The Littlebourne Lantern

Recently, we were asked to take a look at a 'lantern' structure at an old manor house in Littlebourne, Kent. The lantern gets its name from its distinctive shape, and sits high on the roof of the old building, exposed to the elements.

Made entirely of green oak, the structure had fallen into disrepair after its many seasons' of service, and we were asked to give it an overhaul. Initially, the project involved replacing the Oak framing and windows without altering the lead roof, so quite a few logistical problems had to be overcome.

The window frames were completely refabricated in Green Oak, the detailed carving matching the original specifications. The frames, though, were the only support for the lead roof, so the entire roof was supported with scaffolding so it could be raised.

Before the roof was raised, however, it was found that the entire structure was rotting, and that the roof would soon start to crumble, which was a very dangerous situation for the residents. With the new Oak frames already made, the decision was made to dismantle the entire roof section, and rebuild it. This was the only way to ensure the safety of the residents and the build, and involved removing all the lead work, dismantling the roof, building it again from scratch, and re-applying the lead. (The weather vain was also fixed!) The new oak frames and windows were then installed, and the new roof placed in position.

The project was completed recently in early 2007, and we and the client are extremely pleased with the results. The structure retains it original aesthetic appeal and dimensions, and the materials give harmony as well as strength to the structure which will now last many years to come. Now weatherproofed and secure, the structure can again be used as the comfortable and interesting space it was originally intended to be, and the residents can relax and enjoy the views of the surrounding countryside.

Email - info@forestwoodcraft.com