The restored Old Bakery shopfront in Kingston St Mary with sage green timber windows & a navy painted sign

Heritage joinery · Kingston St Mary, Somerset

The Old Bakery.

Restoring the character of a historic Somerset shopfront through carefully considered bespoke timber joinery.

Location: Kingston St Mary, Somerset
Property: Historic shopfront
Joinery: Curved pillars, windows & doors
Wider project: Benjamin Henry Ltd

The property

A piece of local history.

The Old Bakery is a familiar sight in Kingston St Mary — a traditional village shopfront with a character all of its own.

Its painted timber frontage, large display windows & signwriting are part of what makes the building recognisable. Preserving that appearance mattered as much as the repair itself.

The challenge

Restoring what came before.

After a car hit the building, the historic shopfront suffered major damage.

The extent of the damage was significant — the frontage had to be sympathetically & structurally rebuilt. Rather than introducing an unsympathetic modern replacement, the aim was to restore the shopfront to its original architectural appearance.

The craftsmanship

Made with respect for the original.

We crafted & installed new curved timber pillars, windows & doors for the shopfront.

Each element was made to suit the building, with careful consideration given to the proportions & detailing of the original frontage so the new joinery reads as a faithful continuation of what was there before.

The new windows & doors were upgraded to double glazing for improved thermal & acoustic performance — all without compromising the heritage character of the property.

Before & after

A remarkable transformation.

The Old Bakery shopfront boarded up with plywood after a vehicle impact — Before

The restored Old Bakery shopfront with sage green timber windows, glazed door & navy fascia — After

Damaged corner of The Old Bakery shopfront with the frontage removed & temporary supports in place — Before

The restored shopfront corner with a bespoke curved timber pillar & glazed timber door — After

Inside The Old Bakery after the impact, with boarded openings & a wet tiled floor

Rubble & debris inside the shop behind the damaged frontage

Boarded-up shopfront seen from inside, with fallen masonry on the chequered floor

The damage behind the boarded frontage, before work began.

The restored timber shopfront at The Old Bakery with curved pillars & tall glazed windows

The finished result

A familiar character, beautifully restored.

The completed joinery has returned The Old Bakery to its former glory — the curved pillars, windows & doors reinstating the character of the original shopfront.

Every detail was considered so the frontage looks as though it has always belonged to the street, while being made to last for many years to come.

Explore the wider project at Benjamin Henry

Client testimonial

In the client’s words.

Having an old (100 years – at least!) shop window which was badly damaged by an errant car, we needed an expert craftsman to replace it. We were SO fortunate to have Benjamin Henry recommended to us. His attention to detail was excellent & the finished product will be a testament to his skills for many years to come. We recommend Benjamin Henry to anyone needing a first class job.

Mr MillsThe Old Bakery Project, Kingston St Mary

Originally received by Benjamin Henry Ltd.

Project gallery

The Old Bakery in detail.

The Old Bakery in its village street setting in Kingston St Mary after restoration

The restored Old Bakery frontage with its sage green timber shopfront beneath the painted sign

Close view along the restored shopfront showing the timber windows, curved pillars & gilded lettering

Bespoke curved timber pillar & glazed timber entrance door at The Old Bakery

Begin a conversation

Restoring a period frontage?

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