Historic Clarendon building in Oxford receives Ventrolla window upgrade

Clarendon Building

The Clarendon Building in Oxford, a landmark Grade I listed property dating back to 1711, has received a bespoke window upgrade, helping to restore the building to its original splendour. In a project which commenced in June 2005, national market-leading sash window renovation specialists, Ventrolla, have upgraded 58 original oak windows, in varying shapes and sizes. This intricate operation, which has aimed to conserve the traditional period style, whilst bringing modern standards of performance, required exact matches to be made with original parting beads, and the customized manufacture of large oak staff beads to match the originals.

The work to upgrade the windows of the Clarendon Building, which is used for administration by Oxford University, was carried out by Ventrolla Chiltern & Cotswolds, a regional arm of Ventrolla Limited. Nationally, Ventrolla has carried out extensive window renovation in the commercial sector, including sash window upgrades at Rules restaurant in Covent Garden, Nottingham Lace market and Wilton Castle.

The Clarendon Building was built in the early 18th century to the designs of Nicholas Hawksmoor, a pupil of Wren. Originally built to house the Oxford University press, the building owes its name to the fact that it was partly paid for by the profits from the publication of the ‘History of the Great Rebellion’ by Lord Clarendon. For a short time during the early 19th century the University police occupied the building, with cells in the basement, but it was adapted for use as a registry building in 1832.

The project to upgrade Clarendon House was undertaken by main contractors Benfield & Loxley, with Ventrolla acting as specialist sub-contractors to renovate the original windows.