Client: Crafted
Sector: Hotels
Services: Refurbishment
Architects: Holder Mathias Architects
Interior design: House of Dré Final Project Value: £10.7m
The Project
Powdermills Hotel in Battle is a Grade II listed, 4-star country house hotel and estate that extends to 78 acres and includes a private lake, streams, pastures and ancient woodland, close to the site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings.
This is the first property to be opened by the hotel brand Crafted, which aims to create a portfolio of life-friendly hotels and clubs where guests and locals can benefit from nature, good food, wellbeing, crafts, socials and play.
The refurbishment programme represented a multi-million pound investment for Crafted to deliver an exceptional experience for guests and an expanded range of facilities in environmentally conscious surroundings.
The hotel has since been awarded Best Hotel in the South East in The Times Best Places to Stay Guide – a significant accolade.
Our Scope of Works
Trail Group was appointed principal contractor for the redevelopment of the hotel estate. What began as a £4.5m first-phase refurbishment developed into a major £10.7m redevelopment programme, with Trail Group delivering further phases of work across the historic hotel and wider estate.
The construction programme upgraded the fabric of the historic listed main hotel and improved the sustainability of the estate as part of the drive towards net zero.
Breathing New Life into a Historic Country Estate
The hotel has a stunning location and has been transformed into a beautiful and luxurious place to stay and socialise.
Located in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the site of the hotel was originally used for gunpowder production for over 200 years – the Sussex powder mills were renowned for their quality. The original house was destroyed by an explosion in 1676 and rebuilt in 1796. It was converted into a hotel in 1983.
An Ambitious Refurbishment Programme
The construction programme included:
- Reconfiguring the reception, social and dining spaces in the main hotel
- Refurbishing all hotel bedrooms to the highest specification
- Building a wellness centre with a gym and studios
- Converting an existing estate building into a craft barn
- Extensive external works such as new glazing, shiplap cladding, guttering and chimney flues.
Customer Insight
Joel Williams, COO, Crafted:
“Powdermills is the first hotel in our portfolio and is set in a magnificent location just a short trip from London and the East Sussex coast. It is the ideal location for our guests and neighbours to come together to relax, re-connect and escape from daily pressures. Our food and drink will be homegrown or locally sourced and we will be offering guests a unique selection of activities and amenities.”
“The hotel has been expanded over the years resulting in a fragmented collection of buildings. Our vision was to make the estate more sustainable whilst preserving its heritage for generations to come.”
Images – with thanks to Crafted
