Project SSH - Case Study

South Sands House (SSH)

LOCATION
St Margaret’s Bay, Dover

PROJECT TYPE
Residential Development

Stage 4 & 5 Technicals preparation design work

DURATION
2 years

SIZE
250 Sqm, 2691 sq ft

CONTRACT TYPE
Design & Build

PROJECT TEAM

Architect - Holloway Studio

Designer - Client

Technical Designer - PELHAM & Co.

Interior Designer - PELHAM & Co.

Structural Engineer - Cason Green Associates

Positioned high on St Margaret’s Bay cliffs, South Sands House is a Victorian-era property that has undergone a transformative redevelopment. Originally built around 1836 and formerly known as The Hermitage, the house had lost much of its architectural value through poor-quality 20th-century alterations.

PELHAM & Co. were appointed to fully restore and reconfigure the property, delivering a new-build standard structure behind retained walls, while preserving the site’s historical character and enhancing its spectacular setting.

The project involved removing structurally unsound extensions, installing a new roof structure, installing breathable insulation throughout, and completely reimagining the interior layout. Internally, traditional detailing such as rounded plasterwork corners, solid plastered walls, vaulted ceilings, and bespoke cornices was introduced to elevate the architectural feel.

Externally, we installed new stone-effect architectural mouldings, a seamless waterproofing system, PV solar panels with battery storage, and three rainwater harvesting tanks. The copper-clad rotunda roof was designed and constructed on-site using a bespoke polystyrene substructure, a signature element in a project that marries innovation with historical sensitivity.

A white residential house with a rounded roof and multiple chimneys, surrounded by lush greenery and trees on a hillside, under a partly cloudy sky.

How it all started….

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Archive photograph of The Hermitage in 1887, built in the 1840s as a Victorian residence overlooking St Margaret's Bay.

THE HERMITAGE 1887, built in the 1840s as a prestigious privateVictorian residence overlooking St Margaret's Bay

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Archive photograph of the property in its prime as a prominent Victorian landmark, 1920s to 1930s.

THE HERMITAGE IN ITS PRIME - By the 1920s–1930s, the property remained a prominent Victorian landmark.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Archive photograph showing the conservatory added to the seafront elevation, circa 1930 to 1938.

THE HERMITAGE c.1930–1938 - By the 1930s, a conservatory had been added to the seafront elevation.

LATE 1940s–EARLY 1950s - RENAMED SOUTH SANDS HOUSE

Successive extensions from the Victorian period onwards transformed the original building with a complex plan and varied construction. Following military requisition during the Second World War, it was returned to residential use and renamed South Sands House. Over time, alterations and neglect eroded much of its original character

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Archive photograph from the late 1940s to early 1950s, when the property was renamed South Sands House.

THE REALITY

A neglected building stripped of its architectural merit and in a state of significant disrepair.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. The building as found, stripped of its architectural merit and in significant disrepair before restoration.

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

Every external defect tells a story of the building's deterioration, revealing the extent of neglect and the challenges ahead in restoring its architectural integrity.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. External defects revealing the extent of the building's deterioration before restoration began.

THE PROBLEMS EXTENDED BEYOND THE FAÇADE

High moisture levels, widespread damp and decay, and unfinished internal spaces revealed the true extent of the building's deterioration.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. High moisture levels and damp exposed within the property's internal spaces before restoration.

THE HIDDEN DAMAGE

Moisture extended well beyond typical capillary rise, confirming defects within the external envelope. Salt-contaminated plaster throughout required complete replacement.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Salt contaminated plaster and moisture damage exposed within the external envelope.

BENEATH THE SURFACE

As a first step, the rooms were stripped back to expose the original spaces and reveal the building's structural fabric.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Rooms stripped back to expose the original structural fabric of the building.

INFORMING THE DESIGN

With the structure exposed, the client could fully understand the building's condition and refine the internal layout before restoration commenced.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Exposed structure informing the refined internal layout before restoration commenced.

DIGITAL COLLABORATION THROUGH POINT-CLOUD CAPTURE

Scans captured the building at key construction stages, allowing the team to virtually walk through the project, review details, and verify dimensions at any time.

UNEXPECTED STRUCTURAL CHALLENGES

Forming new openings exposed unstable solid masonry walls, requiring extensive rebuilding before the new layout could be achieved.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Unstable solid masonry walls exposed while forming new openings, requiring extensive rebuilding.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Terrible state of exposed walls.

REPAIRING RATHER THAN REPLACING

Crack stitching preserved structurally viable walls while maintaining the building's historic fabric.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Crack stitching used to preserve structurally viable historic masonry walls.

