1866 residence revamp
Fifty-four Spectus white vertical sliding windows with through horn detailing, including 14 arched vertical sliders, were installed in a prestigious refurbishment project at Foxhill House, Chester.
Foxhill House is a substantial Italianate house originally built for the Archdeacon of Chester. It is set in 70 acres of Cheshire woodland, which incorporates an arboretum containing several species of rare plants and trees. In the 1960s Foxhill House became a diocesan retreat and conference centre and it will mark 50 years as Chester Diocesan Retreat House in July 2019.
The new vertical sliders were chosen to replace ageing timber sliding sash windows, that were single glazed and not as thermally efficient as they could be.
The decision was made to upgrade the windows, replacing them with architecturally sensitive double-glazed versions. The Spectus Vertical Slider was manufactured in white with run-through horns to replicate the heritage aesthetics and enhance the building’s appearance.
The windows were manufactured by Mercury Glazing, and installed by Droylsden Glass.
The two companies have worked together on previous projects and Kevin Thackeray, director at Droylsden Glass, said: “The Spectus Vertical Slider is a design classic which sympathetically captures many, if not all, of the key features of traditional design combined with all the benefits that a modern replacement window should offer. We also enjoy working with Mercury Glazing because their fabrication expertise and superb attention to detail adds value to our operation.”
Installation of the vertical sliders and 14 arches took three weeks, with works planned to minimise disruption to the day-to-day activities of the centre.
The finished result has upgraded the appearance of Foxhill, restoring its stunning heritage looks. It has also improved the thermal efficiency of the building and reduced maintenance requirements.