Ockwells Manor
Berkshire
This project was located within the grounds of a Grade I listed estate, and formed part of a wider restoration project involving the main house, surrounding grounds, and historic outbuildings.
We were engaged by Owlsworth IJP Ltd to remove and replace a failing concrete floor within a listed barn, preparing it for the installation of stabling facilities for polo ponies.
Floor
removal & site preparation
We began by breaking out the existing concrete slab:
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Used an excavator-mounted hydraulic breaker, keeping clear of the barn’s perimeter to avoid damage to the fragile oak timber frame
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The edges were carefully completed using handheld breakers, protecting the structure where the frame was particularly delicate
Once the old slab was removed, we:
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Excavated down to the reduced level
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Rebuilt the base using compacted layers of MOT Type 1, providing a stable subbase for the new slab
Drainage installation
With the base in place, we installed a linear drainage system:
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A line of dished channels with gully pots was laid to ensure effective fluid removal from within the barn
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This was designed to handle wash-down and liquid waste associated with equestrian use
New
concrete slab construction
We prepared the area for the new floor slab:
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Set out concrete bays with K-Form movement joints as per design
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Concreted the area to a high-quality float finish, ready for the final layer of horse-grade rubber matting
Additional works on site
During this visit, we also carried out additional tasks elsewhere on the estate:
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Installed a large MOT Type 1 hardstanding area for general client use
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Demolished two greenhouses, infilling the voids with concrete to form a temporary storage zone
Ongoing works
This is an active and ongoing project. As restoration of the estate continues, we will be carrying out further phases of work, with more updates to follow as the project progresses.
