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How do I keep on top of maintaining my listed building?


Whether you're the homeowner of a listed property, or the owner/trustee of a commercial heritage building, keeping on top of the maintenance for these important buildings can be challenging and if not managed correctly, damage can be significant and repairs costly.

Owning any kind of building, new or old requires regular attention, and like owning a car, on regular intervals it requires inspection to ensure everything is well maintained and working as it should be to ensure its condition, longevity and safety.

hmad|architects have been fortunate enough to have provided inspection services on listed and heritage properties for both residential clients and large organisations such as the National Trust and the Diocese of Exeter Churches over the past two decades.

Our most recent work was two quinquennial inspections for the National Trust; Compton Castle is a fortified manor house in the Parish of Marldon, Devon set within a beautiful landscape of rolling hills and green orchards. Interestingly, the castle was used as a location for the filming of the 1995 version of Sense and Sensibility, starring Emma Thompson.

The second was at Greenway, which is an extensive estate on the River Dart near Galmpton, Devon and was also a beloved holiday home of the much-loved author Agatha Christie and her family. Greenway and its surroundings are also described in four of the acclaimed writer’s novels: The A.B.C Murders, Five Little Pigs, Towards Zero and Dead Man’s Folly.


Quinquennial inspections entail the preparation of condition reports, the recommendation of appropriate remedial work, the making of applications for all statutory consents and the organisation of building contracts, using specialist consultants and suppliers wherever necessary.


These are led by our Conservation Accredited Architect (AABC and RIBA); Matthew Rayner, who is based in Exeter, Devon.

Similar to a Quinquennial inspection, private residential clients with a listed building can also instruct hmad|architects to carry out an inspection of your property and, if required, we will provide advice or schedule the works needed to keep your property in good, safe order, and make arrangements for the appointment of specialist contractors to undertake any maintenance, repair or refurbishment works.

These skillsets could include specialist stone masonry, carpentry, lime mortar and render, stained glass work, repair, refurbishment or reproduction, or more major architectural work if you are seeking to make larger changes to your listed home and need hmad|architects to help you navigate the planning permission process.

hmad|architects can connect your project of any complexity or size with highly skilled craftspeople, who we have worked with previously and are exceedingly experienced in the services they provide. We will also ensure that you, our valued client, and/or your staff members responsible for health and safety are kept up to date and have all the support, advice and guidance needed from start to finish.

In addition to the hundreds of private clients that we have worked for, we have been lucky enough to work for a number of high-profile organisations throughout the years. These include: 

Bevendean School; the Catholic Church; the Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural  World; the Church of England; the Clovelly Estate Company; Community of the Resurrection; English Heritage; Exeter City Council; the Gaia Trust; the National Trust; the Methodist Church; Sense; the Seventh-day Adventist Church; Somerset College; the Tamar Bridge and Ferry Company; United Reformed Church; the University of Exeter and the Young Men's Christian Association.​​

Please contact us directly if you would like to enquire about the architectural services we can provide on listed, heritage, conservation and historically significant buildings:

01392 459777 or mail@hmad.co.uk

Check out other #conservation projects we have been involved in: www.hmad.co.uk/conservation and more examples of ecclesiastical/Church projects we have been part of can be found here: www.hmad.co.uk/church






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