was due to take place in the summer but was delayed due to the pandemic.
Despite lockdown it received more than 70 award entries – and this week the winners have been revealed.
In the Observer area there were nine winners, including West Dean roof restoration, St Mary’s the Virgin Church in Apuldram near Chichester and The Grange in Slindon.
Felpham Community College was highly commended commendation by the Sussex Heritage Trust judges for its new threestorey building, offering an extension to the existing science accommodation.
The architect, David Seaman, of DLS:ARCH, based in Chichester designed an independent ‘L’ shaped block with the judges saying it was ‘ a quality building achieved within tight budget constraints, creating a cool, calm atmosphere for learning which was evidently much appreciated by the students’.
The college said ‘ the new building has exceeded all our expectations’.
In the public and community category there were two award winners: Aldingbourne Country Centre in Norton, described by the judges as ‘ brilliantly conceived and executed for people with special needs’ (submitted by Chichester based HNW Architects); and West Dean College Roof Restoration (submitted by West Dean College of Art and Conservation with architects, Chichester-based Jane JonesWarner Associates and Clarke
Roofing Southern Limited, Eastbourne), described by the judges as ‘a superb restoration of an historic building using appropriate traditional materials’.
The restoration of the 130-year-old roof at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation, was a complex project which required a temporary roof with an independent scaffold. The architect was Jane JonesWarner Associates and contractors: Clarke Roofing Southern Limited.
St Mary’s the Virgin Church in Apuldram received an award in the Ecclesiastical category for a new singlestorey annex for the 12thcentury Grade I listed building.
Highly commended in the public and community category was St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Bosham, submitted by The Seaman Partnership Ltd (now DLS:ARCH), Chichester.
There were two Building Crafts Awards for Chichester craftsmen: Callum Jackson from Berry Stonework for stonework to Old Goodwood Estate Cottages; and Liam O’neill from Lion Roofing for work to Compton House in Chichester.
There were also four Chichester winning projects in the residential category: The Grange in Slindon, a Grade II listed village house (submitted by Victoria Holland Architecture, Burpham and RW Armstrong, Chichester); Parsonage Farm in Kirdford, the restoration of a listed Sussex barn dating back to the 18th-century (submitted by Nicholls Countryside Construction, Kirdford); the conversion and internal alterations to a Grade II Mill on the outskirts of Chichester (submitted by architects Jane-jones Warner Associates, Chichester); and Chichester architects fiftypointeight followed success from 2019 with an award for St John’s Street in Chichester, described by the judges as “a tiny extension with huge impact”.
There were a further seven projects which received highly commended certificates.
Chairman of the Sussex Heritage Trust Simon Knight said: “This good news story demonstrates the importance of excellent architecture and design, traditional building skills and craftmanship and arguably without these the heritage we have in Sussex would be all the poorer.”
Thelandscapeandgardens category saw two winners of heritage importance: The Historic Stew Ponds Project at Arundel Castle (head gardener: Martin Duncan), probably of medieval origin, are part of a two-year project to showcase the biodiversity of the natural area into tranquil water gardens.
Also in this category was the 60-foot-long Peach House Restoration at Gravetye Manor near East Grinstead which was rescued from serious disrepair.
Out of 24 awards 15 were presented to West Sussex projects.
Worthing architects ECE Architecture achieved an award for the Lady Bee Enterprise Centre in Southwick.
The centre saw the complete redevelopment of a reclaimed parcel of land to provide small business units for local companies to rent. Submitted with Pilbeam Construction, Brighton, the judging team said the flagship project used ‘impressive design and use of materials to create some first-class business units. Rare to see design flair expressed in what is essentially an industrial building’
In Mid Sussex The Burgess Hill Library ( submitted by Newriver REIT, London) won an award in the public and community category for the new library, which is part of the £60million town centre regeneration plans. The judging team commented that the project was ‘well thought out and an excellent effort, as a solution that will regenerate an entire retail area of Burgess Hill and one that should be copied in town centres’.
In Horsham and the surrounding area Lower Barn and Fielder’s Cottage won an award in the midscale residential category for the replacement of a disused house and conversion of a nearby barn, which required a considerate approach to the repairs of the timber frame and existing stone walling. Submitted by Valley Builders and architects, Savills ( UK) Limited.
Four awards and four highly commended commendations for projects in Lewes and the surrounding area. In the public and community category, Denton Island in Newhaven (submitted by Douch Partners, Forest Row) achieved an award for the addition of a youth facility to an existing community centre, with the judging team commenting “a superbly designed and built project. The project should take its place in an evolving strategy for social development, volunteering and social cohesion in Newhaven”.
In Lewes the highly commended projects included the charity Jamie’s Farm in Lewes for the conversion and refurb of an existing 19th-century Grade II listed farmhouse into accommodation.
To watch the Sussex Heritage Trust Awards ceremony visit, www. sussexheritagetrust.org.uk
Arguably without these the heritage we have in Sussex would be all the poorer.
SIMON KNIGHT Chairman, Sussex Heritage Trust