PROJECT - Insurance Reinstatement

Reinstatement of Uphill Manor built in 1805, following a major fire.

Uphill Manor is Grade II* Listed property that was severely damaged by a major fire in July 2016.  Three of the five bedrooms were completely destroyed, plus four attic rooms which had formerly been used as staff quarters. Most of the various roofs were also completely destroyed.

On the ground floor, those areas not totally burned were severely damaged by smoke and water, including most of the historically important parts of the building – the dining room, library, smoke room, drawing room and octagonal hall and entrance halls.

History

The owners Craig and Tina Kennedy lived in the manor where they ran their bed and breakfast business. There are currently three generations of the family living on the Uphill Manor estate.

The Manor House itself dates to c.1805 and was extended in the late Regency period complete with crenellations. J.G. Crace undertook a further major extension in 1855 with an octagonal Belvedere – Tower, new Drawing Room and Library. Late Victorian modifications probably by the Crace family firm included an enlarged Dining Room, a refitted Library and new North Entrance Hall.

“We had carried out significant refurbishment works in the 1990s when we purchased the property and converted it to a small hotel, but nothing on the scale we faced after the fire.” Mr Kennedy

Reinstatement

The domestic quarters of the property in Uphill Road South were restored first and the family moved back into their home in the spring of 2018 (earlier than anticipated).

Significant work was carried out on the bell tower, two chimneys were been rebuilt and roofs repaired.

Before Christmas 2017, specialists began restoring paintwork, stencilling, woodwork and stone, including some historically important ceilings.

The manor reopened as a self-catering venue that can sleep up to 12 people, with exclusive use of the entire property for family groups and celebrations.

Services

“The way [ANG] handled the historic aspect of the project was utterly reassuring right from the word go…everything had to be sourced individually, labour, skills and so on and that was the other big thing that ANG has handled well.”

Mr Craig Kennedy, Owner, Uphill Manor, Somerset