112 and 114, Winchester Road, Romsey - "Winchester House"

Builder: H & F Bundy

Date: 1987–1988

This imposing late 18th century building is located prominently on the right side of  the road just after passing under the ‘Sun Arch’ bridge on the approach to Romsey from Winchester. Once a single Georgian residence of fine proportions, it’s land had been bisected by the building of the Bishopstoke-Romsey-Salisbury railway in the 1840s and, during the subsequent years its original identity had become completely obscured by a series of unsympathetic alterations. 

When The Trust purchased both 112 and 114 together, there was little sign of a more elegant past in what appeared to be a pair of run-down, semi-detached houses.  The roof had been covered with green concrete tiles, cheap modern replacement plastic and metal windows and poor quality doors had been used and a partial render, heavily stained by leaking gutters, completed a picture of dereliction confronting whosoever journeyed towards Romsey from the east.

The important building has now been restored to its original, fine external proportions with reproduction windows throughout and a single front door beneath a reconstructed Regency porch.  The roof has been completely rebuilt although, regrettably, the very poor state of the brickwork made it necessary to render and paint the exterior. Renamed Winchester House, the building now comprises four stylish apartments.  The scheme represents one of the most spectacular transformations to the exterior of all the building restorations carried out by The Trust.