insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 08 - October 2015 | Page 13

NEWS

SEMI-DERELICT BUILDING TRANSFORMED
INTO HEART OF THE COMMUNITY
Wealden Architectural Designers, Tangent Space, and clients Anne and
Geoff Evans have been highly commended for a Public and Community
Award by the Sussex Heritage Trust.
The award, presented at a gala dinner, is for the transformation of one of
Rotherfield’s oldest buildings into the bustling Courtyard Café.
Mark Wakelin from Tangent Space was approached by Anne and Geoff
Evans in 2013 with a dream of turning the dilapidated listed building of 6
and 6a High Street, Rotherfield into a café, house and flat.
The original structure dates back to the 15th century, with an extra
building being added 50 years later and then further extensions made
in the 1830s and 1870s. In past times, the property has been a
greengrocers and then more recently an antique shop which closed some
time ago when the building was used solely as a residence and shop but
then sadly was left to decline.
Its listed status and general decay were huge challenges for Tangent
Space and the family. According to Mark Wakelin: “One of the biggest
challenges was understanding the scale of the damage and general
neglect.

Sussex Heritage Trust awarded The Courtyard Project with Highly
Commended in the Public and Community Award category. When the

“Much of the interior was clad in boarding so it took a lot of work before
we could understand and evaluate the scale of the damage. It’s amazing
it was still standing.”

judges visited the café they thought the whole project was an excellent
example of how leading edge material and equipment were being used in
a historical context.

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN FOR SUSSEX SPORTS AWARDS 2015
Louise won gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, and
competed alongside Jessica Ennis-Hill at London 2012. Since then she
has become a regular on the television on programmes such as The
Jump and A Question of Sport.
Sadie Mason MBE, chief executive of Active Sussex, said: “The Sussex
Sports Awards is the most prestigious event in our sporting calendar,
so it’s great that Louise can join us in recognising the achievements
and commitments of the local people.”Open until 12pm noon on Friday
23rd October, you can nominate local sporting heroes in the following
categories:
Freedom Leisure Sports Personality of the Year
University of Brighton Disabled Sports Personality of the Year
Coach of the Year
Sussex County FA Volunteer of the Year
BBC Sussex Unsung Hero Award
Outstanding Contribution to Sport Award
Primary School of the Year
Workplace Health Award
Sportivate Project of the Year
The Grand Hotel Club of the Year
Team of the Year
University of Chichester Young Sports Personality of the Year
Young Volunteer of the Year
Juice 107.2 Young Team of the Year

Nominations are now open in a countywide search for the most deserving
individuals and organisations. There is a category for everyone; from world
champion athletes and excelling local clubs, to tireless volunteers and
primary schools that commit to keeping their pupils active and healthy.

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Hosted by Olympic-heptathlete and media star Louise Hazel, the Sussex
Sports Awards 2015 will take place at The Grand Hotel, Brighton
on Friday 27th November.

Nominations can be made via the Active Sussex website, www.
activesussex.org. A shortlist of finalists will be announced on Friday 30th
October with the winners announced at the grand event in November.

Active Sussex are calling for the public to help find fourteen deserving
winners at this year’s Sussex Sports Awards.

13