Adam Porch Restoration - Grade II Listed Façade, Ongar
Sensitive restoration of a rare Adam-style porch and Georgian frontage - Ongar High Street, Essex.
Facade Restoration of a Grade II Listed Building in Ongar, Essex
HarriDec were asked to restore the front elevation of a Grade II listed 1780s house on Ongar High Street. The focus was a rare Adam-style arched porch with semicircular fanlight canopy and classical columns, plus the original sash windows and mineral-rendered façade.
The project, completed in 2024, combined careful conservation methods, breathable materials and traditional craftsmanship to protect an important piece of local heritage while refreshing the building’s street presence.
- Property: Grade II listed Georgian house
- Location: Ongar High Street, Essex
- Building date:c. 1780, porch added early 1800s
- Project completed: 2024
Adam’s Arched Porch - History and Significance
The porch is a Neoclassical entry canopy in the Adamesque style. It features:
- A half-round pediment and fanlight arch over the front door
- Slender paired classical columns
- Hand carved urn motifs, corbels and delicate floral or swag details
Historic notes suggest the porch was added in the early 19th century as an embellishment to the original 1780 house, closely following Robert Adam’s designs. Adam died in 1792, so this is an Adam-style porch rather than one he personally built.
Local experts believe that porches of this type are extremely rare, with only one other known example of similar design in Britain. That makes this Ongar porch a particularly valuable survivor of Adam’s Neoclassical influence.
Restoration Process and Key Conservation Work
All work followed best practice for listed buildings, keeping as much original material as possible while upgrading protection.
1. Stripping paint from the porch
Centuries of thick paint were gently removed using chemical peel and hand scraping. This exposed the original timber and plaster carvings and revealed crisp urns, floral swags and other details that had been buried under old coatings.
2. Timber repairs and preservation
Once exposed, decayed sections of timber were cut out and repaired with new spliced pieces or specialist consolidants. The original 19th century columns were retained and patched rather than replaced, and damaged decorative mouldings were recast in the same style so the porch reads as one coherent historic feature.
3. Sash window overhaul and glazing repairs
The original sash windows were repaired rather than replaced. Cracked panes were changed for hand cut glass that suits the age of the building, glazing putty was renewed and rotten sections of frames and sills were spliced in. All windows now slide smoothly and retain their period character.
Mineral Render Repairs and Breathable Finishes
The front elevation had mineral render with cracks and failed patches. HarriDec:
- Cut out loose or cement based repairs
- Re rendered with compatible mineral or lime based materials
- Matched the original texture and profile
The whole façade was then repainted using mineral paint and high quality microporous coatings. These breathable systems allow moisture to escape, which helps prevent hidden decay in the historic fabric.
Exterior woodwork and metalwork, including the porch, windows, door and ironmongery, were stripped, primed and finished with heritage style paints that give a traditional look while offering long term weather protection.
Boundary walls and the front gate were redecorated with compatible breathable materials and brought into line with the renewed façade.
Final colour scheme:
Walls and woodwork: crisp white
Trims: black detailing
Front door: deep blue, to highlight the Adam-style entrance
Outcome - A Rare Adam Style Porch Back To Its Best
By 2024 the building had been returned to its former glory. The restored Adam-style porch is now a focal point on Ongar High Street, with its fanlight arch, fine carvings and classical columns clearly visible once again.
The façade has improved weather protection through breathable renders and microporous paints, while original sash windows and timber details have been preserved rather than replaced.
Local residents and heritage enthusiasts have praised the project as a high standard example of how to treat listed buildings: repair instead of replace, respect original materials and use modern products that work with historic construction, not against it.
Watch The Porch Restoration In Action
Take a closer look at the Adam porch and the finished façade in our short video case study.
- Walkthrough of the restored Grade II listed frontage
- Close ups of the Adam-style porch details
- Street view of the renewed Ongar High Street elevation
Planning Work On A Listed Building Or Period Facade?
If you own a period home, listed property or heritage shopfront in Essex and would like to discuss sensitive restoration or exterior redecoration, HarriDec can help.
Contact our team for advice on conservation led painting, sash window repairs and façade restoration that protects your building while enhancing its kerb appeal.
Get in Touch
If you’re ready to enhance the look of your home or business interior with a fresh décor update, contact us today.
Simply fill out our online contact form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible to discuss your requirements. At HarriDec, we are committed to helping you achieve an interior space that is both beautiful and perfectly tailored to your needs – on time, on budget, and with first-class workmanship every time.