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St Leonard's Church
Repair and Renewal
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St Leonards Church, Hove has stood at the heart of Aldrington for centuries. First built in the 13th century, the church feel into ruin in 1638, remaining a silent landmark for more than two hundred years. It's revival began in 1878, with a second major rebuilding phase commencing in 1936. By 1950, the church's architectural and historic importance was formally recognised with Grade II listed status.
Today, St Leonard's is both a place of worship and a cherished community landmark, its layered history written into stone, timber, and plaster.
Client
The Pcc of St Leonard's Hove
Dates
2023
Location
Hove
Grade listing
Grade II
Fabric
Timber
Trust Built on Experience
DBR Southern was presented with the opportunity to carry out extensive timber, masonry, and plaster repairs to the internal and external historic fabric of the church. DBR's long-standing expertise in listed building conservation, and the complex administrative processes that company it, meant that achieving the necessary agreements and consents was seamless.
This appointment reflected the confidence and trust placed in DBR by stakeholders, architects, and building owners alike, allowing the project to move forward with clarity and care.
Thoughtful Engineering, Carefully Hidden
The technical scope of works required a delicate balance between innovation and preservation. New mechanical and electrical installations were design with careful consideration of fixing locations, ensuring the protection of historic fabric and full compliance with listed building consent.
The M&E package included new lighting installations, most notably the striking central halo lights, alongside modern AV and entertainment systems. These additions allow the church to operate as a contemporary performance space without compromising its historic character.
An underfloor heating system was installed, powered by a new air source heat pump, providing efficient and sustainable heating. Crucially, the new floor build-up was designed so that the existing Victorian parquet flooring remained in situ, able to breathe and protected from decay. All interventions were fully reversible, demonstrating how modern systems can be integrated sympathetically within historic structures.
Craft at the Core
Craftsmanship was central to every stage of the project. All joinery works were carried out by DBR's skilled in-house team, giving the flexibility to respond to client needs while adhering precisely to the architect's detailed designs.
Joinery played a key role in the creation of new accessible WCs and a functional kitchenette, ensuring these modern amenities were seamlessly woven into the historic interior. A new timber porch was also constructed, reinforcing the building's welcoming presence within the community.
Sustainability was embedded throughout the project. Many of the new timber structures, including the kitchenette and WCs, were crafted using recycled materials, most notably the original church pews. by re-purposing historic elements, DBR ensured the building's past quite literally became part of it's future.
