Stephen Grindrod LTD

Stephen Grindrod LTD Stephen Grindrod LTD brings 40 years of excellence in natural, sustainable, heritage and regenerative building. For more, visit our website.

We support the regeneration of people, place, and planet through a comprehensive range of skills and services. Our Values:
At Stephen Grindrod Limited, we are more than just a building company. We support the regeneration of people, place and planet. We support people by creating spaces that enhance the health and well-being of the inhabitants and by championing practical skills and meaningful emp

loyment. We contribute toward restoring Britain's places by conserving existing heritage structures and building our future heritage today. We support the planet by actively working to reduce our industry’s impact and envisioning and demonstrating a future where our homes and lifestyles can positively impact Earth. Skills & Materials:
We work with a range of specialist products and materials that are ideal for heritage, natural and sustainable building projects. Take a tour on our website to learn more about our specialist skills and services, or to view a few of our case studies. Where we work:
We are based in Cumbria and will consider building projects across the North West. We are also taking on a small number of regenerative projects in Scotland and the North of England. Please complete the contact form on our website to book a free consultation.

10/05/2026

Behind the scenes at the Far Houses project as we move into phase 2 🌿

One aspect that often goes unseen is the level of preparation required to keep a project like this running safely and smoothly.

Before any work begins, each stage is carefully planned to meet health and safety requirements, while ensuring we can deliver the high standard of work we are renowned for within the project timeframes. Ongoing checks are carried out throughout — including monitoring structural movement and reviewing each new section of scaffolding as it’s introduced.

It’s a complex and, at times, hazardous environment, so coordination on site is key. Regular inspections are carried out alongside the architects, Countryside Consultants and our clients, Natural England to ensure the project progresses responsibly.

As work continues, we’re still uncovering traces of the building’s more recent past — including the old Rayburn range that once sat at the heart of the farmhouse kitchen. Small details like these offer a glimpse into how the house was once lived in.

With the initial stabilisation works now complete, we’re moving into phase 2 — rebuilding selected sections and consolidating unstable walls while retaining the scale and character of the original structure.

Part of this next stage will involve protecting the exposed wall tops using both soft and hard capping techniques. Turf and moss from the surrounding landscape will be used to help mitigate erosion and protect the structure long term, allowing future generations to experience and explore this historic farmstead.

➕More from site to follow as phase 2 progresses — follow us for updates from site, and sign up to our mailing list for exclusive content shared only with subscribers (link in bio).

❓What part of a project like this would you be most interested to see more of — the conservation work, the history, or the rebuilding process?

New vehicle graphics installed on our vehicles 🚐We’ve recently had the vehicles updated with new graphics, bringing them...
04/05/2026

New vehicle graphics installed on our vehicles 🚐

We’ve recently had the vehicles updated with new graphics, bringing them in line with our branding and the work we carry out across natural, sustainable and heritage building projects — building the heritage of the future today.

A big thank you to Logo Plus for the design and installation across the vehicles.

You’ll also spot Paint Saints in one of the photos — good to be working alongside other quality trades on site.

Keep an eye out for us on the road across Cumbria and the North West — give us a wave if you spot us 👋

➕Take a look through our profile to see more of the work we do, and follow us for updates from site.

❓What do you think of the new graphics?

30/04/2026

We are starting a new project in the Duddon Valley… and it’s going to be an interesting one 👀🌿

A fresh start on site at this beautiful farmhouse, where we’ve been brought in to deliver a new extension — and it’s shaping up to be a really interesting build.

The footprint is fairly large, so the existing outbuilding will be carefully taken down, along with sections of the current structure, to make way for the new build. Wherever possible, we’ll be retaining and reusing the original local stone to form the new gable — keeping the character of the building tied to its surroundings.

The new extension will be a timber frame hempcrete build, combining traditional materials with modern, natural & sustainable construction methods. With large sliding doors opening out onto a new patio area, the design makes the most of the breathtaking views across the Duddon Valley landscape.

