131, Middlebridge Street, Romsey

Builder: The Trust with DPK Contractors and Buildings Services, Southampton

Architect: John Trowbridge

Date: 2006-2007

The project involved the complete restoration and modernisation of this diminutive end-of-terrace cottage in Middlebridge Street, Romsey.  The addition of a two-storey extension comprising a new kitchen and W.C. on the ground floor and a third bedroom and bathroom upstairs transformed a primitive cottage into one fit for modern living.

This small cottage had not seen any meaningful modernisation for decades and was in a time-warp with an ancient cooking range in the fireplace of the sitting room, a very small kitchen/scullery and a primitive outside W.C.  

The Trust’s architect John Trowbridge, in his last assignment for the Trust, designed a superb scheme to enlarge and modernise the building whilst maintaining its olde- world character.  The scheme involved the removal of a sub-standard interior wall to form an enlarged L-shaped sitting room and dining area.  The antiquated kitchen and scullery were removed and the building of a new extension allowed the installation of a downstairs WC and a modern kitchen. 

Upstairs there was no bathroom or toilet and very minimal bedroom accommodation.  The new extension provided the space for a third bedroom overlooking the garden and a modern upstairs bathroom. Complete rewiring, damp-proofing, redecoration and the installation of central heating was also carried out.

The removal of the outside W.C. and the addition of a paved patio greatly improved the small but attractive garden at the rear which was refenced and laid to lawn to form a very attractive seating area.