Timber traditions in shadow of abbey
Surrounded by the rolling foothills and wooded valleys of the southwest corner of the North York Moors National Park, the romantic medieval ruins of Byland Abbey create a scene of timeless tranquility.
An equally long-standing part of that scene is Mowbray House, a mellow stone co:age whose garden is overlooked by the abbey itself, necessitating a careful approach to any alterations to the building.
Consequently, when current owners David and Sandi Lee approached Yorkshire Oak Frames to discuss constructing an extension to their property, both parties were acutely aware the design needed to be sensitive both to the house and to its wider surroundings.
The principal requirement of Mr and Mrs Lee was for the creation of more space but, at the same time, they wanted this space to be full of light and to allow them to enjoy the view of their garden and the abbey ruins beyond.
The solution devised by Yorkshire Oak Frames was a glazed structure added to the west end of Mowbray House, comprising a traditional English oak frame, its pitched roof replicating the elevation of the existing building and glazing from ground level upward on two of the three sides.
In keeping with the company’s ethos of time-honoured timberframe building techniques, the structure – which has yielded 580sq ft of floor space – comprises a feature kingpost truss and purlins to the roof, all traditionally jointed and fixed, with the timber being hand-oiled for a finish combining beauty with durability.
The end result is a stunning new kitchen and dining area for Mowbray House, with French windows opening on to the patio
and lawn, creating a delightful place to sit and enjoy a meal or to watch the sun set on a summer evening as the scents of the garden drift into the room.
“From our first meeting, we had huge confidence in the team at Yorkshire Oak Frames. Nothing was too much trouble in creating a design for our needs,” says Mr Lee.
Mrs Lee adds: “During the build, the quality of work and a:ention to detail were beyond any expectation. They are a fantastic, friendly team, clearly passionate about their work.
“The positive remarks from so many people simply add to the pleasure we get from what is certainly our favourite room.”
Based in repurposed farm
buildings at Sicklinghall, close to Wetherby and the A1(M), Yorkshire Oak Frames is the region’s leading oak frame and structural carpentry company, with a prestigious reputation built up over more than a decade of creating bespoke buildings for residential and commercial clients.
A team of locally-based craftspeople work with sustainablyTo
sourced wood, their passion for their work being reflected in the length of time many have served and, of course, in the quality of the finished product. view more images of Mowbray House and some of the other residential and commercial projects undertaken by the company recently, please visit www.yorkshireoakframes.co.uk