Hep20 Technical Handbook

Hep 2
O ® Case Studies
Hep 2 O ® Brings New Life
to an 1830’s Landmark
An 1830’s landmark, said to be the
most photographed building in
Somerset, is being given a new
lease of life with a little help from
one of today’s hi-tech plumbing
systems. Hep 2 O ® has been
specified by owner Mike Pope as
the ideal solution to ease
installation in the tiny Turnpike
Cottage on the A30 at Chard.
Dating back to 1839, the Grade 11
listed building is a former tollcollector’s
cottage. Built from
limestone dressings with flint
facades and rubblestone returns
beneath a thatched roof it is familiar
to thousands of tourists as a
landmark en route to Cornwall.
Occupied until the 1980s, it has
more recently fallen into disrepair
and was bought by South Somerset
District Council in 2000 with a view
to finding a buyer willing to
renovate it.
Mike Pope, a civil engineer, with a
passion for restoring small and
quirky buildings is now in the
process of faithfully renovating the
property which will retain as many
as possible of its historic features.
Comforts
When the restoration is complete,
visitors will find the cottage
exterior all but indistinguishable
from the original. The old cast iron
range will once again provide a
welcoming focal point to the main
downstairs room but 21 st century
plumbing will provide the additional
comforts of hot and cold running
water and central heating.
Turnpike Cottage is a familiar landmark
on the A30 near Chard
Original plumbing
The original plumbing, however,
consisted of a privy at the bottom of
the garden so it was determined
something a little more modern
would now be appropriate.
Traditional rigid plumbing would have
posed several problems in the
confined space of the building,
particularly under the thatched roof
where using blowtorches would have
presented a considerable fire risk.
By contrast the flexible Hep 2 O ®
push-fit system can readily be
routed around the cottage with the
minimum number of joints and is
easy to work with, even in parts of
the roof where the headroom is no
more than a metre.
Flexibility and push-fit joints ease installation and ensure safety in the restricted space
under the eaves of the thatched roof
Challenge: Fit new plumbing in a Grade II listed building
Location: Chard, Somerset
Installation: Hot and cold water services, central heating
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