Chippenham Architects
Forgeworks is a RIBA Chartered practice specialising in new houses, extensions, and retrofits. We work with homeowners and developers to create buildings that are innovative and modern with a distinct sense of character.
The studio was established in 2021 and is led by studio director Chris Hawkins from our offices in London and the South West. Chris has over 20 years’ experience in the construction industry spanning residential, cultural, workplace and community projects, including the Stirling Prize nominated Olympic Velodrome.
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+44(0)1722 562 975
info@forgeworks.co.uk
Archway Studio 1, Fisherton Mill, 108 Fisherton Street, Wiltshire SP2 7QY
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Our experience in Chippenham, Wiltshire
Chippenham Architects
We know that great design can unlock the potential of any building and have a huge impact on your enjoyment of your home. Inspired by both vernacular and contemporary architecture, Forgeworks’ projects combine expressive forms and spatial problem-solving with thoughtful use of materials and a unique crafted identity.
Forgeworks is experienced in sourcing and working with skilled tradespeople and consultants to deliver high quality design and value at any scale, and has a proven track record of success obtaining planning consent.
Naturally collaborative, we enjoy getting to know our clients and understanding what they want and need from their home. From initial conversations through to final delivery, we will involve and support you through the process - ensuring your design brief is translated into a beautiful building that works for you.
Chippenham Architects
Chippenham Architects
Featured Projects
A House of Wood Shingle dramatically transforms a 1950’s bungalow by wrapping the entire exterior in a natural cedar cladding and reconfiguring its interior spaces to create a highly insulated energy-efficient family home.
A House of Blue Lias connects a traditional Mendip farmhouse and its adjacent renovated barn through a contemporary ‘link’ building which reorientates the whole residence around its south-facing terrace and establishes a welcoming new main entrance.
A contemporary one-off house design realised using traditional materials, this four bedroom new build family home with views across the New forest national park, makes the most of its setting amidst fields and woodland.
Journal: 011
Stone Streets and Community Spirit in Chippenham
At dawn the Old Market Place in Chippenham awakens in gentle hues as the first rays of sun reflect on ashlar façades and timber-framed barns. Traders arrive to set out stalls of seasonal produce and handmade wares beneath the arches of the Buttercross, a stone pavilion that has presided over the square since the eighteenth century. Pale limestone walls glow with a warm patina, their surfaces bearing the soft indentations of centuries of hands and carts. Cobbles, smoothed by carts and countless feet, catch the light in subtle gradations of grey and cream. The River Avon flows tranquilly nearby, its waters lapping at the edge of Town Bridge before winding through the parish churchyard. A solitary baker replaces his wooden crates with baskets of sourdough loaves, while a florist arranges blooms in tiny glass bottles lined up on a reclaimed pine trestle table. In these quiet moments the Market Place feels suspended between past and present, a stage set for the day’s commerce and community ritual.
Medieval Roots and Georgian Facades
Chippenham’s medieval origins trace back to Norman burgage plots that determined the widths of its long, narrow property divisions. Along Monkton Park Road and Castle Street these ancient burgages persist in the form of tight-knit terraces and winding lanes. Many of the original timber-framed cottages have been refaced or infilled with cob and flint, their exposed oak beams still visible beneath layers of lime wash. In the late eighteenth century the town embraced Georgian elegance: red-brick terraces rose along Pew Hill and Lowden, complete with symmetrical sash windows and classical doorcases in decorative fanlights. Town Bridge was rebuilt in 1825 with Bath stone arches, linking the medieval core to outlying villages and influencing the choice of local ashlar for buildings on either bank. The juxtaposition of medieval laneways and disciplined Georgian elevations gives Chippenham a rare architectural tension, one in which the spontaneous grain of earlier centuries coexists with the measured order of Regency-era design.
Heritage Homes Reimagined for Families
Former weavers’ cottages and modest townhouses now form coveted family homes, their character enhanced by discreet modern upgrades. Fair face brickwork is repaired in lime mortar to match original bonds, while secondary glazing is installed within existing sash frames to reduce noise and improve thermal performance without altering the external appearance. Under-floor heating coils lie beneath reclaimed elm or oak floorboards salvaged from redundant barns, providing gentle warmth that rises through cool surfaces. Rooflights are inserted behind parapet walls to avoid breaking historic ridges yet flood attic rooms with daylight. Where rear wings once housed washhouses and stores, glass-lined extensions stretch into private, paved courtyards. These pavilions feature slim metal uprights and frameless glazing panels that reflect the texture of adjacent flint walls, creating an almost floating effect. In each case interventions respect the original plan form, retaining narrow corridors and small rooms while combining them to suit open-plan family life. The result is a domestic architecture that feels rooted in heritage yet capable of accommodating modern lifestyles.
