East Lodge, Rokeby Park, County Durham
WestWood worked with Orchard Developments to refurbish the deteriorated felt roof of a Grade II listed heritage gatehouse, delivering a warm roof system that replicates traditional lead detailing.
Grade II Listed Heritage Gatehouse
The East Lodge to Rokeby Park is a Grade II listed building, designed in a Greek revival architectural style. It sits at one of the entrance points to Rokeby Park, an 18th-century landscaped area spanning approximately 48 hectares and home to a Palladian-style country house.
The lodge’s existing felt roof had failed, requiring a full refurbishment. Surveys revealed extensive delamination, moisture ingress, and decayed timbers throughout. The condition of the deck and structure demanded a full rebuild down to the joists. All replacement materials had to adhere to heritage standards and preserve the lodge’s historic character.
Scope Of Works
The roof was stripped entirely before installing a new warm roof build-up comprising WestWood’s Wecryl 230, a fleece-reinforced PMMA-based waterproofing resin that is cold applied.
To replicate the traditional lead roll aesthetic, timber rolls were carefully adhered with Wecryl 810 putty to match heritage spacing and proportions, and then fully encapsulated in the liquid resin. A controlled topcoat application recreated the metallic sheen and shadow lines characteristic of historic leadwork.
Additional works included the structural rebuilding of inadequate gutter sections, re-profiling of outlets to ensure correct falls, and masonry rebuilding around the chimney above the membrane termination level to eliminate chronic water ingress.
Heritage Restrictions
Heritage restrictions prohibited the use of any visible metal trims, flashings, or modern verge details. The team responded by extending the Wecryl membrane over the stone verge and terminating it 30 mm from the edge, maintaining waterproofing integrity and the required aesthetic with no contemporary components visible.
Autumn working conditions brought low temperatures and intermittent rainfall. Works were carefully sequenced around monitored weather windows, with partially completed areas protected by temporary coverings throughout. As PMMA chemistry can cure in as little as 30 minutes, this also helped to keep the programme on track.
Heritage Detailing
Membrane extended over stone verge to satisfy conservation requirements
Full Structural Rebuild
Roof stripped to joists and fully rebuilt with warm roof system
Lead Roll Replication
Timber rolls encapsulated in Wecryl 230 resin to recreate authentic historic leadwork
Autumn Weather
Fast curing PMMA chemistry enabled progress in cold and wet weather
Seamless PMMA Waterproofing System
The completed roof has restored the East Lodge’s historic appearance, with a seamless PMMA waterproofing system that replicates the character and texture of traditional lead. The project has also upgraded the roof’s thermal efficiency, corrected drainage falls and provided long-term waterproofing to protect the historic structure for years to come.
The high standards of workmanship were recognised at the LRWA Awards 2026 where the project was named a finalist in the ‘Liquid Roofing Project of the Year under 1,000 sq. m’ category.
