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Buying a Period Property in Suffolk: A Buyer’s Guide

Buying a period property in Suffolk is one of the most rewarding purchases you can make. It is also one […]

Join Our Growing Team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd

    We’re on the lookout for exceptional people to join our award-winning team here at Emmerson Critchley Ltd. Could […]

Limecrete Floors: A Complete Guide for Period Property Owners

If you own a period property, you may already know that the floor beneath your feet matters more than most […]

Renovation Ideas for Listed Buildings: What’s Possible

Owning a listed building in Suffolk or Cambridgeshire is a privilege. It is also, if we are being honest, occasionally […]

Heritage building on Angel Hill in Bury St. Edmunds

Restoring a Landmark on Angel Hill, Bury St. Edmunds

Some buildings play a quiet but important role in defining a town. Sitting opposite Abbey Gardens on Angel Hill in […]

What is Pargeting? A Suffolk Craft Explained

Pargeting is the traditional craft of applying decorative designs to a building’s exterior using lime plaster. It was introduced to […]

Planning for a house build

From Planning to Completion: What to Expect From a Suffolk Building Company

Choosing the right building company is one of the most important decisions you can make when planning a renovation, extension, […]

Passivhaus in Suffolk: Building Energy Efficient Homes the Right Way

Energy efficiency has become one of the most important considerations for homeowners planning a renovation or new build. With rising […]

Elevation of thatched property with lathe wall

Common Problems in Period Homes and How Builders Solve Them

Period homes are one of the defining features of Suffolk and towns such as Bury St. Edmunds. From timber-framed cottages […]

Cottage with side extension

Planning Permission for an Extension: Do I Need It?

Planning an extension is an exciting step for many homeowners, whether it’s to create more living space, improve layout or […]

Top Safety Accreditation for Emmerson Critchley Limited

We are pleased to announce that Emmerson Critchley Limited has been awarded accreditation from Alcumus SafeContractor for achieving excellence in […]

Caslte building

What Is a Grade II Listed Building: What You Need to Know

Grade II listed buildings form a significant part of Suffolk’s architectural heritage. From Georgian townhouses in Bury St. Edmunds to […]

Lime Rendering in Bury St. Edmunds: Why It’s Essential

Lime rendering plays a vital role in protecting and preserving traditional buildings across Bury St. Edmunds and the wider Suffolk […]

Insulating Your Suffolk Home: What You Need To Know

Insulating your home properly is one of the most effective ways to improve comfort, reduce energy bills and protect the […]

Restoring Suffolk’s Heritage: Why Period Properties Need a Specialist Builder

Whether it is a timber-framed farmhouse in Lavenham or a Georgian townhouse in the heart of Bury St. Edmunds, owning […]

Finding a Trusted Builder in Bury St. Edmunds: A Homeowner’s Guide

Choosing a builder is one of the biggest financial commitments a homeowner will make. Whether you are planning a modern […]

The Cost of Building a House in the UK

Building your own home is one of the most exciting and rewarding projects you can undertake. It offers the opportunity […]

Listed Building Consent: What You Need to Know

Working on a listed property is one of the most rewarding parts of construction, but it also comes with unique […]

Refurbishment vs Renovation – Things to Consider

When it comes to improving your home, the terms refurbishment and renovation are often used interchangeably. Yet, while both involve […]

Emmerson Critchley Ltd team at Bury Business Awards 2025

Emmerson Critchley Ltd Celebrates “Highly Commended” Award at the Bury Business Awards 2025

We are delighted to share that Emmerson Critchley Ltd has been recognised as Highly Commended at the Bury Business Awards […]

Restoring a Listed Building: Crafting New Windows

Restoring a listed building is always a careful balance between preservation and progress. Every detail matters, from the choice of […]

planning-consultancy-services-suffolk-home

Choosing The Right Builder For Your Extension or Renovation

When planning an extension or renovation, one of the most important decisions you will make is choosing the right builder. […]

Overcoming Planning Challenges

Breaking New Ground: Overcoming Planning Challenges in Great Barton

At Emmerson Critchley Limited, we’re excited to share our recent planning successes in Great Barton, Bury St. Edmunds—showcasing our commitment […]

Transforming a Period Property into a Passivhaus: A Case Study from Histon, Cambridge

When it comes to retrofitting period properties with modern energy efficiency standards, the challenge often lies in reconciling the need […]

A Historic Journey with Emmerson Critchley Ltd at Greggs, Bury St Edmunds

Discovering the Layers of History in a Grade 2 Building Emmerson Critchley Ltd is thrilled to announce our latest and […]

Exciting News: A warm welcome to Bradley Guest as our new Contracts Manager!

