Plans showing proposed building in Chester

Signature designs in Cheshire

Posted on 26/10/22

The UK is renowned for its regional architecture, which is often defined by the materials at hand. We’ve all heard of York Stone, or Welsh Slate, and often whole regions are defined by the easily identifiable architecture. This of course influences architects and designers in their style of property and use of building materials. These signature designs – both old and new – are what make a region’s homes so distinctive and interesting.

A solid proposition

One of the most distinctive regions in the UK is Cheshire, which is particularly well known for its red sandstone. This is both as a distinctive building material used in properties and also as a strong grounding to build foundations on. A very rural county, Cheshire has some famous geographical features, such as the Mid Cheshire Ridge and the Sandstone Trail. Sandstone too is very much part of the shape of the landscape. As a geological feature, sandstone can be found from east to west in the country – from Alderley Edge to the Bickerton Hills. Indeed, some of the most iconic structures in Cheshire are built from various different types of sandstone. For example, in Chester itself there’s the Eastgate Clock, the ‘Roman’ Wall, Chester Castle and the city’s magnificent Cathedral.

Many other churches, residences, public houses and inns across the region are built from sandstone, which figures especially heavily in Cheshire villages, where the stone has been mined locally in quarries, large and small. It’s a great stone to build with, though the blocks by today’s standards can be unwieldy and heavy. It can be shaped and cut to size, and its mass keeps the interior of buildings cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Modern designers have continued this great tradition, even in properties that may not seem ‘traditional’ at first glance; so you can often now see sandstone incorporated into new designs, as sills, plinths, lintels and cornerstones. In many old properties, it was common practice for sandstone blocks to be used as a plinth, which the brick or timber structure could then be built up from. Even if the sandstone blocks are only details in the bigger picture in modern designs, they can still make a big impact and the red stone is still used to this day.

Learning from the past

Another popular design choice in Cheshire are black and white cottages. The original design of these are timber-framed structures, with infill panels of brick, mortar or in very old cases, wattle and daub. Some of the old black and white cottages that can be spotted throughout the region are actually ‘mock-ups’ – in the style of the period but not the genuine article, with timber clad over brick. Such designs have been favoured by architects through the ages and the style remains popular today in both new developments, renovations and modernisations. In fact, it’s often only when a builder begins to make alterations to a property that its true construction is revealed. Timber framed porches are one legacy of this design that are very much part of Cheshire and remain so to this day, even on properties that feature little timberwork.

As designers, we find that it can be very rewarding to marry the old with the new. In some of the rural estates work we have carried out, we have brought together modern designs and building materials with period construction methods and original features, to create striking, interesting designs. In matching the ‘old’ for the ‘new’, the old style is being perpetuated but with a new twist. It’s useful to think about how aspects of historical architecture and heritage can be utilised in modern buildings, when new designs are being submitted for approval. Local councils, planning authorities and of course residents will appreciate the effort made in reflecting aspects of Cheshire’s past here in its present.

If you have a project you would like to discuss with us, please get in touch to find out how we can help you.

Signature designs in Cheshire

A solid proposition

Learning from the past

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