The Pells | Mathew Crawford Architects

The Pells | Lewes

Mathew Crawford Architects were appointed to carry out the full renovation and remodelling of this family home in The Pells, one of Lewes’ most sought-after residential areas in East Sussex. Originally two separate houses, the property had been combined by a previous owner, resulting in a layout that no longer suited the needs of a growing family. Our clients approached us to reimagine the space, rationalise the layout and transform the property into a cohesive and characterful family home

At the front of the house, the two original reception rooms were reinstated, and period details such as cornicing, ceiling roses, and panelled doors were carefully refurbished or sympathetically reintroduced. A new utility area and a much-needed downstairs WC were also incorporated to enhance everyday functionality.

To the rear, we created a bright, open-plan kitchen and dining space that opens directly onto a generous garden. Crittall-style doors and windows flood the interior with natural light and create a strong visual and physical connection to the mature garden beyond.

Upstairs, the first floor was completely reconfigured to provide a more efficient and balanced layout. The two original master bedrooms at the front of the house were reinstated, with two further bedrooms positioned towards the rear. A new ensuite shower room was introduced to serve the guest bedroom, and a spacious family bathroom was created in what was previously a bedroom, ensuring comfort and practicality for modern family living.

As part of the renovation, the house was upgraded to modern standards throughout. This included addressing previous water ingress, installing new double-glazed windows, upgrading the heating system, adding solar panels, and improving thermal performance across floors, walls, and the roof. Particular attention was given to the second floor, where the existing dormer window was fully re-insulated and refurbished to create a brand-new ensuite serving an office that also doubles as a fifth bedroom.

What did our client say?

“We worked with Mathew to bring to life the vision for our home. Mathew’s advice and reassurance was invaluable. His communication with us throughout was consistently clear, responsive and straightforward. As questions or decisions arose he was thorough in his research to propose options that would work best.

Mathew developed the tender documents we used to appoint our main contractor and we particularly appreciated how thorough they were as it limited any crossed wires and meant we could hit the ground running. Whilst we were under construction Mathew provided ongoing support which exactly what was needed when working on an old house with some surprising secrets! He was both practical and engaged with the detail. We are delighted with the finished results and would not hesitate to recommend Mathew.”