We are thrilled to welcome our new Contracts Manager to the team; Bradley Guest who has over 25 years’ experience […]

The Time-Tested Art of Lime Rendering

With the construction industry under pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, more people and businesses are looking at sustainable ways […]

Renovating Listed Timber-Framed Buildings: Challenges and Rewards

Nestled among the bustling streets of our towns and cities, listed timber-framed buildings offer a captivating blend of history and charm.

How to retain character when renovating a period home

The thought of renovating your home can be both exciting and daunting. At Emmerson Critchley, we understand the delicate balance between preserving the character of your period property while incorporating modern comforts.

The importance of Lime rendering in maintaining period properties

In this blog we explain how lime rendering is used in the renovation of period properties, helping restore period properties  back to their former glory.

Period Property Maintenance: Common Problems and Solutions

Maintaining a period property can be a rewarding experience, however, they can also come with their own set of challenges when it comes to maintenance.

Preserving the Past: A Guide to Renovating Listed Buildings and Period Properties

Listed and period properties are a valuable part of our cultural heritage. Renovating them requires a delicate balance. Find out how in our latest blog…

The Perks of Period Properties: Why They Command Higher Prices

As a period, property owner, you’re probably well aware of the unique charm that your home offers. But did you know that this charm can translate into a significant financial benefit?

Ways to Renovate Your Listed Building (Without Planning)

Check out our creative ideas to help you transform your listed property without compromising its integrity

Limecrete flooring installation

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd has just completed a new limecrete floor at a charming thatched period property in Cambridgeshire.

Stunning Victorian bathroom in Suffolk

This opulent Victorian inspired bathroom is perfectly fitting within its traditional Suffolk country house setting. Its creation has been made possible thanks to a two-storey extension project undertaken by Emmerson Critchley Ltd’s specialist traditional building team.

Open for business as normal

Come rain, shine or lockdown, the team at our award-winning building firm Emmerson Critchley Ltd continues to work at full capacity. So please feel free to contact us as normal. We are here to support you with your building project. We specialise in traditional building techniques. These are not only for period properties. We also advise on how best to use traditional building methods for modern and new build projects with stunning results. Contact us today for a quote or further advice.

Sudbury development nears completion

A once dilapidated barn, formerly on the Buildings at Risk register, is now a stunning three-bedroom dwelling. It offers a quality, modern finish, and showcases the very best traditional building skills from an award-winning traditional building firm.

Lowering our carbon impact

Emmerson Critchley Ltd is proud to use Bulb as its energy supplier and, in so doing, has lowered the firm’s carbon impact “by 731 tonnes of CO2 every year”.

Pargeting masterclass

Pargeting is a traditional English craft that is particularly prevalent throughout East Anglia. Sadly, it’s perhaps a less common craft than it once was.  Pargeting is the provision of decorative designs to a façade using lime plaster and was first introduced by Henry VIII. The brief for the Emmerson Critchley Ltd team in this case was to showcase the story of the property and the results are wonderful.

Restored to good health

Another recent project completed by the Emmerson Critchley Ltd team: restoring this lovely timber framed period house. The project included: timber frame repairs, applying lime render, changing the fascias, soffits and guttering and solving a problem with water ingress.

Underfloor heated limecrete floor for GI Listed church

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd, which specialises in traditional building techniques and materials, is delighted to have successfully installed a limecrete floor with underfloor heating for this stunning Grade I Listed church. This forms part of a huge renovation project at the historic church.

Featured in Professional Builder Magazine

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd is proud to have had its work featured in an article on the benefits of lime plastering, which has been published in Professional Builder Magazine.

Flagship project

Here’s a little snap shot of our flagship project, a house that we are building using traditional building techniques. The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd is working tirelessly to compete the project within the next few weeks, exciting times!

Traditional pargetting

This is a beautiful example of traditional pargetting, works we are currently carrying out on one of our projects.

Nearing completion

A beautiful house that the team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd has been commissioned to build using traditional methods and materials is nearing completion.

And… Action!

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd has been delighted to welcome a BBC camera crew on-site in support of filming for a heritage property programme.

