01
Oak & Timber Framing
Traditional green oak (or chestnut) frames, trusses and complete buildings — pegged and jointed by hand, with no modern fixings.
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Traditional heritage builders · since 1978
Old buildings,
cared for by hand —
in lime and oak.
A family firm in the village of Edmondsham, East Dorset. For over forty years we have repaired, restored and extended older and listed properties using traditional methods and natural materials.
1978
Established — 48 years
Estate
Edmondsham House & estate
Listed
Building specialists
~50mi
From Edmondsham
Edmondsham
East Dorset
A brief history
Specialist building, the traditional way
Coming from a local family with a long history of traditional building, Colin has been undertaking specialist repairs, restorations, renovations and extensions for over forty years.
The business began as a sole trader in 1978 and became established as a limited company in 1995, growing steadily through word of mouth across the local area. Today Colin uses the skills and knowledge gathered over decades to advise homeowners and to train younger apprentices in the traditional approach to building.
Where possible we always aim to source local and natural materials, so that we can carry out our work with the minimum impact on the environment — and in a way that lets old buildings breathe as they were meant to.
Close to home, we carry out ongoing maintenance and refurbishment at Edmondsham House and across the Edmondsham Estate — the kind of long-term relationship that only comes from doing careful work on historic buildings, year after year.
More about the firmWhat we do
Oak framing, cob & lime — and every trade in between
From a single cob repair to the design and build of a complete oak-framed extension, our in-house team of carpenters, masons and plasterers covers every trade a period property needs — across Dorset, Bournemouth and the New Forest.
02
Cob & Lime
Specialist cob wall construction and repair, lime mortars, renders and plasters, and the careful removal of damaging cement renders.
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03
Eco Build & Extensions
Garden rooms, studios, outbuildings and extensions — designed, costed and built to suit you, often within permitted development.
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04
Brick, Flint & Stone
Exceptional masonry in flint, brick and stone to match existing walls or for unique new builds — plus knock-throughs, steelwork and underpinning.
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05
Finishes
Bespoke joinery, hand-crafted kitchens, timber and stone flooring, and specialist paint finishes from limewash to decorative effects.
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06
Technologies & Heating
Sympathetic insulation, plumbing and heating — heat pumps, solar, underfloor heating and breathable natural materials that suit old buildings.
Explore technologiesHow we work
From first conversation to finished build
Consultation
We visit, listen and assess the building honestly — discussing the right approach, whether that's a repair, a restoration or a new extension. A consultancy fee is deducted from the final invoice if we go on to do the work.
Design & planning
Bespoke hand-drawn designs and scale drawings, materials specified to meet building regulations, and full liaison with Local Authority Building Control — so your project is properly planned before a tool is lifted.
We build
Our own trades carry out the work to an exceptional standard, with all trades managed under the appropriate insurances. Local materials, traditional methods, and a team that takes pride in lasting results.
There is rarely a one-size-fits-all answer in an historic building.Colin Clark, Founder
Natural
Materials first
Why owners trust us
Knowledge you can rely on
Period and listed buildings are unforgiving of the wrong materials. Our reputation has been built, quietly, on getting them right.
- Four decades of specialist experience with older and listed properties across Dorset.
- Conservation expertise — Colin worked with the New Forest Conservation team on a published guide to cob buildings.
- Skilled craftsmen in-house — led by head carpenter Andy Shervington, with our own joinery workshop in Edmondsham headed by Dan Timmins.
- Trusted with a historic estate — we carry out ongoing maintenance and refurbishment at Edmondsham House and across the Edmondsham Estate.
- A complete service — design, drawings, building control and all trades managed under one roof.
Recent work
A few projects from around Dorset
Cob repairs, lime rendering, oak frames and full restorations — photographed on site.
Where we work
Serving Wiltshire, Hampshire, Dorset & the New Forest
Based at Edmondsham near Wimborne, we travel up to around 50 miles for the right heritage project — across Dorset (Wimborne, Cranborne, Blandford, Dorchester, Sherborne, Shaftesbury, Poole & Bournemouth), the New Forest and west Hampshire (Ringwood, Fordingbridge, Romsey, Southampton), and across Wiltshire including Salisbury.
Start a project
Have an old building that needs the right hands?
Established 1978In-house team, not subcontractors
Fully insuredFree, no-obligation site visit