Finishing touches for classical music performance space in Blisland, Cornwall
— 22 Sep 2017
Entrance to the converted barn with new inner sliding glazed doors for additional daylight and retained originally boarded hinged doors
Music course attendees enjoying lunch in the converted performance space.

Music course attendees enjoying lunch in the converted performance space.

Retention and illumination of existing features such as recesses, stonework and roof structure.

Commercial grade kitchen facilities integrated into existing space, retaining traditional agricultural features such as stall paneling and metal stall guards.
Contractors, Heritage Cornwall working to a tight programme.

Performers, students and guests enjoying the performance and dining space.
Finishing touches are being made on Grade II* listed Lavethan Manor in Blisland, Cornwall, to enable it to host residential courses for classical music.
Conservation contractors, Heritage Cornwall, are nearing completion of an initial phase of the project, converting a barn into a performance space for the venue.
The Manor and historic estate, lies on the south-facing slope overlooking a secluded valley. Part of the range of historic buildings had previously been converted to commercial use as holiday lets.
Jonathan Rhind Architects were appointed to project manage the renovation of two remaining outbuildings within a tight time frame of inception to completion in 10 months.
Listed in the Domesday Book, Lavethan Manor is a 16th century Grade II* Listed Manor House, situated half a mile west of the village of Blisland, near Bodmin in Cornwall.
When we were contacted in November last year, our client, Krysia Osostowicz a European renowned violinist and founder of the Dante Quartet had already committed to course bookings for August 2017. Jonathan Rhind Architects worked against the clock to obtain Listed Building Consent to convert a remaining barn into a main performance space for the venue and to revitalise a cottage for their housekeeper.
With the original house listed as ‘circa early to mid-16 century, probably with earlier origins and remodelled in the 17th and 18th century’, the Manor House is significant for its development and completeness as an estate and has been given Grade II* listed status for local and national importance of its fenestration, chimney stacks and internal detailing.
Jonathan Rhind said: “Considering the significant time pressure for this project, the contractor and project team have performed very well in getting this project to the last stages and we are extremely proud of the hard work and commitment of all involved.
“We wish the client all the best and every success in their new venture.”
Lavethan Manor has now undergone a major new transformation and will realise a dream of accommodating classical music courses in Cornwall.
Information on the contractor; Heritage Cornwall based in Bodmin can be found here
Our client is very pleased with the outcome and sent us the following feedback “A huge thank you to you all for producing such a fantastic result for us at Lavethan, within such a very short space of time. The Barn worked brilliantly both as a dining space and as a performance space – and the acoustic is excellent”.
For more information about our work on listed buildings, take a look at our case studies here.