Radbourne Hall

Winner: 2021 Georgian Group Award for Design in a Georgian Context

As part of a major conservation at Radbourne Hall, a Grade I listed Georgian country house in Derbyshire, we provided a range of structural engineering solutions that contributed to the project receiving the 2021 Georgian Group Award for excellence in contextual design.

The centrepiece of our involvement was the redesign of the external stair connecting the Piano Nobile to the rear garden terrace. This formal entrance element required complete structural renewal while adhering strictly to conservation constraints.

Internally, we provided structural design and detail to re-support the first-floor structure using concealed hangers hidden within partition walls, tied back to steelwork located in the roof void. This intervention replaced an outdated external steel truss and restored the visual integrity of the roofline. Additional structural support was also provided for a new valley beam installation and the stabilisation of deteriorated masonry in the estate’s historic stables and the ruins of the statement block.

The project exemplifies the successful blending of modern engineering with heritage sensitivity, ensuring structural longevity without compromising the architectural character of this historically significant site

Project: External Stair & Structural Conservation Works

Project Overview
As part of a major conservation programme at Radbourne Hall, a Grade I-listed Georgian country house, Hockley & Dawson delivered structural advice for delivering a series of structural and conservation-led interventions that earned national recognition for their sensitivity and innovation.

Historical Context
Built in the early 18th century and attributed to William Smith of Warwick, Radbourne Hall stands among Derbyshire’s most architecturally significant Georgian houses. Still privately owned, it reflects a long history of careful stewardship, adaptation, and enhancement.

Key Interventions

External Staircase Reconstruction
A major focus of the project was the enhancement of the rear external staircase, which serves as a formal entrance aligned with the house’s historic symmetry.
• The design respected the original style, using refined stone and elegantly detailed iron balustrades.
• To avoid permanent attachment to the historic fabric, the new stair was engineered as a cantilevered steel frame spanning over 3 metres, supporting precast stone finishes and bespoke iron balustrading. The system was pre-cambered to ensure level alignment once installed.
• A precambered steel structure ensured the stone landing remained level and historically accurate.

Structural Strengthening – First Floor
To replace a decaying historic steel truss:
• Hidden hangers were introduced within partition walls.
• These were supported by new steelwork discreetly installed in the roof space, allowing structural reinforcement without altering internal character.

Valley Beam Support
To support a new valley beam:
• We implemented a minimal-intervention design to transfer loads without disturbing adjacent historic fabric.
• All work adhered to reversibility and conservation best practice.

Stable Block Stabilisation
The historic outbuildings required targeted masonry reinforcement:
• We introduced concealed structural supports, preserving external appearance while addressing serious degradation.
• Additional conservation repairs were carried out on the ruins of the statement block.

Conservation Philosophy & Recognition
This project exemplifies our belief that modern engineering solutions can co-exist harmoniously with historic architecture. Sensitive detailing, minimal intervention, and intelligent structural design earned the project three prestigious conservation awards in 2021, including the Georgian Group’s top honour for design in a Georgian context.

Awards:
• 2021 Georgian Group Award for Design in a Georgian Context
• 2021 Historic Houses Award
• 2021 Derbyshire Historic Houses Award – The New Stairs