Does anyone out there have any copies of The East Anglian Magazine incorporating The Norfolk Magazine? These little gems, of which we sadly only have one, are full of fantastic images and stories of the region as well as snippets and insights into a social history which is virtually all but forgotten in our fast paced 21st century. The February 1961 edition for example, contains advertisements encouraging both oil fired and electric heating. Remember this was a time when solid fuel was still the main source of heating for both water and home environment. We love the bit in the advert below where the potential Mrs.1970 (in the minds of readers still almost a decade into the future) is being advised to fill in and post off the coupon printed on the page in order to receive further information - or - if this presents too much of an ordeal to you, presumably, to 'get your husband to do it' ! What a world away from the world we are in now. Do let us know if you happen to have some of these. We'd love to see them!

In this edition, by special request, we feature 'before' and 'after' images of recently completed refurbishment projects. These are always a joy to compare as we witness all the dreaming, planning, designing and building work come together and finally pay off. The two outbuildings illustrated below are from the same historic estate where several farm buildings and the Hall itself were recently refurbished and upgraded. We will bring more of these to you in future newsletters - if you wish and find them interesting enough, that is! (So be sure to let us know!)

This piggery building was converted as part of the whole estate upgrading, for use as an events building. Fitted out with a bar, kitchen, boot room, gym, hot tub and a couple of additional bedrooms (with other guest rooms created in various other buildings on the estate), it measures 319m2 and required a multi-faceted approach to its refurbishment.

In order to create a level floor, the original concrete slab floor had to be removed entirely as, to allow for drainage when pigs were in-situ, it was higher in the middle than at either end. This is where the discovery (mentioned in a previous newsletter) was made of fossilised egg crates used as a base for pouring the concrete slab! The asbestos and sheet metal roof was removed entirely and replaced with Kingspan insulated roof panels incorporating a tile effect finish. Although the concrete frame of the building was retained, a second internal timber frame had to be built to support the weight of this new roof structure.

Most of the original window openings were retained and fitted with new frames, the sides rendered and painted and the front end of the building enhanced with flint filled masonry bricks.

At only 39m2, this stable is one of our smallest ever refurbishments to date. On the same estate as the piggery above, the stable was listing badly after years of neglect. In order to ‘right’ the building, a crooked front beam had to be removed and replaced with a new beam, which involved also replacing some of the studwork. The end result of the refurbishment is a cosy ‘studio’ en-suite guest bedroom with its own kitchenette. You can see more of the whole estate refurbishment projects here.

Eco Houses: how are they different?