The Elizabethan House, New Street, Plymouth.

The Elizabethan House reopens as a new immersive museum experience at No.32 New Street the Barbican, animating the story of the house and those that lived there through the eyes and ears of the building from its construction to the saving of the house in 1930s by the SPAB.

The project, funded by Plymouth City Council, as one of the key attractions for the Mayflower 400 Celebrations of the Pilgrim Fathers sailing of the Mayflower to America, and as part of a new cultural legacy for Plymouth ‘the Box’ which centralises the city’s cultural resources into one new building.

The Elizabethan House is one of Plymouth City’s most important heritage assets for the following reasons:

• The Elizabethan House is one of the most complete examples of an early merchant’s house in Plymouth

• The early earth mortars, external fireplaces and internal timber frame suggest that the house was constructed on the site of an even earlier building.

• The ships mast at the centre of the stair is a reminder that the Merchants House is one of the few Barbican buildings which serve as a reminder of Plymouth role in International trade and industry.

• The carved timber posts, moulded door frames and timber panelling show great skill of construction and exquisite craftsmanship. The use of vernacular detailing such as the threaded purlins and local Delabole slate are part of the design and charm.

The design team was a collaborative effort between the lead architect, Dittrich Hudson Vasetti Architects responsible for the structural and external fabric repairs, and James Mackintosh Architects who were project architect for the interior repairs and decorative scheme.

The approach for the interior was therefore to change only as much as necessary to present the rooms as found with minimal alteration, carrying out repairs, removing disfiguring finishes and enhancing the house through the use of colour in order to preserve and enhance its significance.

The conservation approach was a result of a joint architectural strategy between JMA and DHVA which identified at the briefing stage that an extension would be required to the rear of the property. We identified early on that the exhibition might require a green room and toilets facilities which would also be useful in the long term if the exhibition became unsustainable. The new building contained a riser that allowed the distribution of miles of data cable throughout the old house with the minimal impact on historic fabric.

This allowed the rooms to be presented authentically, as the spaces themselves remain unchanged as the heritage statement and visual analysis confirmed that the physical spaces remained unchanged for 400 years.

In order to find the most appropriate decorative scheme, JMA commissioned paint analyst Lisa Oestreicher. JMA identified the most appropriate date and decorative scheme based on the interpretation strategy and Lisa identified colours based on the samples taken. In the earlier rooms, where there was no evidence of decorative schemes prior to 1830, the walls were decorated in an off-white distemper.

Where walls were previously plastered Rose of Jericho paints were specified to ensure consistency of colours between permeable emulsions and limewashes.

The exhibition takes the shape of the story of the Elizabethan House, through the eyes and ears of the house. Starting at the top of the house in 1650 and moving through time, room to room until the last resident moved out in 1920.

The decoration strategy worked particularly well with the repair strategy. The exhibition designers wanted to present the top rooms in the process of being constructed and wanted all of the timbers stripped of paint, which we had planned to do to help the timber frame breathe.

Owing to the variety of timbers used in the construction and for repairs and replacement floorboard, harmony of finishes was provided by staining the wood with a wood dye to subtly integrate the finishes before treated with an oil.

Arguably, our most significant alteration to the rooms was the provision of new doors. As there was no surviving photography of the doors being replaced, the design of the new doors was based on existing doors within the house.

Whilst this might be considered conjectural, those with a trained eye will always be able to tell the new doors from the existing doors due to the relatively narrow boards in contrast to the wider historic boards available historically.

The doors at ground and first floor were particularly unusual as they were boarded doors designed to look like panelling on one side. On site, further discoveries were made such as ironwork and fretwork above the doors was revealed and restored enhancing the historic interiors.

The representation of the historic interiors of the Elizabethan House has been transformative, the decorative scheme is authentic and whilst doing so has managed to create a variety of spaces beautifully presented without the feeling of being over restored. The Elizabethan House opened in July 2021 and the immersive fitout exhibition is incredible, I am very proud to be part of the team to bring this much-loved building back to the residents of Plymouth much enhanced through repairs using traditional materials and the subtle use of colour.

Project team:

• Client: Plymouth City Council

• Contractor: Messenger Construction

• Exhibition designer: Hot Rod

• Architects: DHVA Architect Lead Architect. James Mackintosh Architects. Interiors

• Structural engineer: Fenton Holloway

• Quantity surveyor: Stenning and Co.

• Services: Integrated design partnership

Construction period 18months. (Impact on programme due to COVID-19)

Construction cost/sqm:

-        External and internal repairs and alterations £6,000/sqm ex VAT

-        Extension - £3,750 ex VAT/sqm ex VAT

Technical

What our client said about us

“James it has been a pleasure to work with you and the team. I am so proud of what everyone has achieved. It has been a long road but I think everyone should have pride in the part they have in the next chapter in the history of this amazing house! Thank you for your guidance, knowledge and vision for the project it has been amazing!”

Amanda Lumley Executive Director Destination Plymouth and president of Tourism Management.

james mackintosh architects limited

studio@jmackintosh.com

First Floor, 21 The High Street,

Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire
OX7 5AD

01608 692 310 / 07880 727 150