Interiors that Weave Past and Present
Inside these restored homes a careful choreography of materials and light celebrates both craftsmanship and contemporary comfort. Walls are finished in breathable lime plaster, often tinted with muted ochre or slate-grey pigments derived from local clays. Exposed ceiling joists are left untouched, their heavy oak forms tracing the geometry of original roof structures. In former parlours, hand-woven rugs made from British wool soften flagstone floors while drawing attention to restored fireplace surrounds of carved Bath stone. Joinery is bespoke and built in local oak or ash, its profiles echoing original skirting boards and door architraves. Kitchen cabinetry hides modern appliances behind panelled doors, while open shelving displays artisan ceramics and pewter bowls crafted in nearby workshops. Lighting is subtle and indirect: concealed uplights behind reed-woven screens evoke the glow of candlelight, and slender rod-mounted pendants recall early gas lamps in scale and proportion. Together these elements forge interiors that feel both venerable and entirely of today.
Green Spaces and Pocket Parks
Beyond the dense core of streets and alleys lie a network of burgage-gardens and pocket parks that knit the town centre to surrounding suburbs. The restored Cross Hayes Park features native wildflower meadows interwoven with gravel paths, forming an ecological tapestry that supports pollinators and cleanses rainwater. In small courtyards behind Market Place workshops, raised beds planted with herbs and seasonal vegetables provide shared amenity for residents and traders alike. Flood-plain meadows along the Avon have been replanted with sedges and meadow grasses, their gently undulating swales storing excess runoff and reducing flood risk. A converted coach house now overlooks a new courtyard park planted with standard apple and plum trees, where quiet benches invite morning tea. Discreet bicycle-parking shelters clad in reclaimed timber sit within these green nodes, encouraging active travel. Throughout, seating and paving employ York-stone flags and recycled granite setts that recall historic streets while delivering contemporary performance.
A Town That Welcomes Tomorrow
Chippenham’s future rests on the principles of stewardship and adaptation. Conservation areas guide sensitive refurbishment, ensuring that new shopfronts and signage respect historic proportions and materials. Pilot net-zero retrofit projects are testing internal insulation panels that preserve original brickwork while boosting energy efficiency. Community land trusts explore the conversion of redundant barns into affordable dwellings, maintaining the character of rural-urban fringe while addressing local housing needs. Digital heritage trails invite residents and visitors to explore hidden corners of burgage plots via augmented-reality wayfinding, weaving stories of millennia into daily walks. On market days, the revival of traditional crafts and local produce stands alongside pop-up galleries and book exchanges in restored market stalls. In each endeavour, Chippenham honours its stone streets and community spirit by marrying respect for the past with a willingness to innovate. The result is a town that welcomes tomorrow with open arms and a firm grasp of its own enduring character.
Chippenham Architects
Contact Forgeworks
Chippenham Architects
If you’re ready to bring your vision to life, we’d love to hear from you.
Whether you’re in the early stages of planning or ready to start designing your custom home, Forgeworks Architects are here to guide you through every step of the process.
Reach out today to schedule a consultation, and let’s explore how we can create a space that is as unique and inspiring as you are. Your dream home starts with a conversation… let’s begin.
Journal: 017
Chippenham Architects
Innovation Along the Avon in Chippenham
The River Avon has shaped Chippenham’s identity for centuries, powering woollen mills and driving the growth of industry in the town. Today those same mill buildings offer a striking contrast of old and new as they house technology start-ups, design studios and collaborative workspaces. Massive brick walls punctuated by tall, arched windows now frame desks laden with laptops rather than looms and carding machines. Original cast-iron columns that once supported heavy conveyors are celebrated as interior features, their dark patina juxtaposed with bright contemporary furniture. Roof ridges that vented steam engines now support rows of photovoltaic panels, their sharp geometry echoing the rhythm of historic chimney stacks. In corridors once dedicated to wool pressing, teams of software developers debug code and plan digital campaigns. Ground-floor courtyards that once stored raw fleece now host pop-up markets for local makers. The transformation of mill town to innovation hub shows how industrial heritage can form the backbone of a modern creative economy.
