Coughton Court
Client: National Trust
Project: 'Through the Roof' reroofing
Location: Coughton Court, Warwickshire
Status: Completion summer 2025
A major roof restoration project conserving a Grade I-listed Tudor house
Coughton Court, a Grade I-listed Tudor house with 15th-century origins, has been home to the Throckmorton family since 1409. Owned by the National Trust since 1946, the estate continues to be lived in, embodying centuries of layered history. In line with the National Trust’s long-term conservation strategy, a significant £3.3 million roof restoration is underway to safeguard the building’s future.
The works follow critical findings from our 2016 Quinquennial Inspection, which identified extensive deterioration to the South Wing and Tower roofs, including failed leadwork, poor drainage, and moisture retention caused by impermeable modern materials. These issues were exacerbating internal water ingress and placing vulnerable historic interiors at serious risk.
Appointed as Conservation Architect and Lead Consultant, Oliver Architecture has worked closely with the National Trust to develop a sensitive, significance-led approach grounded in minimal intervention and repair over replacement. The scheme has been delivered in four phases between 2023 and 2025, with completion due this summer.
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Key interventions include meticulous repairs to the lead roof coverings, parapet gutters, and internal downpipes, alongside external masonry and window conservation. The works have also addressed internal elements vulnerable to water damage, including rare grained joinery and the Tabula Eliensis.
Designed for durability and reversibility, all new materials have been carefully selected for compatibility with the original building fabric. Traditional craft skills—lime plastering, leadwork, and oak carpentry—were employed throughout, and modern interventions have been designed to remain visually legible and honest.
Designed for durability and reversibility, all new materials have been carefully selected for compatibility with the original building fabric. Traditional craft skills—lime plastering, leadwork, and oak carpentry—were employed throughout, and modern interventions have been designed to remain visually legible and honest.
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Ecological considerations also informed the programme: bat roosts within the roof structure were protected, with scheduling adjusted to avoid disturbing breeding or hibernation seasons.
This project represents the most significant conservation investment at Coughton Court to date, made possible by the National Trust’s members, supporters, and The Wolfson Foundation. By restoring the integrity and performance of the historic roof, the project not only secures the building’s longevity but reaffirms the value of collaborative, conservation-led practice.
This project represents the most significant conservation investment at Coughton Court to date, made possible by the National Trust’s members, supporters, and The Wolfson Foundation. By restoring the integrity and performance of the historic roof, the project not only secures the building’s longevity but reaffirms the value of collaborative, conservation-led practice.