Property Development Project

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd is delighted to announce that the firm will be undertaking a property development project in […]

Scout Hall Project Update

“We are extremely pleased with our building and that goes for the quality of the workmanship throughout.” This is the […]

Bathroom renovation in Listed property

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd has just completed this bathroom renovation in a Listed property in Suffolk. It’s believed […]

Supporting Sporting Endeavours

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd is proud to be a sponsor of the Walsham le Willows Football Club, which […]

Nature’s Insulator

Using natural sheep’s wool as insulation – a practice Emmerson Critchley Ltd upholds to this day – has been around […]

Retail renovation for Grade II Listed building

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd has undertaken the renovation of a shop in Woodbridge (Suffolk) within a Grade II […]

‘Can do’ approach

The skilled and specialist team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd is always persistent and keen to find solutions on all building […]

Bespoke orangery for Victorian farmhouse

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd, which provides specialist traditional building services for period, Listed and heritage properties, is currently […]

Historic discovery during frame repairs

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd, which offers traditional building services including joinery, has undertaken detailed frame repairs on this […]

Creating the perfect finish

Instead of doing a typical butt joint in the brick work, the team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd which specialises in […]

Extension project
and resolving damp

This period property situated on the outskirts of Woodbridge. We are installing a large single story extension which will be […]

Press coverage

An article, namely ‘Suffolk builder and renovation specialist Emmerson meets TV dragon’ has just been published in the East Anglian Daily Times. 

Winner of prestigious Constructing Excellence Award

Stop press! We’re delighted to announce that Emmerson Critchley Ltd has been named WINNER of the prestigious Constructing Excellence East of […]

Sponsoring success

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd is proud to be – for two seasons now – a sponsor of the Walsham le Willows Football Club, which has ties with the firm and has enjoyed many impressive successes.

Fantastic evening for Sage Ambition Business Award event

Following anonymous nomination for the Sage Ambition Business Awards and subsequently being named a finalist, Emmerson Marshall-Critchley, founder and director of Emmerson Critchley Ltd, enjoyed a fantastic and exclusive evening event with Peter Jones CBE (of Dragon’s Den fame) and Stephen Kelly (CEO of Sage).

Walthamstow 9-flat project

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd is currently engaged in a building project for nine flats in up and coming Walthamstow (London). 

New build with traditional methods

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd is progressing extremely well on this new build project near Cambridge, which is being constructed using traditional methods and materials. Designed by esteemed architect, Stephen Mattick – this is a stunning property in the making…

Sage Ambition Competition finalist

We are extremely proud to announce that Emmerson Marshall-Critchley, Director and Founder of Emmerson Critchley Ltd, has been named a runner up in the Sage Ambition Competition. This achievement has entitled Emmerson to attend a small and exclusive event with Peter Jones, one of the UK’s most recognisable and distinguished entrepreneurs and star of the BBC’s acclaimed Dragon’s Den series and also a Sage Ambition Ambassador. The event will also be attended by Stephen Kelly, CEO of Sage (pictured with Emmerson).

Chimney project to Grade II Listed property

The chimney on this beautiful Grade II Listed period property needed to be reduced in size and was also in desperate need of repair…

Cambridge University project

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd is proud to be carry out extensive works to this beautiful Grade II Listed building, which is being divided up into five flats for new students…

Another lime plastering project completed

Just completed – and an everyday task – for the team at Emmerson Critchley, another lime plastering project…

Single storey extension project

Pictured is a single storey extension, successfully completed by the Emmerson Critchley Ltd team in Sudbury, south Suffolk…

Period building project – Croxton

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd relishes the opportunity to add character to a period property and here are a few before and after photos of a small project the team has just undertaken on a period property in Croxton…

Chimney repair complete

Amidst a stunning roofscape setting complete with a flag, the team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd, a building firm specialising in period properties and heritage houses, happily completed repair work to this chimney that sits proudly atop a beautiful period property…

Scout hut project underway

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd is extremely proud to be involved in this project, which is now underway.  We have been assisting with building this scout hut in Horringer (near Bury st Edmunds, Suffolk)…

London roofing project complete

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd has just completed another roof – this time on a period property in London…

Rennovation, extension and roof project

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd, which specialises in period properties, has now started a new renovation, extension project in Stanstead, Suffolk. The project also includes the installation of a new roof…

Limecrete project

The team at Emmerson Critchely Ltd has just installed another limecrete floor in the lovely Suffolk village of Whepstead – that’s two limecrete floor installations in the same village within the last six weeks…

Screeding a floor

Some of the newest members of the Emmerson Critchley Ltd team have been hard at work screening a floor within a Victorian period property…

