Watermill project scoops top industry award

Oct 2008

The painstaking restoration of an ancient watermill has scooped a prestigious Master Builder of the Year Award for Amos Developments Ltd.

Work on Bradbourne Mill has taken the prize for the Best Large Restoration Project in the Yorkshire and Trent region and now goes forward to the national finals.

The oldest surviving watermill in Derbyshire and dating from the 17th century, Bradbourne Mill had fallen into a near-ruin before craftsmen from Amos Group began the restoration in 2006.

Now the mill has been turned into a unique home, with ancient timbers and stonework restored, and the original millstones and machinery retained as interior features. Outside, the twin waterwheels have been rebuilt and are turned once more by water from the restored millpond.

The Master Builder of the Year Awards, a nationwide search by the Federation of Master Builders to find the best builders in Britain, tests each entrant’s technical ability together with their customer service skills. The Awards are unique, as every entrant must be nominated by a satisfied customer.

Amos Group Ltd beat hundreds of other firms to claim Yorkshire and Trent’s Best Large Renovation Project prize and will now go through to compete in the national Master Builder of the Year Awards. The winners of the national Awards will be announced by the presenter of C4 Grand Designs Trade Secrets Naomi Cleaver at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London, on Thursday November 13th 2008.

Ron Wilson, director of FMB Yorkshire & Trent said: “The Master Builder of the Year Awards give customers a chance to thank their builder for a job well done. There are plenty of great builders out there, but all too often we only hear of stories where things have gone wrong. The reality is that the majority of builders are hardworking, friendly and extremely skilled craftspeople, so we want to reward these companies and prove that building work in Yorkshire and Trent surpasses the rest.

“Amos Group Ltd have done a fantastic job to win the Yorkshire and Trent award and we wish them well in the national competition.”

Amos Group Director Will Thomson said the firm was honoured to receive this major award.

“We are delighted that the Bradbourne Mill restoration has been recognised because it is a project we are very proud of. The mill previously was in such a perilous state that it was on the county’s Buldings at Risk Register, but now it has been completely transformed.

“Our work was very closely monitored by the local authority and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. We have managed to create a comfortable and characterful home while at the same time
retaining all the mill’s historically important features.”

With the restoration work complete, the mill will shortly be removed from the Buildings at Risk register, its heritage preserved for many years to come.

If Amos Group wins the coveted Master Builder of the Year 2008 title, they will drive away in the brand new Light Commercial Vehicle of their choice provided by the principal sponsor of the Award, Nissan Motor (GB) Limited. And the customer who nominated them can pack their bags for a fantastic £3,000 holiday of their choice!

Master Builder of the Year 2008 is organised by the Federation of Master Builders in association with Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd. The Best Large Renovation Project category is supported by BuildStore and Velux.