Canalside Quays and Rail Heritage Reborn
The Kennet and Avon Canal runs through Chippenham, tracing a watery route from Bath to Bristol and linking a legacy of transport and trade. Along its banks former wharves and sidings have been reborn as mixed-use precincts where waterside cafés, co-working lofts and community hubs flourish. Weathered stone quay walls now support timber boardwalks that stand above high-water marks, while original mooring rings and iron bollards survive as tactile reminders of a working canal. Narrowboats laden with coffee bar equipment moor beside refurbished workshops, their bright paint reflecting in rippling water. Disused railway arches that once concealed freight sidings now shelter makers’ studios, yoga schools and acoustic music venues. Glass partitions inserted into gently curved brick vaults allow daylight to flood creative spaces without disturbing historic fabric. Wayfinding signage crafted from reclaimed timber guides visitors along towpaths and through undercroft passages that once echoed with the wheels of wagons. This revival of canal-side heritage has woven new life into Chippenham’s waterside, fostering connections between past and present.
Office Spaces in Historic Shells
Beyond the mills and quays, civic buildings and warehouses across Chippenham have found fresh purpose as high-performance office spaces. Former engine houses adjacent to the river now host architectural practices and environmental consultancies, their heavy doors replaced by glazed screens that reveal industrial trusses above. Town halls and Victorian market offices have been retrofitted with discreet mechanical ventilation and heat recovery systems, ensuring that fresh air circulates without intrusive ductwork. Original floorboards are overlaid with floating timber panels to hide under-floor heating installations. In a former police station, cells have been transformed into private meeting rooms, each retaining its original barred windows but now fitted with sound-insulating secondary glazing. Atriums created by inserting lightweight steel frames between load-bearing walls bring natural light into deep plans, while rooftop terraces offer views of church spires and rolling downs beyond. In every case the retained shells lend instant character and narrative to modern workplaces, demonstrating that sustainability and heritage conservation can go hand in hand.
Digital Craft and Artisan Makers
Chippenham’s creative economy thrives on the collision of digital tools and traditional crafts. Fabrication labs equipped with laser-cutters, CNC routers and 3D printers sit alongside woodwork shops and metal-working studios where artisans shape timber and steel by hand. Designers use computer-aided design software to prototype components that craftsmen then assemble with reclaimed oak or salvaged brick. A single project might see a student group use virtual-reality headsets to refine a concept before sending parts to a water-jet cutter, then hand-finishing the result in a nearby forge. Community-run maker spaces offer affordable memberships so that hobbyists and entrepreneurs can share high-end equipment without prohibitive capital cost. Workshops run regular open days to invite the public in, creating bridges between code and craft, app development and ceramics. Through this digital-craft ecosystem, Chippenham nurtures hybrid skills that respect material authenticity while embracing the efficiencies and precision of modern technology.
Public Realm Upgrades and Active Travel
Investment in Chippenham’s public realm has sought to improve connectivity and resilience along the Avon corridor. New cycle routes follow former railway alignments, connecting town centre to suburbs with signposted paths surfaced in compacted stone and local granite chippings. Raised boardwalks trace the river edge, stepping over seasonal floodplains and allowing water to move beneath without damaging surfaces. Rain-garden plazas channel runoff into planted basins where native reeds and sedges filter pollutants before water returns to the river. Hand-forged metal benches inspired by local iron-foundry patterns invite passers-by to pause and watch narrowboats gliding by. LED lighting strips recessed into path edges offer safe night-time navigation without glare, while granite setts demarcate shared spaces where pedestrians and cyclists coexist. New pedestrian bridges modelled on historic canal-lock gates span mill streams, their steel frames clad in weathered oak planks that echo the texture of nearby barns. These upgrades promote active travel and enhance flood resilience, turning formerly industrial zones into safe, accessible and inviting public spaces.
Charting Chippenham’s Next Chapter
Looking ahead, Chippenham’s industrial legacy continues to serve as a springboard for sustainable growth and community innovation. Pilot net-zero retrofit schemes in conservation areas are testing internal insulation panels that preserve historic masonry while reducing heat loss. Community incubation spaces are being established in under-used mill wings, offering affordable desks and mentorship for social enterprises tackling local challenges such as affordable housing and food security. Digital heritage mapping tools enable residents to visualise proposed changes against archival photographs and building surveys, fostering inclusive consultation and transparent decision-making. Plans for floating market platforms and pop-up pavilions on the canal promise to host seasonal festivals and maker markets that rise and fall with water levels rather than resisting them. Education partnerships between local schools and fabrication labs aim to equip the next generation with hybrid skills that link programming with woodcraft and electronics with textiles. In every initiative the goal is to honour Chippenham’s past as a transport and industrial hub while charting a creative, resilient future that benefits all residents.