Sherborne House triumphs at the RICS South West Awards

We are absolutely delighted to share that Sherborne House has won the Refurbishment/Revitalisation Project Award for the South West at the RICS UK Awards 2026.

Having been shortlisted in three categories - Community Benefit, Heritage and Refurbishment/Revitalisation - this wonderful recognition celebrates the extraordinary transformation of our Grade I Listed Georgian building into The Sherborne: a vibrant, welcoming and forward-looking home for art, heritage, food and community.

The award was announced at the RICS South West ceremony in Bristol on 23 July, where some of the region’s most ambitious and inspiring building projects were brought together.

A remarkable building, given new life

Sherborne House is a building of many layers. Its story encompasses Medieval, Tudor and Georgian architecture, alongside the magnificent staircase murals painted by Dorset-born artist Sir James Thornhill in the 1720s.

After decades of uncertainty and more than 30 years without a permanent use, the building had fallen into serious disrepair and was placed on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register.

In 2018, Sherborne House was purchased by Sherborne House Trust 2018, beginning an ambitious journey to rescue the building, conserve its exceptional architecture and artwork, and create a new cultural destination for Sherborne and the wider region.

Made possible by the extraordinary vision and generosity of Michael and Sally Cannon, the project was about far more than restoring a beautiful historic house. It was about ensuring that the building could once again belong to its community - alive with art, conversation, learning, food, performance and new ideas.

Conservation, craftsmanship and contemporary design

Led by SPASE Architects & Surveyors, the project brought together rigorous heritage conservation with a bold but sensitive contemporary architectural response.

Extensive structural work was undertaken throughout the historic house, including the careful strengthening of floors, ceilings and walls. Georgian panelling, fireplaces, decorative finishes and joinery were repaired or reinstated, while inappropriate modern materials were removed.

Traditional lime plasters were analysed to ensure historically accurate repairs, and bespoke silks and carpets were woven to original designs. The Thornhill mural and its surrounding staircase were meticulously conserved, supported by a specially designed lighting scheme which recalls the warmth of candlelight.

Alongside the restoration stands the contemporary Pavilion: a soaring, light-filled timber structure formed from sustainably sourced European spruce. Its sweeping copper-clad roof, floor-to-ceiling glass and sculptural glulam frame create a beautiful dialogue between old and new, connecting the house with its gardens and providing space for dining, events and gathering.

Sustainable materials and technologies were carefully incorporated throughout the project, including breathable hemp insulation, recycled foamed glass, air-source heat pumps and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery.

The result is a building that respects and celebrates its history while being equipped for a completely new chapter.

A tremendous collaborative achievement

This award recognises the skill, care and commitment of the many people who brought Sherborne House back to life.

SPASE led the project from planning permission through detailed design and full project management, working alongside main contractor Stonewood Builders Ltd, structural engineers Mann Williams Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers, quantity surveyors PGP, and an exceptional team of specialist conservators, craftspeople, consultants and makers.

Their collective work has not only saved a nationally important building, but created one of the UK’s newest cultural venues: a place where historic architecture and contemporary creativity can meet, and where everyone is welcome.

Sherborne House has now been removed from the Heritage at Risk Register and is once again open, active and filled with life.

Next stop: the national final

Winning the South West award means that Sherborne House will now represent the region at the RICS UK Awards Grand Final, taking place at Park Plaza London Westminster Bridge on 22 October 2026.

Sherborne House now appears on the RICS UK Awards 2026 national shortlist, representing the South West in the Refurbishment/Revitalisation category.

This latest success joins a growing list of recognition for the project, including the Georgian Group Architectural Award for the Restoration of a Georgian Building in an Urban Setting, a Structural Timber Award, and a place on the 2025 AJ Retrofit & Reuse Awards shortlist.

We are enormously proud of this award and deeply grateful to Michael and Sally Cannon, Sherborne House Trust 2018, SPASE and every person whose expertise, dedication and belief made this remarkable transformation possible.

Sherborne House has always held extraordinary stories within its walls. Today, as The Sherborne, it is creating new ones every day.

And now, we’re off to the national final!

Find out more

Explore the RICS UK Awards 2026 and national shortlist.

Read SPASE Architects & Surveyors’ account of The Sherborne’s regional award win.