There’s plenty to think about on this one — especially when it comes to the foundations — but those are the projects we enjoy the most.

This is just the beginning, and there’s a lot more to come on this build.

➕Take a look through our profile for similar projects and follow us to stay updated on this project as we take it from day one through to completion.

What part of this project are you most interested to see develop?

23/04/2026

Hidden features uncovered inside this ancient cottage at Far Houses, Duddon Mosses 👀🌿

We’re back at Far Houses, and with the inside now largely cleared out, more of this remarkable building is beginning to reveal itself.

Across the ground floor, the original blue flagstone floors can now be seen running throughout the space — a fantastic survival and a real glimpse into the cottage’s past.

As we continue exploring, more historic details are coming to light: evidence of multiple fireplaces, some older than others, the reveal of an old fire window, the remains of an old oven, blackened masonry from years of use, original plaster lines, and even a small cupboard area that once held an oak shelf.

In what may be the oldest part of the house, an earlier fireplace can still be seen, complete with its original lintel, blocked flue, original arris details, and corbelled-out sections. Nearby, beautiful layers of historic limewash and old lath and plaster partitions still survive within the structure.

One of the most exciting discoveries is a very significant hidden diamond mullion oak window, concealed behind a later modern addition. Finds like this are what make projects like Far Houses so special — every layer removed reveals another piece of the building’s story.

This ancient farmstead continues to surprise us at every stage.

➕Take a look through our profile for more Far Houses updates and follow along as we continue uncovering the history of this unique vernacular building.

Which of these discoveries would you most like to see up close?

21/04/2026

What we uncovered inside this ancient cottage at Far Houses, Duddon Mosses 🌿

As part of the latest clean out, we’ve removed the rubble and old timber beams — revealing the original floor beneath, including a beautiful old flagstone floor hidden for years.

But that’s not all.

As the space opens up, even more beautiful and fascinating historic details are starting to appear. Stephen’s intuition about there being an inglenook fireplace in this part of the cottage now appears to have been correct, with the fireplace now being revealed. What looks to be the original oven — complete with the oven door, old smoke hood, and lintel — has also been uncovered, along with a surviving window seat with the timber still in place and original plaster lines still visible on the walls.

We’re also uncovering clues that show how the cottage changed over time, with evidence of former beams, a timber mullion, altered partitions, a more modern fireplace, and different phases of construction.

This is why projects like Far Houses are so fascinating — every layer removed reveals another piece of hidden history.

➕Take a look through our profile for more Far Houses updates and follow along as we continue uncovering the story of this remarkable ancient farmstead.

What would you be most excited to find inside a building like this?

16/04/2026

Soft capping in action on a historic wall in Scotland 🌿

This is a great example of a traditional and increasingly recognised conservation technique known as soft capping — something we’re likely to implement at the Far Houses project, Duddon Mosses.

Rather than using hard cement or stone capping, soft capping uses natural materials such as soil, turf, and vegetation to protect the tops of exposed walls. Research by Historic England shows that this approach can be far less disruptive and more effective over time, helping to protect historic masonry while working with the building rather than against it.

Soft capping helps regulate moisture and temperature within the wall head, reducing the damaging effects of water ingress and freeze-thaw cycles — two of the main causes of decay in exposed historic masonry.

It’s also a cost-effective and environmentally sympathetic solution, often enhancing biodiversity while preserving more of the original historic fabric.

Methods like this are a key part of building conservation — using natural, breathable materials and traditional approaches to protect and extend the life of historic structures.

We’ll be looking to apply similar principles at Far Houses as the project progresses.

➕Take a look at our other Far Houses videos on our profile to see how the project is developing — and follow along to see how techniques like this are implemented on site.

Had you come across soft capping before?

