DHBT Architecture Awards 2023 - over the next few days we will highlight the winners and commendations of the various categories.
Historic building in a rural setting
Winner - The Gasworks Sudbury
Architect - James Boon, James Boon Architects Client - Sudbury Gasworks Restoration Trust
The Gasworks at Sudbury was built circa 1874 as a private Gasworks, to manufacture gas from coal, that could be used to light Sudbury Hall and some of the houses within the Village. The 6th Lord Vernon who owned Sudbury Hall, commissioned the architect George Devey (1820 to 1886) to carry out additions on the Hall which dated back to between 1660 and 1680. Following this Devey was commissioned to design the Gasworks, and many of the architectural features he used on the Hall are repeated here, such as the diaper pattern in both the brickwork and the roofing tiles.
By the early 21st century, the former gasholder had been dismantled and was being used as the village rubbish dump and the Gasworks building had fallen into disrepair.
In 2013 a group of local volunteers formed the Sudbury Gasworks Restoration Trust and set about trying to save the building while giving it a new lease of life. 10 years later, thanks to grant funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and others, the building has been saved, repaired and extended to become a building that is being used by the local community.
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