5 and 5A, Latimer Street. Romsey, SO51 6KD

Builder: Clearstream / DPK Contractors and Buildings Services, Southampton

Architects: Neill Beasley/Phil Blencowe from Genesis Design Studio, Romsey

Date: 2015 – 2016

“Latimer News”, located at 5 Latimer Street, was a newsagent for many years with the flat above used as an office. The interior of the shop was completely reconfigured and refurbished and the flat above, now 5a Latimer Street, was reinstated as a separate property with its own front door. Some of the storage space at the rear of the shop was used to build a new two storey house with an attractive, secluded courtyard.

The newsagent’s shop was in a very dilapidated state having seen little maintenance or improvement for many years. The shop interior was very dark and claustrophobic because of internal walls and an old chimney breast. The rear of the shop was in terrible condition with run-down storage areas.

The first step was to clear the cellar of rubbish and this was accomplished by members of the Committee in a working party. A decision was made to remove the redundant internal walls and to install two large steel ceiling beams on new piers. This had the dramatic effect of allowing light to reach the back of the shop and also stabilised the upper load-bearing walls.

A new wall was built across the back of the shop to divide it from the area set aside for the construction of the new house at the rear, however, a temporary gap in the wall had to be left to allow access through the shop in order to facilitate the work on the house.

At the back of the shop, a new lavatory and kitchenette have been installed. The shop has been completely damp-proofed, re-plastered, re-wired and electric storage radiators have been fitted.

Below the front of the shop there is a dry cellar which provides a useful storage area. A new shop front, painted in light blue, has completed a stunning transformation which has dramatically enhanced the Latimer Street scene. The shop is now light and airy – a major improvement from its earlier dingy interior. The shop and flat above have been purchased by the local jeweller Kersey & Son.

5A Latimer Street

This accommodation formed the upper storey of the shop “Latimer News” and had been used many years ago as a flat with access from the shop. Comprising of three rooms and a bathroom, the flat had been used more recently as office space for the shop.   The rooms were in appalling condition, especially the bathroom and needed total refurbishment.  The Trust decided to separate the flat from the shop and to build a separate entrance opening onto Latimer Street.

The first step was to remove the old chimney to allow a new staircase to be installed for the entrance onto Latimer Street.

The bedroom at the rear of the property was in very poor condition with small windows and required extensive renovation including new walls and complete re-plastering.   French doors and a Juliet balcony were installed and a range of fitted wardrobes were fitted, one of which contained the hot water system.

A modern bathroom was installed with a new window, tiled floor and a white suite – a dramatic improvement over what had been present before.

Previously the flat had had no kitchen except a basic facility on the floor below.   A new modern kitchen was installed fully fitted with an extensive array of cupboards.

The sitting room has been fully re-plastered and decorated and a dummy fireplace fitted. 

Both the kitchen and sitting room look out onto Latimer Street through new period-style windows.   Between the windows the original “blank” panel has been retained.  This would have had the name of the shop written on it in days gone by.