The Gable_

The Gable brings a new green oak structure to a Grade II listed building in Cawthorne, Barnsley. Set within the Green Belt, the project demanded a light touch against the weight of the original stone. Can you extend a Grade II listed building in the Green Belt? Here, the answer begins with contrast rather than imitation. Old stone. New oak. One rural language.

The long historic elevation and traditional roofscape left little room for the wrong move. Listed fabric on one side. Green Belt landscape on the other. Planning was challenging, but the architectural response remained simple: keep the original building dominant, hold the extension low and let the new gable sit quietly against the existing form.

Green oak gives the extension its structure and its character. Posts and beams remain exposed, rising into a pitched gable that follows the familiar geometry of the surrounding buildings. Glass fills the spaces between, dissolving much of the enclosure and opening the room towards the garden. Can a listed building have a contemporary extension? The distinction here is deliberate — timber frame against solid masonry, transparency against mass.

Weathered stone and slate retain the weight of the Grade II listed building. Beside them, green oak brings warmth, grain and craftsmanship, while full-height glazing reflects the garden and surrounding countryside. The expressed gable gives the extension a strong silhouette without competing with the historic roofline. Stone, oak and glass. Historic and contemporary. Separate enough to read clearly, close enough to belong.