REINFORCED FOR LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE

Steel mesh reinforcement and a sand-and-cement plaster system were used throughout the solid masonry walls to provide a durable, long-lasting finish.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Steel mesh reinforcement and a sand and cement plaster system applied to the solid masonry walls.

RETAINING THE CHARACTER, REIMAGINING THE SPACE

The external chimney stacks were retained, while the internal chimney breasts were carefully removed to create a more functional layout.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. External chimney stacks retained while internal chimney breasts were removed for a more functional layout.

BRINGING THE CHIMNEYS BACK TO LIFE

The chimney stacks were repaired, re-rendered with rounded corners, and completed with new chimney pots to recreate their original appearance.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Chimney stacks repaired, re rendered with rounded corners and fitted with new chimney pots.

EXTENSIVE REBUILDING, MAKING WAY FOR NEW WINDOWS AND DOORS

Defective masonry was rebuilt, allowing new openings to be formed while strengthening the building envelope

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Defective masonry rebuilt to form new window and door openings while strengthening the building envelope.

RENEWING THE INFRASTRUCTURE

All mains services were replaced from the road, providing new utility connections to the house and garage.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. New mains service connections installed from the road to the house and garage.

SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT

Three interconnected tanks provide 4,500 litres of rainwater storage for non-potable use, reducing mains water consumption.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Three interconnected rainwater harvesting tanks providing 4500 litres of non potable water storage.

RENEWABLE ENERGY INTEGRATION

Two new solar PV systems with battery storage were installed to reduce reliance on grid electricity and improve long-term energy efficiency.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Solar PV systems with battery storage installed to reduce reliance on grid electricity.

THE HEART OF THE BUILDING'S INFRASTRUCTURE

All external utility connections, renewable energy systems, and building services converge in the plant room, forming the property's operational heart.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Plant room bringing together utility connections, renewable energy systems and building services.

COORDINATED SERVICES INSTALLATION

A carefully planned services installation ensures efficient performance, accessibility for maintenance, and a high-quality finish.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Coordinated services installation planned for efficient performance and easy maintenance access.

TRANSFORMING THE BUILDING ENVELOPE

The building was insulated with 160mm breathable external wall insulation, preserving its original character while significantly improving thermal performance.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. 160 millimetre breathable external wall insulation installed to improve thermal performance.

RESTORING ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

Lightweight stone mouldings recreated the building's original architectural detailing without the weight of traditional stone.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Lightweight stone mouldings recreating the building's original architectural detailing.

REINSTATING ARCHITECTURAL DETAIL

Architectural mouldings and detailed rendering transformed the façade, restoring its historic appearance.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Architectural mouldings and detailed rendering restoring the facade's historic appearance.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover, rebuilt.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover, rebuilt, copper dome.

EXPOSING THE ROTUNDA STRUCTURE

Following an investigation into the severely deteriorated post-war roof, all coverings were removed to expose the underlying concrete structure for detailed assessment.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Roof coverings removed to expose the deteriorated rotunda structure for assessment.

WORKING UNDER COVER

The temporary enclosure created the controlled environment required for point-cloud scanning and year-round construction.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Temporary enclosure providing a controlled environment for point cloud scanning and year round construction.

DIGITAL CAPTURE FOR ACCURATE DESIGN

The external rotunda and internal Guastavino vault were point-cloud scanned to

create a highly accurate CAD model for the replacement roof.

FROM CONCEPT TO ENGINEERING THE DOME

The client's design concept was developed into a fully engineered solution, using point-cloud data to accurately model the rotunda's complex concrete structure.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Engineering development of the rotunda's complex concrete structure from the client's design concept.

A LIGHTWEIGHT ENGINEERING SOLUTION

The client's design concept was developed into a fully engineered solution, using point-cloud data to accurately model the rotunda's complex concrete structure.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Lightweight engineered solution developed for the rotunda roof structure.

CRAFTING THE COPPER DOME

Each copper section was hand-formed on site to follow the rotunda's unique geometry and provide a roof designed to last for generations.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Copper roof sections hand formed on site to follow the rotunda's unique geometry.

BESPOKE COPPER CRAFTSMANSHIP

The highest level of finish was achieved through a combination of vision, engineering excellence, craftsmanship, and iterative design development.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Bespoke copper roof craftsmanship on the completed rotunda.

