Little Hearnden, Headcorn ⏐ Grade II Listed Building ⏐ Wealden Hall House ⏐ Medieval ⏐ Conservation Area ⏐ Alterations & Extensions
The project involved the sensitive extension and alteration of a Grade II Listed Wealden Hall House in Hearnden Green, Kent. The existing kitchen was narrow, poorly connected to the garden, and constrained by a mid-to-late Victorian lean-to and a modern 2006 addition. The scheme removed the modern extension and part of the lean-to wall to enlarge the kitchen, improve daylight, and create a direct garden connection. This work exposed the full height of the original rear wall, revealing historic fabric that had previously been concealed.
A new single-storey extension was constructed in a vernacular style with ragstone walls, a Kent peg-tiled hipped roof, and painted timber Georgian-style windows and doors, carefully designed to sit within the existing lean-to envelope. Internally, oak tie beams and purlins replaced ceiling joists to maintain structural integrity, and services were discreetly rerouted. Inappropriate cement pointing was replaced with lime mortar following Historic England guidance. The project balanced modern functionality with the conservation of significant historic fabric, enhancing the heritage asset while incorporating sustainable measures such as material reuse, improved insulation, and water-saving features.
