Eton High Street

Bringing a medieval building back from decay

On the face of it, a charming pair of medieval houses just off Eton High Street. Behind the hoarding, a Grade II* listed building that had been stripped out and stuck under scaffolding for nearly a decade. It had landed on the Heritage at Risk Register and was now subject to a formal Building Repairs Notice. The situation was urgent, and that’s when I came on board.

Brought in by the project architect and heritage consultant, I stepped into a site with a long and difficult history, and a client feeling the weight of it all. My role has been to advise on repair strategies and construction details that respect the building’s fabric while making it viable again: converting it from a former café into a mix of retail, residential, and holiday lets, including two new-build houses to the rear.

A great deal of patience and delicate, case-by-case decision-making has been required, from acoustic and fire separation in a medieval structure to upgrading walls that barely exist. But progress is finally being made.

After nine years under wraps, the scaffold roof has finally come off. That alone feels like a huge step, and with continued care and attention, this remarkable building is on track to reclaim its place on Eton’s high street - not as a liability, but as a living, working part of the town once more.