The un-restored Main Block of the Pottery is roughly square on plan 17 x 19 m, originating as simple farm buildings much added-to and combined to form the core of the Harris pottery. Within this section of the property there is an area of approx. 80 square Mts. on the ground floor that is currently occupied by Froyle Tiles which has been restored but will still require fireproofing and other works. There are basically five two-storey volumes each with its own hipped or gabled roof, meeting together at a network of valley gutters. The south side is bounded by a restored building known as the Harris Workshop (currently occupied by West Street Potters and the Farnham Sculpture Group). At the core of the block is a dark internal space known as the Central Area.

The majority of walls are brick, mostly half-brick thick with frequent piers. Very shallow stepped footings are visible in places. This minimal foundation, on clay has clearly led to structural movement in the past; however, cracks have been repaired, piers and props have been added and the fabric is not in a state of collapse. Our Structural Engineer believes that underpinning is unlikely to be required and can be avoided by careful design with new work designed to incorporate structural flexibility.

Areas of timber framing and a large number of timber props are an historic feature of the interior. Many props are in fact part of a system of supports for pottery drying racks. Others are structural.  Most have suffered insect attack and rot, in places severe. Great care will be needed to repair/replace these elements sympathetically.

The majority of the ground floor is brick paved and sloping at the original ground profile. It should be noted that in the Harris Workshop a sloping brick floor, suitably re-laid on a damp-proof membrane, has provided a simple solution which is both sympathetic to the building and provides an efficient trolley and disabled access to adjacent level work areas. The Main Block floor may need lowering in selected areas to improve headroom, and provision of drainage, this should be achieved whilst retaining the historic character of the brick.

The first floors are timber exposed on the underside and lacking any form of fire protection. In many places the floors are slatted and may require repair and strengthening. It may be possible to avoid some horizontal fire protection by opening-up between ground and first floor spaces (in one tenancy) and utilising slatted sections, as has already been done in the area occupied by West Street Potters. Means of Escape provision from the numerous first floor spaces will require vertical fire protection and the formation of protected shafts around new stairs.

The roofs throughout are of light timber construction on various undersized purlins, struts, ties and posts and will require strengthening and reconstruction work before ceramic tiles to match the existing can be relaid. The centre area is roofed only with sarking felt, in places torn, and requires urgent attention; it is understood that Listed Building consent has been given for this roof to be restored in corrugated steel and glazing, and that corrugated steel may remain on the hipped roof to the west. All roofs, new and existing, will require underlining, thermal insulation and breather felt. It would appear that the extensive valley gutter system needs major overhaul.

Internal joinery is extremely basic and will require major upgrading for fire protection and general utility. External joinery is generally in a poor state; the majority of window frames need renewal and doors need upgrading for weather and security protection. Historic terra-cotta framed windows and steel windows may require specialist conservation.

Improving the thermal performance of the building to meet regulations will require negotiation with the Building Inspector and Conservation Officer. Lining of all external walls would be expensive and would change the historic character of the interior. The aim will be to “trade off” some (if not all) un-insulated walls against a heavily insulated roof.

Services throughout the unconverted part of the building are minimal except in the area currently occupied by Froyle Tiles which has been recently rewired with a three-phase supply, has gas-fired central heating, and has the benefit of a large-diameter gas supply to a kiln. The rest of this section of the building will need completely new wiring, plumbing, heating, ventilation and fire alarm installations. Consideration should be given to installing a sprinkler system. It is understood that the capacity of the incoming electricity main is severely limited, possibly at the local sub-station, which may lead to a high-cost upgrade falling on the new occupier or the landlord.

Foul drainage in the un-restored part of the property is limited to waste-water gullies on the north elevation. New internal WCs, including disabled, will be required, connected to an existing system to the west. It appears that surface water drainage from the east yard and rainwater pipes is either blocked or non-existent, and provision should be made for a new surface water drains and sub-floor drainage.