The Archaeology of a Public House
We took custody of a derelict 17th-century shell. Here is the photographic and material record of how we coaxed Lutterworth's finest tavern back into the light.
2021: The Derelict Shell
Found buried beneath layers of 1970s wood-chip wallpaper and decaying plasterboard, the original structural timber was crying out for structural rescue. The grand hearth had been bricked shut for fifty years.
"Found a cache of clay pipes from the Civil War era wedged in the chimney-breast lintel. The building was alive." — Beatrice, Landlady
2022: Reclaiming the Oak
Master carpenters from Leicestershire were brought in to preserve the original structural framework. Every beam was gently treated with biological soap and beeswax, revealing the deep, dark oak grain that gave the pub its original name.
"No modern nails. We used traditional mortise-and-tenon joints with green oak pegs. This timber will last another three centuries."
The Living Room of Lutterworth
The finished space is a testament to honest material. Heavy leather chairs sit beside a roaring log hearth, while the scent of slow-cooked pies and rich, cask-conditioned ale fills the air. It is warm, dark, and utterly timeless.
"The acoustic of this room is incredible. When the rain is beating against the glass and the fire is roaring, there is nowhere else on earth."
