1905    Croft House

Set in the heart of the Wells-next-the-Sea Conservation Area, this remarkable 16th-century house — once believed to have been the marital home of Horatio Nelson’s sister — came to our clients in a poor state of repair. Over centuries, layers of additions and its past use as tenement housing had left the interior fragmented, with no clear entrance, multiple cramped staircases, and disconnected rooms. Our clients wanted to restore the building’s character while making it functional, comfortable, and cohesive for modern living.

The first phase of work involved a careful internal strip-out to remove asbestos and stabilise the structure. This process revealed both structural irregularities and beautiful hidden flintwork — features we preserved and celebrated within the design.

The second phase introduced two new extensions and a sensitive reconfiguration of the existing house. To the north, a three-storey “tower” extension provides a clear circulation route across all floors, topped by a small eyrie and balcony with views toward the sea. Its curved form sits discreetly behind an existing gable, linked to the original building via a glazed connection, and clad in charred timber and standing seam zinc to distinguish old from new.

To the south, a single-storey pavilion creates a bright, open kitchen and living space that connects the house to the generous garden. A mansard roof with rooflights floods the interior with daylight, while a garden wall subtly conceals part of the structure, ensuring the extension sits comfortably within the historic setting.

The result is a home reborn — one that respects its extraordinary history while providing a sense of flow, light, and connection that supports contemporary family life in one of Norfolk’s most cherished coastal towns.