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Stone property restoration featured on Escape to the Country

A derelict stone property in Cornwall, restored by MJA Properties and featured in the October edition of BBC Escape to the Country. Select any photo to view it at full size.

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Stone gable with the arched window lit at dusk, beside a white-walled side wing

The project

When work started the building had lost its roof. Timbers had collapsed inside the stone walls, the openings had rotted and the ground around it was overgrown.

The stone walls were kept and repaired. A new roof structure went on, with glazed panels set into the slopes to light the rooms in the roof, and the inside was framed out with a new staircase, landings and arched door frames.

We boarded and plastered the interior ourselves, including the vaulted ceilings, the angles around the roof glazing and the arched doorways. The finished house has a tiled hall, a kitchen and living area with a wood-burning stove, and a tall arched window in the gable.

The property was featured in the October edition of BBC Escape to the Country.

Side wall of the building before restoration, with a sagging roof and overgrown ground — Before

Restored stone side wall with white windows beside a newly laid lawn — After

The building before work started

The roof had fallen in, timbers had collapsed inside the walls and the ground around the building was overgrown.

Roofless stone building with broken roof timbers along the wall tops

Collapsed roof timbers inside the stone walls before the restoration

Stone gable of the ruined building before restoration, with a ladder against the wall

Roofless stone shell cleared out, with a green door in the far gable

Looking down into the roofless stone shell from the wall top before the rebuild

Rebuilding inside the stone walls

With the stone walls kept, a new roof structure with glazed panels went on, and the timber frame, stairs and arched door frames were built inside.

Open stone gable during the rebuild, with scaffolding and new roof timbers

New timber stud walls and roof framing inside the building, with glazing set into the roof slopes

Arched timber door frames and plank doors fitted inside the stone walls during the build

New timber staircase and balustrade, looking down from the landing

Landing with a white painted balustrade under glazed roof panels, walls boarded ready for plaster

Plasterboarded room in the roof with a pointed arched window in the gable

Boarding and plastering

The vaulted rooms in the roof were boarded, the joints taped, and the walls and ceilings skimmed, including the angles around the roof glazing and the arched doorways.