The Vivat Trust
An Active Historic Buildings Trust
The Vivat Trust is a registered charity and a national Building Preservation Trust. It is dedicated to
rescuing neglected and dilapidated historic buildings throughout the UK and providing them with a viable
new use, as holiday properties.
The Trust was established in 1981, by two young architects, who whilst touring the UK as SPAB
scholars, were astounded by the large number of neglected, small to medium sized historic buildings.
Holiday accommodation allows the quirks of an old building to be retained and enjoyed, and allows
structural changes to be kept to an absolute minimum. It also generates an income which is used to cover
maintenance costs and allows the buildings to be enjoyed and experienced by many.
The Vivat Trust does not purchase buildings but will accept freehold gifts or enter into a lease agreement
with the owners of a property, which often suits those who cannot or do not wish to grant a freehold.
When working on the restoration of a building, The Vivat Trust acts as the client, developing a sensitive
repair and conversion scheme with the appointed architect and overseeing all stages of the work and
finally, preparing it for holiday use. The Vivat Trust has no endowment fund so repair and conversion
costs are raised by the Trust on a project by project basis.
The Vivat Trust often adopts an advisory role, and is happy to assist any smaller Building Preservation
Trust, or individual, uncertain of how to proceed with a project involving the re-use and repair of a
historic building.
The Vivat Trust has three full time members of staff, a team of housekeepers who look after the day to
day running of a property, a Board of seven Trustees, and a pool of hard working and generous
volunteers. Its main office is currently in London but it will move the headquarters to Wellbrook Manor
later this year with a view of using the garden barn as office space in the future, permission allowing.
Wellbrook Manor
Wellbrook Manor, is a Grade II* listed
building and is the somewhat rambling albeit
delightful, product of a series of distinct
building phases. At its core are the substantial
remains of a fine Medieval Hall House, dating
from the late 14th century. The two main
surviving Medieval components are the Hall
Range- the ground floor entrance hall/sitting
room which extends to the floor above, with a
high ceiling and fabulous timber framing or,
aisled trusses, as it is known in the trade.
Originally these two spaces would have been
one. The Solar Wing or the dining room and
the superb main bedroom above with its
spectacular roof structure and fireplace, form the second of these Medieval components. There would also
originally have been a Service Wing, which probably contained the buttery and pantry, and would have
been connected to the Hall Range by a screens passage.
The seventeenth century saw the demolition of the Service Wing and the insertion of a first floor into the
Hall Range. The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries witnessed further changes although the basic
external shape remained the same and there is little indication that any of the walls were replaced to create
the symmetrical elevations which were the fashion of the time. The shelter shed, adjacent to the porch,
dates from this time as well. The short barn is thought to be roughly contemporary to the shelter shed,
reflecting the building’s use as a farmhouse during this period.
The final changes occurred in the 1920s when the house ceased to be used as a farmhouse and became a
private dwelling. It was at this time that it became known as Wellbrook Manor rather than Lower
Wellbrook. The footprint of the house was substantially increased at this time with practically the whole
of the rear of the building being added. So in terms of the ground floor this means the utility room and
pantry, the cloakroom, the loo, the study and small sitting room. To the rear, the additions are in exposed
brick work whilst the north western elevation and west gable elevation were clad in rough cast. The porch
was also added at this time. Imitation Gothic features were also created at this time- don’t be fooled by
the ogee shaped headed doorways on the first floor!
Joan Griffith, née Seddon
Wellbrook Manor was the home of Joan and Gerald Griffith for the last decades of their lives. They
undertook improvements to both the garden and the Manor House with triumphant results. At Wellbrook
“…gardening took over and her ambitions grew to rival Repton in the distances and Jekyll round the
house….” (Brian Sewell, May 2009, Christies Interiors South Kensington, catalogue, 28th July 2009.)
Joan Griffith trained and studied at the Courtauld Institute of Art and the Tate Gallery during the 1950s.
