Stay Signed In
Do you want to access your site more quickly on this computer? Check this box, and your username and password will be remembered for two weeks. Click logout to turn this off.
Stay Safe
Do not check this box if you are using a public computer. You don't want anyone seeing your personal info or messing with your site.
Do you want to access your site more quickly on this computer? Check this box, and your username and password will be remembered for two weeks. Click logout to turn this off.
Stay Safe
Do not check this box if you are using a public computer. You don't want anyone seeing your personal info or messing with your site.
When we acquired Smalley Lodge in November 2004 it had been
empty since 1999 and had suffered from vandalism and fire damage; many of the original stone features, windows and internal features had been severely fire damaged or removed.
empty since 1999 and had suffered from vandalism and fire damage; many of the original stone features, windows and internal features had been severely fire damaged or removed.
We entered into an agreement and schedule of works to ensure that the lodge was restored to its former glory the restoration was approached from the angle of conserving as much as possible of the surviving historic fabric, so repair rather than renewal was our first approach.
Where replacement was judged necessary, such as windows and stone finials, exact replicas were duplicated from the surviving examples we were able to save and from studying the many photographs and descriptions received from the former occupiers and local historians.
Where replacement was judged necessary, such as windows and stone finials, exact replicas were duplicated from the surviving examples we were able to save and from studying the many photographs and descriptions received from the former occupiers and local historians.
The kitchen and two storey rear elevation were deemed unsafe by structural engineers due to settlement, subsidence and fire damage and consequently required demolition; therefore we began the mammoth task of taking the entire rear elevation down brick by brick and cleaning over 4000 facing bricks that were needed for the rebuilding from new foundations as per the existing layout. All existing stone window sills and heads were saved and reused.
Internally the Red and Black quarry floor tiles were also taken up, cleaned and re-laid as per the existing chequer board pattern , all timber skirting boards, architrave's and doors were replicated in fine detail to preserve the Victorian architectural period.
Internally the Red and Black quarry floor tiles were also taken up, cleaned and re-laid as per the existing chequer board pattern , all timber skirting boards, architrave's and doors were replicated in fine detail to preserve the Victorian architectural period.
We moved into Smalley lodge in June 2005; the lodge has now become a popular attraction and place of interest for the many walkers and locals who pass through the Bell Lane bridleway.
The restoration of Smalley Lodge has been both challenging and rewarding for our family, and we hope has brought back to life an historic piece of local Derbyshire history for both the community and the many visitors to Shipley Country Park.
Work has now begun on the restoration of the Listed Well Head which we plan to open in the summer for use as a wishing well for passerby's to make there wish!
The restoration of Smalley Lodge has been both challenging and rewarding for our family, and we hope has brought back to life an historic piece of local Derbyshire history for both the community and the many visitors to Shipley Country Park.
Work has now begun on the restoration of the Listed Well Head which we plan to open in the summer for use as a wishing well for passerby's to make there wish!