Preloved, vintage and antique fireplace tiles

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd has collected an impressive selection of preloved, vintage and antique fireplace tiles. With hundreds now in stock, please feel welcome to make contact to discover more or to request prices…

Farmhouse project underway

This beautiful period farmhouse is the latest project to be undertaken by Emmerson Critchley Ltd, specialist building firm for period properties, heritage and Listed buildings…

Renovation project completed

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd has just completed this multifaceted property renovation project on this beautiful house…

Timber frame project

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd has just successfully erected this timber frame on a Victorian property in two weeks…

Award and commendation

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd is delighted to have been recognised by the organiser of the inaugural Period Homes Show for Bury St Edmunds…

Emmerson’s presentation at Period Homes Show

Emmerson Critchley, eponymous Founder and Director of specialist traditional building firm for period properties serving East Anglia, was delighted to be asked to give a presentation at Bury St Edmund’s inaugural Period Homes Show…

Moving the outhouse

Many people have asked how we managed to transport the Emmerson Critchley outhouse into the Arc Shopping Centre to take its position at The Apex for Sunday’s Period Homes Show. Here’s a photo showing how we achieved this and the process began at 7am…

Bury’s first Period Homes Show

Thank you to everyone who attended Bury St Edmunds’ inaugural Period Homes Show. Emmerson Critchley Ltd was delighted to attend and thrilled with the positive feedback received, not least about our outhouse, which took pride of place outside the front of the The Apex on Sunday. Thanks also to organiser Suzanne at Richard Green Bury St. Edmunds…

Creating an unusual property feature

Look what has been discovered by the specialist traditional building team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd… It’s actually part of an old septic tank…

Extensive renovation project completed

Our specialist traditional building firm, Emmerson Critchley Ltd, has just undertaken a large extension and rebuilt the house owing to structural issues…

Discovery of a fireplace

The specialist building team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd was delighted to reveal an old fireplace that had previously been hidden owing to being bricked up and covered in lime plaster…

Excess water issue resolved

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd – specialist builders for period properties – has been working on this period property in Suffolk, which had been suffering from excess water in its back garden…

Lime render to Listed property

This beautiful Grade II Listed property is one of many that the specialist building team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd – a firm of specialist builders for period properties and Listed buildings – has the pleasure of working on…

Bury’s inaugural period homes event

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd is pleased to be supporting and taking part in the first ever period homes event at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds on Sunday 20th August…

Coverage in Homes magazine

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd is delighted to have been included within an article about the forthcoming period homes event that’s taking place at The Apex in Bury on 20th August…

Grade II Listed Manor House project

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd feels exceptionally fortunate to be working on this resplendent Grade II Listed Manor House…

Clacton-on-Sea building project

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd has just started a renovation on this period property in Clacton-on-Sea. Emmerson Critchley Ltd has operations in both Cambridgeshire and Suffolk and is therefore extremely well placed to provide excellent service throughout East Anglia…

Whepstead building project

The team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd is now half way through another timber frame building project – this time in Whepstead…

Heritage archway revealed

Wow! While working on a traditional building project within a period property, the team at Emmerson Critchley Ltd made an incredible find. Hidden by plasterboard was this stunning old arch that had originally formed a doorway…

Woodbridge Grade II Listed building project

Emmerson Critchley Ltd, which has operations in both Cambridgeshire and Suffolk and is therefore extremely well placed to provide excellent service throughout East Anglia, has just completed the first phase of another building project on a Grade II lIsted property in the Woodbridge area…

Another scaffold supplied

The Emmerson Critchley Ltd team has recently added Scaffold hire services to its repertoire, and it has been a huge success, meeting the needs of clients as well as providing a cost effective way forward as it saves on outsourcing an element of the build project…

Top Floor Renovation

This stunning Grade II Listed property is now entering the final stages of a top floor renovation with an en-suite completed by the Emmerson Critchley Ltd team…

Timber Framework Repairs

The Emmerson Critchley team has specialist knowledge and passion for timber framed buildings, and undertakes projects throughout East Anglia on such properties…

Emmerson Critchley Ltd
40 Eastgate Street
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk, IP33 1YW

Our Services

  • Specialist building consultancy
  • Traditional building works
  • New Builds
  • Extensions and conversions
  • Renovations and refurbishment
  • Restoration and conservation
  • Planning consultancy services

Contact

Suffolk: 01359 240573

sales@emmersoncritchley.co.uk


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