14/04/2026

Uncovering a new vantage point at the Far Houses Project, Duddon Mosses 🌿

With scaffolding now in place on the barn gable, we’re beginning to see the true scale of this historic structure — and it’s absolutely massive. Given its condition, it’s remarkable that this gable is still standing at all.

From scaffold height, we can properly assess the structure and safely move into the next phase of works. The gable that was built in earth mortar and had a significant lean, as you may have seen in a previous video, was taken down last week — making that section safe to work on.

The team are currently working on a separate section of the building, which will soon be accessible from the new scaffolding being constructed. This area is being prepared for the next stage of repairs, where another section of wall will be taken down and the wall tops stabilised.

Elsewhere across the site, further sections are being carefully taken down where required to make the structure safe and secure for exploration — including this section of wall on the old barn, which is being taken down to the corner and rebuilt.

At the same time, great progress continues on the old house in the top corner of the ancient farmstead, which is already revealing some fascinating historic details that we’ll be sharing soon — so keep an eye out for upcoming updates.

Projects like this are about understanding the structure as it unfolds — working carefully, step by step, to stabilise, conserve, and uncover the story of the building over time.

With architects back on site and more work ahead, it’s an exciting stage in the project.

➕You can explore more from the Far Houses project on our profile — and follow along to see how this historic farmstead continues to evolve.

What do you think we’ll uncover next as we open the building up further?

24/03/2026

Tree removal underway at the Far Houses project, Duddon Valley 🌿

This week the tree surgeons are on site helping us prepare the area so we can safely continue the building conservation works.

After these ancient farmstead buildings here stood vacant for many years, nature slowly began to reclaim them. Because these are vernacular structures, built using natural, local materials and traditional construction techniques, the buildings were originally made from the very landscape around them. Over time, as the structures were left to deteriorate, they have quite literally begun to melt back into that same environment.

One particularly well-established tree with a trunk around 600mm in diameter had actually grown up within one of the old buildings. While impressive to see, trees like this can cause serious structural damage as their roots and weight begin to affect the historic masonry.

We’ve paused our own work on site this week to allow the tree surgeons to operate safely while they remove the tree and clear the area. This will open the site up, allow more light in, and enable us to continue stabilising the buildings.

Projects like this are a reminder of how closely historic rural buildings were connected to the landscapes they were built within.

🌿 If you’d like to see more from this project, take a look at the other Far Houses videos on our profile to follow the story so far.

➕ Follow the page to see more updates as we continue uncovering and conserving this fascinating historic farmstead in the Duddon Valley.

Have you ever come across old buildings that nature has completely taken back?

17/03/2026

Landscaping and access works taking shape at our Ambleside project 🌿

We’re currently working on the landscaping around the property as part of this full restoration and extension project near Ambleside in the Lake District.

This new extension opens out from the kitchen through bifold doors onto what will become a large patio area, which will sweep around to the front of the property and connect the different levels of the site.

To link the levels, we’ve constructed a ramp leading up to the second terrace. This will eventually be finished with estate railings set on a dwarf wall, with low-level lighting built into the stonework.

You may notice the larger stones placed at intervals within the ramp wall — these have been carefully positioned to allow electrical cabling to pass through the wall and provide fixing points for the lighting.

Alongside the ramp, we’re also constructing a set of open string stone steps, which will connect the lower patio area to the upper driveway level. These will also feature estate railings as they rise through the garden.

At the top level we’ve built a retaining wall to support the driveway above, ensuring the ground levels remain stable while we continue the works.

The next phase will involve installing retaining walls and drainage systems ready for the second extension at the end of the building.

Projects like this involve careful planning to make sure the new landscaping works naturally with the existing building and surrounding landscape.

➕More updates from our Ambleside restoration and extension project to follow, follow us for updates on all of our projects and/or sign up to our mailing list for exclusive content (link in bio).

Can you picture how this space will look once the patio and landscaping are complete?

Address

3a Lake Road
Loughrigg
LA218EW

Telephone

+441539437794

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