Project Spotlight: Chapel House Renovation – Milborne St Andrew

Dorset Build were commissioned to undertake a comprehensive programme of external and structural works at Chapel House, a striking heritage property in the village of Milborne St Andrew. The works involved a wide range of alterations including masonry rebuilds, bespoke joinery, sensitive restoration of historic elements, and several significant upgrades to the building fabric—all delivered with care and precision.

We began by carefully demolishing both the existing concrete and brick walls to form a new gothic arched gate opening. This included setting back the masonry to allow for buff brick reveals that matched the main chapel building. The wall was built up by six additional courses and finished with new curved copings. The arched Gothic-style head of the new opening was crafted to match the traditional character of the property. The gate itself was supplied and installed in Utile hardwood, complete with black wrought iron ironmongery and a secure digital lock, all painted and protected prior to and after fitting for durability and finish.

To the rear of the chapel, we formed a new opening beneath an existing window, installing structural lintels and reinstating brickwork to match the building’s original detailing. The cracked cill above was replaced and a new DPC installed. Internally, we made good plasterwork and installed softwood threshold details and skirtings to suit. A Crittall-style door, supplied by the client, was fitted to complete the transformation of this section of the building.

Further works were carried out to the studio space attached to the property, starting with the replacement of all external joinery including fascias, bargeboards, and soffits, using softwood profiles to match those removed. These were all redecorated using external gloss. The existing gutters and downpipes were removed, refurbished, and reinstated, while new Lindab rainwater goods were installed to the lean-to section.

A redundant access door to the side elevation of the lean-to was removed and the opening infilled with blockwork, then clad in Siberian Larch on treated battens with a vapour barrier behind. A detailed corner junction and carefully sealed abutments helped preserve the clean aesthetic of the timber cladding. We also renovated the roof of this lean-to, it was replaced entirely with marine ply decking, followed by the install specialised grey powdercoated galvanised steel roofing material which was cut, shaped and fitted on-site to provide an architecturally pleasing standing seam style roof in keeping with the existing metalwork on the rear of the property. Original lead flashings were retained where possible.

We also carried out a full refurbishment of two galvanised steel windows, removing them for off-site restoration and reglazing in an obscured glass. The window frames were finished in a smooth enamel paint, and internal plaster reveals were made good to match existing finishes.

Internally, we decorated the rear studio walls with Farrow & Ball emulsion following a mist coat, and installed new timber skirtings and flooring details to ensure the updated sections blended seamlessly with the existing interior. Externally, we also applied two coats of bitumastic paint to protect the plinth beneath the new cladding.

This project exemplifies Dorset Build’s commitment to delivering high-quality work on sensitive, historic properties. Through close collaboration with the client, attention to architectural integrity, and expert craftsmanship, the finished result at Chapel House will serve as a lasting enhancement to this exceptional property.

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