She took a conservative and meticulous approach to the “restoration” of pictures. Her greatest
achievement was the conservation and restoration of the Mantegna’s ‘Triumphs of Caesar’; nine
canvases, so badly compromised that she devoted twelve years to the project. She was also an
accomplished painter herself, a talent that is reflected at Wellbrook Manor, in displays of her own work,
and through the paintings and objects she and her husband collected. She had a keen eye indeed. The
joyful garden she developed from practically nothing abounds with skilfully crafted beds and the most
magnificent topiary. She adopted the traditional practise of projecting Repton in the distance and Jekyl
closer to the house with fabulously successful results. With her prize winning flock of sheep, the black as
ink bantums, and a deeply charming house brimming with a very personal collection, she created a rural
idyll that cleverly balances a deeply artistic eye and an enquiring mind.
The Vivat Trust’s Plans
On her death in July 2007, Joan Griffith left her Estate in the care of three executors, with the express
wish that the property be passed on to a charitable body in its entirety after a few personal bequests. Joan
Griffith knew of the Vivat Trust through Sir Roy Strong, the Vivat Trust’s Patron. Both share a passion
for gardens and beauty. The executors wanted the Vivat Trust to visit Wellbrook and consider how we
would use the estate. Following a series of meetings and discussions the Estate was passed to the Vivat
Trust on 5th July 2009. The Trustees and staff are delighted to be the new custodians of this vibrant estate.
Wellbrook Manor and the buildings around it offer the Vivat Trust a wonderful opportunity to preserve
the special atmosphere created by Mr and Mrs Griffith. We have been working with a team of
professionals, led by Peregrine Bryant Architects who worked with Joan on the farmhouse, to understand
more about what the Manor House was and what it could become. We have undertaken an Option
Appraisal with Peregrine and the dedicated team from Greenwoods Projects and come up with the
following solutions. All of these will be dependant on gaining listed building consents and planning
permissions, as well as funding, but we wanted to give you a flavour of our ideas.
Wellbrook Manor House
The main building will be restored sensitively to provide short term holiday accommodation for ten
people. Both the upper and lower hall will be furnished as living spaces with the dining and kitchen
rooms staying largely as they are. We will add a shower to the downstairs loo and an additional bathroom
upstairs to complete the accommodation. The adorable morning room at the rear of the building will stay
as it is.
Wellbrook Manor Farmhouse
This fascinating building has had a
comprehensive restoration of its exterior
thanks to Joan and we hope to finish the
work she started by creating an appropriate
interior for the building. We envisage this
building sleeping eight as a short term
holiday let. It will take a while to complete
but it will offer delightful accommodation in
time.
The small barn attached to the farmhouse
will be converted to offer a small sleeps two
studio space as Joan planned. When it is not
let by holiday couples, we will offer this
space at a discounted rate to artists, writers,
singers and actors throughout the year.
Wellbrook Garden Barn
The Vivat Trust propose to make the garden barn into their headquarters and move the operations from
London up to Peterchurch. One half of the barn – the one which is adjacent to the road – will house the
staff and be the focus for the UK wide restoration projects we undertake whilst the other half will form a
sleeps two holiday let. This will also be let to artists as outlined above.
Wellbrook Long Barn
The barn is largely structurally sound but requires some short term propping on the northern corner. And
it is that here we need your help most! We do not want to create any further holiday units and we know
that Joan wasn’t very fond of the idea of residential. We have considered permanent arts studios, or
perhaps live/work units for craftsmen but would love to hear your ideas about how this space could be
used. We have time to consider it as well – this will be our last phase of work at Wellbrook so please do
consider and come and see us when we move in.
In addition to the above proposals we intend in the future to orchestrate a two week gathering of artists (in
the widest possible sense) to come and stay at the accommodation provided to create an art work together.
We hope to bring together new and established artists, local and international artists and mix them
together to see what happens!
The Vivat Trust, The Garden Barn, Wellbrook Manor, Peterchurch, Hereford, HR2 0SS,
PH: 0845 0900194, EMAIL: enquiries@vivat-trust.org, www.vivat-trust.org