Becket's Chapel in Wymondham, a Grade I listed building with roots stretching back to the 12th century, has been crowned winner of the 2025 Civic Trust AABC Conservation Awards - joining an elite group of just four projects nationwide to receive this honor. The chapel now stands alongside iconic landmarks like Elizabeth Tower and Westminster Hall as an exemplar of how historic preservation can blend seamlessly with modern innovation.
A Race Against Time
The chapel's journey to recognition wasn't straightforward. By 2018, this architectural treasure had deteriorated so badly that it landed on the Heritage at Risk register - a sobering reminder of what happens when historic buildings lack adequate funding and care. Years of neglect had taken their toll, leaving the community with a stark choice: act quickly or lose this irreplaceable piece of Norfolk's heritage forever.
The turning point came in autumn 2022 when Historic Norfolk acquired the building and assembled a restoration team led by Architect Studio Ltd. CBG Consultants was brought in to tackle one of the project's most complex challenges: how to breathe modern life into medieval walls without compromising their historic integrity.
Engineering Heritage for the Future
CBG's approach to the restoration went far beyond simple repairs. Principal Engineer Eddie Ireson and his team conducted a comprehensive building services survey before developing a strategic repair plan that would future-proof the chapel for generations to come.
The engineering challenge was considerable: how do you install modern heating, lighting, and electrical systems in a building that predates electricity by seven centuries? The answer lay in careful planning and innovative solutions that respected the chapel's ancient character while meeting 21st-century needs.
The team's sustainability focus led them to explore cutting-edge options including Ground and Air Source Heat Pumps and Solar PV systems to minimize the building's carbon footprint. Using advanced thermal modeling software, they assessed heat loss scenarios and designed an underfloor heating system ready to integrate with future low-carbon technologies.
Perhaps most impressively, they managed to update all electrical systems - lighting, power, and data services - with upgrades so discreet they're virtually invisible, preserving the chapel's medieval atmosphere while enabling flexible modern use. New fire safety systems were seamlessly integrated to meet current standards without compromising the building's historic appearance.
A Community Jewel Restored
The judges' praise speaks volumes about the project's success: "In preserving Becket's Chapel, this initiative showcases how conservation can harmonise tradition and modernity, ensuring that historic buildings continue to enrich the community for generations to come."
Today, the chapel buzzes with activity once again. Where silence and decay once reigned, the building now hosts concerts that fill its ancient walls with music, weddings that celebrate new beginnings in a space steeped in history, community markets that bring neighbors together, and art exhibitions that showcase local creativity.
"It was great to be involved with this project and seeing Becket's Chapel restored to full functionality is very rewarding," reflects Eddie Ireson. "We are thrilled our contribution has been publicly recognized by winning this great accolade."
Becket's Chapel among Britain's finest conservation success stories.
For CBG Consultants - a practice specializing in sustainable building services, mechanical and electrical engineering solutions, and Passivhaus design - the award represents more than professional recognition. It validates their approach to maximizing building efficiency through optimized fabric design and innovative engineering solutions.
The company, which expanded its capabilities in 2023 by acquiring lighting consultancy Light Perceptions Ltd, continues to demonstrate that modern engineering and historic preservation aren't opposing forces - they're powerful partners in ensuring our built heritage survives and thrives.
Becket's Chapel stands as proof that with vision, expertise, and commitment, even the most challenging conservation projects can transform heritage at risk into community assets that will serve future generations. In an age when historic buildings face mounting pressures, this 900-year-old chapel's journey from dereliction to national recognition offers hope, and a blueprint, for preserving the irreplaceable.