Trevor BevinsLocal Democracy Reporting Service

LDRS Kingston Maurward House in Dorset — Kingston Maurward House has been described as “a fine example of a Georgian English country house

Plans to use a synthetic covering to repair the roof of a Grade 1 listed manor house “would cause harm” to the building’s historic status, experts have said.

The agricultural college based at Kingston Maurward House, near Dorchester in Dorset, has applied to replace a flat roof to prevent leaks.

But Historic England said the materials proposed would be “not suitable to the character of this 18th century country house”.

The college, which is part of Coastland College, has been contacted for a comment.

Kingston Maurward House was built in about 1717 for George Pitt and is constructed of red brick and later clad in Portland Stone ashlar.

The interior was remodelled in the early 20th Century in an 18th Century style.

Dorset Council’s conservation officers previously supported the original college proposal.

For works affecting Grade I listed building, if Historic England formally objects to an application the local planning authority must refer it to the secretary of state for a final decision.

The college applied for planning consent to remove the existing coping stones and then reinstate them once a new membrane has been fitted.

According to the application, parapets, gutters and other rainwater goods would be repaired, or replaced, in a way sympathetic to the original structure.

Lucy Foster, assistant inspector of historic buildings and areas for Historic England, said: This is a high-status building that was built using high-quality materials.

“Synthetic plastic-based materials do not meet this high standard, and their use here would cause harm to the status and significance of the building.

“It is important that we retain high-skilled craftspeople in the repair of historic buildings and traditional metalworking skills are an important part of our cultural heritage.”