Barratt helps preserve the past for the future

Architectural features of historic interest are being preserved for future generations from a dilapidated Victorian house once owned by St Andrew's School, in Grange Road, Leatherhead, thanks to Barratt Southern Counties and lecturer Charles Brooking.

Barratt is retaining a 19th Century stained glass window and oak panelling for the school, while Charles Brooking has selected other items for the renowned Brooking Collection of Architectural Detail.

The Grange is sited on a 2.4-acre plot of land that Barratt bought earlier this year from St Andrew's School. Originally built around 1860 as a grand country house, it was bought by the school in 1945. The building is now out of use and will shortly be demolished to make way for new housing for the area.

Charles Brooking, who lectures at the University of Greenwich, comments: "Although the school modernised The Grange after the war, many original features of great interest remain and are well worth preserving." A triple sash window and part of a Gothic style staircase, dating back to 1895, together with sections of architraves and mouldings, will become part of the Brooking Collection, which Charles Brooking started in the 1960s.

The Collection holds thousands of examples of recovered artefacts that are often taken for granted, including doors and windows, their furniture and fittings, mouldings, boot scrapers and rainwater heads. Together these provide an important record stretching back over five centuries for architects, historians and house owners seeking to restore their period homes.

Barratt has secured outline planning permission from Mole Valley District Council to build 24 new homes on the site, including seven affordable homes for the local community. The majority of the homes will be four-bedroom houses. Further details are expected to be available in Spring 2009. To register an early interest log on to Barratthomes.co.uk.

The Brooking Collection Gallery at Cranleigh in Surrey is open by appointment only. House owners' courses are held on Saturdays in the summer months.