Kilver Court

Client: Showerings Cider Mill
Location: Shepton Mallet
Status: Construction
Area: 4,823sqm

The family run brewers Showerings Cider Mill invited Nicholas Lee Architects to design the masterplan to revitalize the multi brand shopping outlet, Kilver Court, with a vision to transform it into a local hub with health and sustainability at the forefront driving the development.

Comprising of eight buildings, the oldest building dating back to the 16th Century and is grade ii listed, was once the birth place of the great great grandfather of the owners of Showerings Cider Mill. The remaining buildings were developed in the late 18th Century and used as a silk, crepe and lace factory. Towards the rear of the site is located the picturesque garden which was created by Ernest Jardine in the late 19th Century as part of his ‘model factory’ concept which was used for the benefit of his employees.

NLA’s first impulse was to reimagine the visitors experience and their routes through the complex in order to connect parts of the site that have been segregated building insertions over the years and create a central hub as a focal point that has easy visual access to the secret garden. This has been done through a series of small and medium sized interventions. By removing poorly maintained modern installations and redundant services the proposal looks to utilize existing excavated footprints and external covered areas to install a new upgraded café restaurant and an outdoor garden nursery to attract and serve the local and travelling public.