Story time: six converted homes with fanciful tales to tell
At Inigo, we we are particularly drawn to the past lives of buildings that have been converted from a former use. From pubs and chapels, via cobblers and salsa clubs, this characterful collection of conversions will have you marveling at the architectural acrobatics performed in the name of homemaking
- Words
- Sophie Sims
The Old Bank, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex
A house, then a branch of Midland Bank with first-floor living quarters, now a house again, The Old Bank has a storied past. One need only descend into the basement, where a large bank vault remains, to witness this firsthand. It has, in more recent times, been the subject of a thorough and rather cohesive renovation that has brought together its (ahem) wealth of rich features. Bang on the money is the elegant pairing of lime-washed walls and wide wooden floors used to great effect throughout.
The Old Ballroom, London SW9
Many lives have been lived in this opulent apartment in Brixton, south London. It began life as part of an Edwardian hotel before segueing seamlessly into a salsa club and then an acrobatic arena. The apartment officially hung up its dancing shoes in 2008 when it was converted into an expansive, three-bedroom home that retains the ritz of its youth. We’d hedge a bet that the delectable dome that crowns the main living space hasn’t seen the last of its dancing days.
Churchgate Street, Old Harlow, Essex
A masterclass in the use of bold colour, the current owners have rewritten the rules in the renovation of this Victorian school. Art is clearly the favourite subject here. On the ground floor, the walls have been masterly reimagined as a three-dimensional watercolour, with bold prints, posters and graphic artworks lending a rebellious spirit to the formerly hushed halls. Cleverly, period features have been strictly retained, including herringbone-laid mahogany parquet flooring and the impressive exposed timber frame, resulting in a joyously reformed contemporary family home.
The Old Kings Head, Quendon, Essex
The glowing heart of the village for several centuries, this house’s distinctly familiar name is no red herring: it was formerly a pub, before serving as an antique shop, a cobblers and, during the second world war, an American billet. Its history is palpable and clearly signposted in the painted ‘1721’ date panel on the frontage. Its charming, composite structure hugs a rear courtyard that gives way to a garden with a well-established offering of plants that have had time to truly bed in.
The Old Haberdashers, Debenham, Suffolk
Tucked away in dreamy Debenham, east Suffolk, is something of a chameleon: The Old Haberdashers has had its fingers in many pies (not least when it served as a bakery). Built in the 19th century, it served, as its name suggests, as a haberdashers too, and has more recently been used as a gallery space. A clever use of its footprint, a series of fine finishes and a commercial space downstairs make the home ripe for another reincarnation.
The Old Chapel, Trewarmett, Cornwall
The Old Chapel, located high up in Trewarmett, is a sublime reminder of how the quintessential characteristics of ecclesiastical architecture – gothic windows, voluminous proportions, warm wood panelling – can make for sublime domestic spaces. Here, arched windows fill every inch of this upside-down house with painterly light, framing far-reaching views out over Tintangel and Trebarwith Strand in the process.
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