Award for (Pete Townshend's) Ashdown House

The property, off the B4000, is one of Britain’s finest 17th century buildings, and is once more complete.
In 2010 Pete Townshend, guitarist with legendary rock band The Who, bought a 41-year lease on the property and in 2011 a structural renovation was begun.
Now the project has been highly commended in the building conservation section of the south east finals in the national Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards, held at the Savoy Hotel in central London.
The RICS Awards celebrate the most inspirational initiatives and developments in land, property, construction and the environment.
The RICS judges’ statement said: “We were impressed by the research and attention to detail undertaken in understanding the structural issues and in allowing long term repair solutions to be provided using traditional materials executed to very high conservation standards.
“The unknown nature of the repair requirements and risks associated with sourcing and opening a local quarry to extract the matching stone required a flexible team approach with the contractor taking an active role in ensuring the project was achieved within the budget to the exacting standards. Exemplary work has been achieved across each of the elements of stonework, stone slating, oak framing and glazing of the cupola and lead work.”
A spokeswoman for owners The National Trust, who declined to be named, said that Pete Towshend’s lease cash would have “indirectly” paid towards the restoration.
She added: “The rental would go into a pot that helps to fund the upkeep of the property. But he wouldn’t have made a direct donation - that’s the responsibility of the trust.”