Balderclough

Bringing traditional craftsmanship to a modern home

Overview

At Touchstone Glazing Solutions, our ethos is rooted in a deep passion for the built environment, particularly historic and listed buildings.  We believe in preserving traditional skills, crafting environmentally responsible products, and celebrating the aesthetic beauty that defines heritage architecture.  But how do these values translate into real world results?

When one of our directors had the opportunity to design and build a new home, the project became the perfect opportunity to put Touchstone’s principles into practice.  This case study explores how our commitment to authenticity, sustainability, and craftsmanship shaped every stage of the build.

Project Vision

Although this was a new build, the goal was to create a traditional Yorkshire stone home that echoed the timeless charm of historic regional architecture.  The design featured classic elements such as:

• Quoins, mullions and hood moulds

• A stone plinth

• Large course stonework with a stone roof and coping stones

• Minimal external pipework

• A symmetrical elevation with a central doorway framed by matching windows

The objective was clear: combine the traditional appearance of a period home with the performance and sustainability of modern materials.

The Brief

Windows were required that would be indistinguishable from traditional square leaded lights, with one opening window per bay of five.  Privacy glass was specified for the bathrooms, featuring triple glazed units with genuine leaded light encapsulation.

The challenge lay in maintaining the authentic look and craftsmanship of heritage windows while achieving top tier thermal performance and energy efficiency.

The collaboration

To ensure the highest standards of authenticity, we collaborated with Johnny Stansfield and his father-in-law Jim Galt.  They brought a wealth of expertise in traditional stone windows, drawing on their detailed knowledge we were able to redesign these into thermally broken versions, allowing us to combine heritage aesthetics with modern insulation standards.  Johnny then crafted the stone components at Rock End Moor Quarry, using locally sourced grit stone.

The Touchstone solution

At the heart of this project were our patented Insulead® units, providing exceptional insulation with a virtually invisible frameless construction.  This complimented Johnny’s precise stone detailing to create an authentic representation of traditional leaded lights.

We also incorporated our facetted glass and double leading technique, ensuring the windows would meet even the most discerning expectations of a traditional leaded light craftsman.

Each window unit was built using soft coat energy efficient glass with an argon gas fill, all with toughened panes.  Matching the same specification as our A++ rated Steelyte® II windows.  The design was further customised with wolfhound backplates and dragon head handles, blending durability with distinctive period styling.

The Results

The completed home speaks for itself, both visually and in terms of performance.

• Energy Performance: Achieved an EPC rating of A (99%)

• Aesthetic integrity: The house captures the spirit and detail of traditional Yorkshire architecture

• Sustainability: Use of the local materials and energy efficient glazing ensured minimal environmental impact

This project was a testament to the collaborative spirit of local tradespeople and craftspeople; who’s skill and dedication brought the design to life.

Conclusion

This build is more than a home, it’s a living example of Touchstone’s mission in action, by marrying traditional craftsmanship with cutting edge efficiency, we demonstrated that heritage design and modern sustainability can coexist beautifully.

Potential customers and collaborators are warmly invited to view the property and see our work firsthand or even pay a visit to our workshop to see where the windows are manufactured.  For those interested in the finer technical details, were always happy to share insights and assist others embarking on similar projects.