National Trust, Calke Abbey: Estate Offices

Heritage Office Conversion at a Grade II Listed Cart Hovel

AJA was appointed by the National Trust to convert a Grade II listed cart hovel at Calke Abbey into modern offices for the Estate Team. Building on the successful delivery of previous projects at Calke Abbey, the commission reflects AJA's role as a trusted heritage partner, delivering contemporary workplaces within nationally significant historic settings.

Our Role

Working from concept through to completion, AJA developed a conservation-led design that balanced the operational needs of the Estate Team with the protection of the building's historic character. The project included architectural design, heritage consultation, interior design and coordination with specialist craftspeople throughout construction.

The Scheme

Located adjacent to the historic stableyard, the former open cart hovel had remained largely unchanged for many years and was primarily used to store estate machinery. The brief was to create high-quality office accommodation while preserving the building's agricultural character and significance within the Grade II listed estate.

Sensitive Restoration

Extensive consultation was undertaken with the National Trust's Architectural Panel and the local Conservation Officer to develop an appropriate conservation strategy.

The new accommodation was designed as a building within a building, positioned behind the existing timber columns so the original structure remains the dominant architectural feature. Rather than replacing decayed timber columns, the National Trust's specialist craftspeople carefully repaired the existing fabric using traditional conservation techniques.

New larch cladding was sourced from timber grown, milled and prepared on the Calke Abbey estate, ensuring the materials reflected the character of the site and would naturally weather to complement the historic building.

Creating a Modern Workplace

Internally, the design celebrates the original king post trusses by maintaining an open-plan office layout that showcases the historic structure. Modern insulation, services and building performance improvements were carefully integrated to create a comfortable and energy-efficient workplace without compromising the building's character.

AJA also developed the interior design, using mood boards to explore colour palettes and finishes. The National Trust selected a vibrant green scheme that reflected its brand identity, creating a contemporary office environment that sits comfortably within the historic fabric.

The Result

The completed conversion has transformed an underused agricultural building into a modern, flexible workplace while preserving the character and significance of this important heritage asset. The project demonstrates how thoughtful conservation and contemporary design can successfully support the evolving needs of large organisations within historic estates.