Built of local Totternhoe limestone, Little Gaddesden Lodge, a Grade II listed building, was redundant garage workshops when Mr Pearcy bought it.

The string courses, parapets and coping stones had been replaced in Portland stone during an earlier restoration project and the remaining Totternhoe was badly perished. There was rendering on some areas, which was cracking and falling off.

All the ashlar to the building had to be replaced, using new Totternhoe stone treated on four sides with a mixture of linseed oil and turpentine when fixing.

The original course heights were maintained with 3mm joints. Half the winbdow surrounds also needed replacing.

Original chimney stacks were missing and archive photographs were used to design and construct new ones using Stoke Ground Bath Stone, which it was felt would be more durable than the clunch.

Rusted iron cramps had caused a significant part of the damage. They were replaced with stainless steel cramps.

Judges comments:- "This gatehouse to a large country manor was built of local clunch, which is not known for its weathering.  Restoration contains a balance between piecing in of new stone and the usual spinning back of the face to sound surface.  A solution which suits Clunch stone"

Boden & Ward Stonemasons Ltd would like to thank the Stone Federation for granting Copyright permission to publish this article from their publication (Stone Federation Natural Stone Awards 2004 - Pg15)