The good news is -

[Alex]

The builders finished drilling the cement render from the front of our cottage
The builders found the original stone windowsills encased in cement which they also drilled off and we didn't know they were there
The carpenter/joiner came round today to measure up for new wooden casement windows to replace the UPVC ones

The bad news -
Now the cement render is gone from the outside and we have drilled the cement and plaster off of the inside ............................
the UPVC windows are now 2 inches too small each side and its a tad draughty

 

[Feltwell]

Sounds like good progress!

the UPVC windows are now 2 inches too small each side and its a tad draughty

Doesn't sound like anything that some bits of wood and some gripfill won't solve for a little while, presuming that the windows are destined ultimately for the skip.

Or - even quicker - can you just stuff some loft insulation round the edges?

 

[Alex]

Loft insulation is a good idea, thankyou Feltwell. Forward planning is the key to successful restoration wouldn't you agree ? :lol:

Alex

 

[Feltwell]

Not sure on that one. A bit too much forward planning and a bit too much inaction as a result is my problem if I'm not careful

 

[robgil]

I forward plan so much my house has been finished for the last ten years or more.

 

[mivec]

We've got a bit of a draft issue at the moment as well.

While repairing wattle and daub panels at the front of the house the builder discovered this in the middle of one.
Completely original which unfortunately means it doesn't have any glass.

 

[plasticpigeon]

Mivec. What a find, lucky you!

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Wow - what a find!

 

[tycarregydwr]

that's rather special! what are you going to do with it?

 

[tobydog]

I'm so jealous of people who keep finding these things in their houses. What a great find mivec. Unfortunately our C16 timber house was 'restored' in the 80's (read as ruined) and there is no chance of anything decent showing up.

 

[Lime]

An excelent find!

Also a very good demonstration of "how to preserve the past without having to look at it" by a previous house owner.
Covering up is nearly always better than removal.

 

[mivec]

Thanks, it was quite an unexpected find. The photo below shows what it looked like before, it's the panel at the top right.
In hindsight you can see it was different to the others but we weren't expecting it to be a window.

For now we are getting a glass panel made up which we can fix to the inside to keep the drafts out.

We also found a iron frame of what would have been one of two lead light windows that would have been fixed to the outside. The hinges/hooks are still on one side. We are looking to get it restored and another made up for the other side although this will be more decorative than practical so we will have to keep the inside panel or make an opening or removable version.

According to the builder it was probably covered up by the Victorians when the last major repairs seemed to have been done. Apart from work 10 years ago when someone decided to render each panel and the frame joints with cement.

The window wasn't the only discovery, we found evidence of another along side it to the right which means the house must have continued out for another bay, about 10ft. To back this up when we removed some shrubs to the side of the building there is evidence of a bricked up fireplace, there is probably another further up under the tile hanging. As it's 2 rooms deep and 3 story we're missing 6 rooms. Do you think we could get away rebuilding them it calling it a repair!

 

[JohnB]

For now we are getting a glass panel made up which we can fix to the inside to keep the drafts out.

I've seen that done as a permanent fixture on a longhouse in Mid Wales.

 

[angrybird]

how beautiful !!! and there's me getting excited about finding a receipt for "Aladdin pink Paraffin" in the fire place

 

[Alex]

Mivec, you are so lucky to find that window and its great to see that its not UPVC. I'm also feeling better knowing that we are not the only chilly people due to draughts. It could be the last straw for the dog though, in the last 4 weeks the carpets gone and she is left with the flagstones, she got covered in dust when we drilled the plaster off the walls and now her fur is blowing in the wind coming through the gaps around the windows. :roll: