Keystone Heritage Ltd.

“ Shackleford and Peper Harow War Memorial stands opposite St Mary’s Church at the cross roads of Shackleford Road and Elstead Road

In early September 2019 inspection of the Bargate stone base of the Memorial showed considerable deterioration of the pointing work leaving stone work loose and step edges dangerous.

Working with Shackleford Parish Council Jamie Bransden of Keystone Building and Conservation was approached along with three other specialist companies to inspect, report and recommend an approach for repair and reinstatement. Keystone were clear in their recommendations and the proposal for relaying using a lime mortar was the most economic quotation received.

After agreeing a lime mortar colour with Keystone the work proceeded within a week of receiving formal instructions.

Under the direct control of Jamie Bransden his team worked very efficiently and showed their experience of working with the lime mortar, especially in recognising the time necessary for curing and ensuring the work was well protected until they were certain the mortar could be “finished” and left open to the elements.

At all times Jamie kept us well informed and ensured that the work was completed in time for the Remembrance Service which was well attended and the new base of the Memorial admired.

The work was completed to a high standard, in budget and with the minimum of disturbance, bearing in mind that no electricity was available on site.

We would recommend Jamie’s Company, not only for the expertise but for the interest he showed in the project and open approach to his clients.



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“If there is a more talented, thoughtful, interested Heritage builder than Jamie Bransden of Keystone, I would be amazed. If you are fortunate enough to engage Jamie you will be thrilled with the results and become friends for life. I have read the reviews posted reference Jamie (Keystone) and I can honestly say I could have written all of them. Outstanding! He actually cares...
Luke Robinson, thank you for finding him for us !

We are absolutely thrilled with it Jamie, fantastic job and we can’t thank you and your team enough.”

“Jamie is a very conscientious worker. He takes great care to ensure a quality job is provided. I am delighted and so much happier now that the front of my cottage has been renovated and restored to the correct lime-wash and she can now breath properly again. I am also happier knowing I have an improved drainage system and the repointing is perfect too. All his work looks fabulous. Jamie’s enthusiasm for doing quality work using the old methods appropriate for my cottage comes out in his work. Jamie is a very reliable, friendly, trustworthy and professional builder. I would not hesitate in enlisting him again if needed.”

“Jamie has a holistic understanding of buildings and is able to to calmly and efficiently
work out and advise the best course of action, which he communicates clearly.
He has many practical skills; a good knowledge of materials, works hard and has
a sensitive aesthetic. You can trust that he wants to achieve the best for you and your building.”

“Jamie’s first job for us was in 2012, which involved completely renovating/restoring our stone 2 storey coach house & roof in South West Wales. We were so pleased & impressed with the quality of his work that we invited him back subsequently to restore the stone workshop, middle barn & house roof & exterior, these projects ran from 2013 to 2014. Jamie is an extremely conscientious & versatile worker, thinking through all aspects of his work, taking great care & ensuring a quality job is provided. Jamie is a very reliable, professional & friendly builder; we would certainly not hesitate in appointing him again if needed.”

“We can thoroughly recommend Jamie and Toby as skilled, dedicated, trustworthy workers, and all-round lovely people! Keystone restored our damp, slightly shaky old Victorian house back into a beautiful stone building, with replacement lintels, expertly rebuilt and repaired brick arches and chimneys, and beautifully repointed with lime mortar. Internally, they removed crumbling original plasterwork and replaced it with carefully applied horsehair and lime plaster, which has now completely blended in with the surrounding remaining original plaster. Thoroughly professional attitude , considerate and good communications...they even fed the cat for us when we were away! Highly recommended! Thank you from Sarah and Justin.”

“Jamie has has been a fantastic builder on our recent barn conversion. He is well organised, quick, and does a really good job. He does things properly is good to communicate with and has a great deal of experience in old buildings, lime plaster and roofing. He really is a great find and I wouldn’t hesitate to have him back for our next project and would be willing to wait until he is available.”

“Jamie and Toby are superb craftsmen. You can rely on them to come up with good ideas, and carry out to a high standard whatever they undertake. We recommend them very highly.
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