We tendered for the project on the recommendation of the Architect Rodney Melville from Leamington.  We won the contract by competitive tender.

Work on the house was commissioned because the existing lead work had cracked due to capillary reaction to weather conditions and age.  This resulted in leaks into the main house.

The worked commenced with the majority of the old lead of the flat roof that covers the main house being stripped.  New lead was then laid onto wood cored rolls to Lead Contractor Association’s specifications, a practice that is standard to Norman & Underwood.

The lead hips, flashings and guttering around the property were renewed and all hopper heads were refurbished.

This major contract required four of our most experienced roofing craftsmen and the project commenced in June 2005 and was completed to schedule in December 2005.

Security clearance was required for every operative and this also included our delivery driver who took the lead to site.  This procedure took approximately three months prior to commencement on site. 
 
The last week of the contract fell just before Christmas and the Prime Minister was due to arrive for the Christmas period. 

At that point weather conditions were fair and we were asked by the Architect to remove the false roof before the Prime Ministers imminent arrival.  The great British weather was true to form and as soon as we had removed the false roof the weather conditions changed dramatically and the snow blizzards started!

Our operatives worked through these adverse conditions due to the time constraints of the Prime Minister’s visit.

Adam Hillyer our Contracts Manager said, “this was a very prestigious contract and it was an honour and privilege to work on such an historic building knowing that it has housed so many prominent historical figures.”

Chequers last private owner was Lord Lee of Fareham who donated Chequers to the nation in 1917, though the first Prime Ministerial resident was Lloyd George who began to use it in 1921.

The estate is mentioned in the Domesday book and the house took its present red-brick Tudor form in 1565 when it was rebuilt by William Hawtrey, High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire.

Winston Churchill made much use of the estate during the war-time air raids on London. Many of his most famous broadcasts - including the famous "fight them on the beaches" - were made not from Downing Street, but from Chequers.

To mark his affection for the place Churchill planted the avenue of beech trees.