Architect

Babergh District Council have carried out all this work to Sproughton Water Mill with NO PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECT employed to design these works, and to ensure materials, methods and sequencing of works are well thought out and implemented in the drive to secure work of the highest quality.

Richard Ward is a town planner, NOT AN ARCHITECT, Neither does he have any Conservation or Building Qualifications. See Qualifications page for details.

Brian Morton IS NOT AN ARCHITECT, he was employed as a Structural Engineer and Historical Buildings Specialist. See Qualifications page for more details.

The Completed Works carried out by Babergh District Council in South Suffolk

Detailed below are our comments to Babergh District Council highlighting our concerns regarding the substandard workmanship carried out at Sproughton Water Mill by Babergh District Council.

In our Letter Dated 9th December 1996.

5. On the ground floor on the North elevation, the first horizontal mortar joint above the arches of the ground floor window and blank window, is three times thicker than any other horizontal mortar joint on the mill, and it sticks out like a sore thumb, this standard of brickwork is totally unacceptable.

Below is the reply to us In Letter 27th February 1997 From Richard Ward, Senior Conservation Officer at Babergh District Council, who designed, supervised and approved these works, with Brian Morton of the Morton Partnership of Bethnal Green, London/Halesworth, Suffolk as Structural Engineer & Historical Buildings Specialists.

The Completed Works carried out by Babergh District Council in South Suffolk

Detailed below are our comments to Babergh District Council highlighting our concerns regarding the substandard workmanship carried out at Sproughton Water Mill by Babergh District Council.

In our Letter Dated 9th December 1996 & 5th March 1998.

6. The overall look of the new brickwork is very heavy with mortar, it is not in keeping with the existing style of mortar and it looks out of character.  A successful example of rebuilding brickwork with soft red bricks is where the brick retains its prominence over the mortar, not vice-versa as at Sproughton Water Mill, it is an unacceptable standard of workmanship.                                                     6a. Different size second hand bricks, bought in to replace broken bricks, new bricks not the same size as the originals.                                                           7. Original old red bricks have been laid with the white washed sides on the face brickwork (originally when the mill was built, the bricks were always graded, first grade bricks were for the face brickwork, second grade bricks were used on the inside, and third grade bricks were always used in the middle of the brick wall). The bricks were graded as to their quality, & weather resistance. Poor brickwork. 8. Cut bricks have been used in the centre of the brick arches, above the windows on the north elevation. Totally unacceptable brickwork.

The Completed Works carried out by Babergh District Council in South Suffolk

Detailed below are our comments to Babergh District Council highlighting our concerns regarding the substandard workmanship carried out at Sproughton Water Mill by Babergh District Council.

In our Letter Dated 9th December 1996                                

7. With regards to the existing internal floors, because of the new levels of brickwork and new levels of the windows and blank windows, this has caused major problems when it comes to the existing floor levels and ceiling heights in regards to where the windows are. As you know from our drawings, we are very tight when it comes to ceiling heights from the existing floor to the main beams. It is only 1.850cm clearance, which is only 6ft 1” and gives us no room to play with height. As you have moved the levels of the windows on one elevation, this now means the floors will go across some windows covering up some windows by up to 12” at the top. If we raised the floors to compensate for the new window levels in the brickwork at the North East corner, all the other windows on the South East corner and elevation will be effective with odd window to floor levels, not as original. There will be a major cost increase in having to sort out this problem in the conversion of this mill.

9. New brickwork to the original brickwork is not toothed together on the North elevation, to give maximum strength to this area.

Detailed below are our comments to Babergh District Council highlighting our concerns regarding the substandard workmanship carried out at Sproughton Water Mill by Babergh District Council.

In our Letter Dated 9th December 1996                              

8. Stainless steel strengthening has been built into every four courses of brickwork, this is not as original, and out of character with this listed building, it will make the corner of this building so hard and inflexible (combined with cement and mortar) as has been carried out. When the rest of the mill can breathe and move together during summer/winter and wet and dry periods as all 200 year old buildings do, the result will be major cracks appearing in the most vulnerable areas, between the new hard brickwork with cement mortar and stainless steel reinforcing and the original brickwork with the original lime and putty mortar. This problem cannot ever be resolved successfully unless you remove the hard corner of the brickwork.

Below is the reply to us In Letter 27th February 1997 From Richard Ward, Senior Conservation Officer at Babergh District Council, who designed, supervised and approved these works, with Brian Morton of the Morton Partnership of Bethnal Green, London/Halesworth, Suffolk as Structural Engineer & Historical Buildings Specialists.

The Completed Works carried out by Babergh District Council in South Suffolk

Detailed below are our comments to Babergh District Council highlighting our concerns regarding the substandard workmanship carried out at Sproughton Water Mill by Babergh District Council.

In our Letter Dated 9th December 1996                                  

10. Mortar joint finish, it is also very important that the joint finish is historically accurate and aesthetically appropriate to the appearance of the wall. Replacement mortar should match the colour and texture of un-weathered portions of the original mortar. This has not been done and the distinctive “modern” form of pointing such as “bucket handle pointing” which has been carried out at the mill, must be avoided at all cost, however sure the bricklayer, Richard Ward the Senior Conservation officer, and Brian Morton as Historical Buildings Specialists may be about their merits!

Below is the reply to us In Letter 27th February 1997 From Richard Ward, Senior Conservation Officer at Babergh District Council, who designed, supervised and approved these works, with Brian Morton of the Morton Partnership of Bethnal Green, London/Halesworth, Suffolk as Structural Engineer & Historical Buildings Specialists.

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