Fire at Keppel Gate
In March 2010, we suffered a major thatch fire at Keppel Gate.
There was extensive damage to the fabric of the roof, but, thanks to a fire barrier installed above the rafters, the damage was relatively light to the remaining structure. Though, inevitably, there was a lot of water damage. Our insurers were excellent and enabled us to complete all the major repairs and refurbishment, replacing the thatch with a new curved, reclaimed delabole slate roof. The roof trusses were still in tact, but many were charred and had to be replaced, much of the oak flooring to the second floor attic room was salvaged and re laid. All the ceilings had to be replaced due to the water damage. The cob itself held up really well, both to the flames and copious quantities of water used to dowse them. A true testament to the resilience of this wonderful material.
Overall, we were able to take the opportunity to significantly upgrade the house, with a new triple glazed viewing gallery on the top floor and a new triple glazed conservatory, made from re using the salvaged timber, which looks great and turned a sad event into a positive one.
2011
![2011 title=](https://www.buildsomethingbeautiful.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buildsomethingbeautiful_165-200x200.jpg)
2011
![2011 title=](https://www.buildsomethingbeautiful.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buildsomethingbeautiful_164-200x200.jpg)
Solar panels.
![Solar panels title=](https://www.buildsomethingbeautiful.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buildsomethingbeautiful_163-200x200.jpg)
John dressing the leadwork.
![John dressing the leadwork title=](https://www.buildsomethingbeautiful.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buildsomethingbeautiful_162-200x200.jpg)
Les slating.
![Les slating title=](https://www.buildsomethingbeautiful.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buildsomethingbeautiful_161-200x200.jpg)
New dormer from the distance.
![New dormer title=](https://www.buildsomethingbeautiful.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buildsomethingbeautiful_160-200x200.jpg)
View from the New dormer which is triple glazed for insulation.
![New dormer title=](https://www.buildsomethingbeautiful.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buildsomethingbeautiful_159-200x200.jpg)
Insulation to exceed current regs.
![Insulation title=](https://www.buildsomethingbeautiful.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buildsomethingbeautiful_158-200x200.jpg)
New dormer to make the mosat of our amazing views to the north.
![New dormer title=](https://www.buildsomethingbeautiful.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buildsomethingbeautiful_157-200x200.jpg)
Painstaking work.
![Painstaking work title=](https://www.buildsomethingbeautiful.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buildsomethingbeautiful_156-200x200.jpg)
Beautiful wavey slate work.
![Beautiful wavey slate work title=](https://www.buildsomethingbeautiful.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buildsomethingbeautiful_155-200x200.jpg)
Truss principles replaced.
![Truss principles replaced title=](https://www.buildsomethingbeautiful.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buildsomethingbeautiful_1541-200x200.jpg)
Wall head rafters.
![Wall head rafters title=](https://www.buildsomethingbeautiful.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buildsomethingbeautiful_153-200x200.jpg)
2011
![2011 title=](https://www.buildsomethingbeautiful.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buildsomethingbeautiful_152-200x200.jpg)
Principles replaced in green oak.
![Principles replaced in green oak title=](https://www.buildsomethingbeautiful.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buildsomethingbeautiful_151-200x200.jpg)
We had to get a temporary roof errected.
![We had to get a temporary roof errected title=](https://www.buildsomethingbeautiful.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buildsomethingbeautiful_150-200x200.jpg)
Thatch strewn all about.
![Thatch strewn all about title=](https://www.buildsomethingbeautiful.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buildsomethingbeautiful_149-200x200.jpg)
2011
![2011 title=](https://www.buildsomethingbeautiful.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buildsomethingbeautiful_147-200x200.jpg)
All the oak roof trusses were still in tact but may were charred.
![There was amazingly little damage to the cob itself title=](https://www.buildsomethingbeautiful.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/buildsomethingbeautiful_148-200x200.jpg)