Objections Raised Against Proposal to Refurbish 17th Century Farmhouse

Published on: 12 Sep, 2025
Updated on: 16 Sep, 2025

The front elevation of Artington Manor Farmhouse constructed of Bargate stone, with diamond leaded lights now boarded up because of “intrusions”. GBC

By Martin Giles

Objections have been made by the Surrey Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) and Artington Parish Council (APC) against aspects of plans to restore of an early 17th century, grade II listed farmhouse on the Old Portsmouth Road just south of Guildford.

The planning application proposes the following changes to Artington Manor Farmhouse:

Removal of chimney;
Changes to the windows and addition of two rooflights;
Removal of internal walls and a modern small staircase to allow improved layout;
Lowering of floor in dining area to match the existing kitchen floor level.

But SHBT says that developer’s “Heritage Statement” within the proposal is “entirely inadequate” and that “appropriate effort to understand the significance of the property” has not been made.

Artington Manor House as pictured in 1964 with external wooden shutters to the ground floor windows. Surrey County Council archive

The Trust’s criticism focuses particularly on the proposed removal of historic windows and their replacement with double glazing which, it says, is rarely appropriate on any listed building.

Artington Parish Council said that it welcomed the fact that the house, one of the most important historical houses in the parish, is intended to be restored and occupied but also considered the proposed changes inappropriate for a listed building.

The councillors have taken advice from the clerk to the parish council, Phil Gorton, a professional researcher specialising in the history of houses.

The southern elevation as it appears today.

The proposed changes, the parish council said, would compromise the historic integrity of the house, a significant example of an early 17C house, with 18C and 19C additions and “damage the fabric of the building, the very thing that listed status is designed to protect”.

As well as agreeing with SHBT that removal of the leaded lights represented the “most damaging proposal of this application” the council also objected to:

Removal of a chimney stack in the east wing which could compromise natural ventilation required in historic buildings;
Lowering of the floor level in the dining area which would erase evidence of the significant incremental development of the property; and
The removal of a staircase which as a servants’ back stairway between the kitchen and the first floor, is a structure of historical and social significance.

APC also requested that if the work was to proceed an archaeological watch to be kept so that any artefacts discovered were preserved.