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The Royal Automobile Club
Woodcote Gardeners Cottage
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Set within 350 acres of rolling parkland overlooking the Epsom Downs, Woodcote Park had long been a place of leisure and retreat. First built in 1679 by Richard Evelyn, the estate later became home to the Royal Automobile Club in 1913. Its gardens, walls, and ancillary buildings formed a carefully composed landscape where architecture served the rhythms of country life.
Among these structures were the Grade II listed boundary wall and the gardener’s cottage, humble in scale compared with the main house, yet integral to the estate’s historic character.
Client
The Royal Automobile Club
Dates
March 2017
—
November 2017
Location
London
Grade listing
Grade II
Architects
Giles Quarme Associates
Saving a Cottage from Within
The gardener’s cottage had deteriorated to the point where only its shell could be trusted. DBR undertook the reinstatement of the building’s shell and core, stabilising what remained while preparing it for renewed use.
Cementitious render was removed from the front façade, revealing the original red facing brick beneath. Once exposed, the brickwork was repointed, and Heli-bar reinforcement installed to strengthen weakened areas. A new slate roof was constructed above, complemented by traditional cast iron rainwater goods to restore both function and appearance.
Rebuilding the Boundary
Attention also turned to the extensive garden wall. Years of weathering had left sections unstable or failing, posing a significant risk of falling masonry. New York stone copings were installed along the wall top, providing protection against water ingress, while defective sections were dismantled and rebuilt.
In places, new red brick buttresses were introduced to reinforce the structure, subtly strengthening the wall while respecting its historic form.
Holding Collapse at Bay
Before any dismantling could begin, the immediate danger had to be addressed. Structural engineers were engaged to design a system of temporary propping capable of stabilising the unstable masonry. This support framework was installed in advance of the works, ensuring that repairs could proceed safely without triggering further collapse.
The collaboration between DBR, engineers, and temporary works specialists transformed a hazardous structure into one that could be carefully taken apart and rebuilt.
When complete, the cottage stood once again as a coherent part of the estate, its brickwork visible, roof secure, and boundary wall strengthened. Though the intervention remained unseen, DBR stabilised fragile fabric, rebuilt lost elements, and preserved essential working architecture for future generations.