BESPOKE COPPER CRAFTSMANSHIP

The highest level of finish was achieved through a combination of vision, engineering excellence, craftsmanship, and iterative design development.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Detail of the finished copper rotunda roof.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Process of rotunda.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Internal scaffolding.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Process Rotunda detail from the inside.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished kitchen beneath the restored rotunda, with its curved brick lined ceiling and dining table, completing the transformation.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. The property's exterior, showing the restored architectural detailing and re-rendered façade.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Detail of the restored front door with its original ornate brass door hardware.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Before and after of the original panelled doors, refurbished and remade in the joinery workshop to match the historic design.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Original ironmongery before and after restoration, including hinges, plates and decorative brass fittings.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished entrance hall with restored twisted timber columns, a period staircase and chandelier.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Interior stripped back to exposed brick and stone, with scaffolding in place during the rebuild.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished entrance hallway with restored staircase and new herringbone hardwood flooring.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished kitchen and dining area within the rotunda, with sea views through the curved windows and mirrored detailing.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished interior corridor with new herringbone flooring and restored period furniture.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished kitchen countertop with garden and hillside views through the window.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished dining room and hallway with restored period colour scheme and detailing.
LPelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished living room with a restored brick fireplace, ornate ceiling moulding and countryside views.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Living room detail showing the restored fireplace corner and seating area with cliff views beyond.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Before and after of a room mid renovation, from exposed brick and a stripped fireplace to new wall framing and flooring underway.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished living room with restored brick fireplace, wooden mantel and vintage nautical clock.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished green cloakroom with a vintage style Thomas Crapper sink and black tiling.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Exposed brick interior mid renovation, with scaffolding, debris and first fix wiring visible across the space.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished glazed timber door opening onto a hallway with herringbone flooring and a period staircase.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished kitchen with timber cabinetry, leather cabinet handles and a detailed wood countertop.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished living room in blue tones with an open doorway framing views of the garden and sea.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished bedroom in pink tones with a garden view and a vintage style ceiling light.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished bedroom with fitted wardrobe, twin chairs and wall sconces.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished bathroom with black walls, marble tiled shower and chrome fittings.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Kitchen before and after renovation, from dark cabinetry to a lighter, more open finished space.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Room before and after, from exposed stone and partial demolition to new floor framing and scaffolding underway.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Interior and exterior view of the house entrance, with a restored arched door and courtyard.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Two finished rooms side by side, a yellow sitting room and a blue study with garden views.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished blue study with an antler chandelier and garden views through three windows.

TRADITIONAL CORNICES

Traditional plaster cornices were carefully selected to restore architectural character and complete each interior space.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Decorative crown moulding and ceiling detail being installed throughout the restoration.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Original decorative crown moulding found damaged and cracked before restoration.

RESTORING INTERIOR ELEGANCE

The reinstatement of traditional cornices and ceiling roses elevated every room, transforming the house from a shell into an elegant home.

Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Detail of the restored ornate crown moulding and ceiling corners.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished staircase with twisted balusters and a Moroccan style lantern, alongside a green cloakroom with a marble sink.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished bedroom in warm orange tones with garden views and period ceiling detailing.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished pink bathroom with a vintage sink, marble tiling and chrome fittings.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished study in light blue with a fitted desk, leading through to a pink en suite bathroom.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Brick wall renovation in progress, from timber framing to partial demolition and exposed pipework.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Fireplace room before and after, from an original brick fireplace to a finished study with a vaulted, skylit ceiling.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished mint green bathroom with garden views and grey tiled shower.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Window seat view over the sea, with binoculars on the sill.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Sea view study with a telescope and reading desk overlooking the cliffs and beach.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished vintage style bathroom with a clawfoot bathtub, ornate fireplace and marble detailing.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Roof structure exposed during renovation, with brick walls and timber framing awaiting the new build up.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished bathroom in deep purple tones with a marble walk in shower and crystal chandelier.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished bathroom in deep purple tones with a marble walk in shower and crystal chandelier.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Title card reading "The Transformation Recap, from neglected building to restored landmark, achieved through vision, investigation, engineering and exceptional craftsmanship."
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Before the finished exterior of the restored property, showing the rotunda and rendered façade above the cliffs.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Finished exterior view of the property from the garden, overlooking St Margaret's Bay.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Exterior of the property before restoration, with the original garden and rendered façade.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Exterior of the property after restoration, with the rotunda, domed roof and newly landscaped garden.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Exterior before restoration, showing construction materials and groundworks around the property.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Exterior after restoration, finished façade and garden overlooking the bay.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Exterior of the property before restoration, showing the pale yellow façade with garden pathway and overcast sky.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Exterior of the property after restoration, showing the modern two storey façade with large windows and landscaped garden.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Exterior of the property before restoration, garden view with surrounding trees.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Exterior of the property after restoration, rear elevation with restored chimneys and garden pathway to entrance.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Exterior of the cream rendered house with steeply pitched roof and chimneys, set within a well maintained garden.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Side by side before and after view of the exterior, showing the property prior to restoration alongside the completed render and finished façade.
Pelham & Co. South Sands House, St Margaret's Bay, Dover. Thoughtful restoration ensures that story continues for generations to come.