Roofer in Hempsted, Gloucester
Roofing for Hempsted’s mix of old farmhouses and the newer streets built around them — on a village hill above the Severn meadows.
Hempsted: a village on a hill, inside the city
Hempsted is a village that the city grew around. It came into Gloucester in stages — 1935, 1951 and 1967 — and its old core still stands on a low hill rising to about 27 metres, above meadowland below 15 metres that the Victoria County History describes as defended from the river by a continuous earthen bank. Its history goes back a long way: the manor was granted to Llanthony Priory in 1141.
The building stock reflects that. There are 17th-century farmhouses later cased in brick, such as Church Farm and Home Farm. Then, in the 1960s, large houses including Hempsted Court, Elm Lodge and Willow Lodge were demolished and their grounds built on, so much of Hempsted’s housing dates from the later 20th century onwards.
That gives a roofer two quite different sets of problems on the same few streets: older roofs with history, irregular timbers and traditional materials, and newer roofs where the faults are the familiar modern ones — dry-fix ridges, verges, and flat-roofed garages and extensions.
Common roofing work in Hempsted
Older roofs, carefully
On older buildings we repair rather than replace wherever we can, matching slate or tile and keeping the character of the roof.
Chimneys and flashings
Stacks on older houses need their flaunching, pointing and lead flashings kept sound. See leadwork.
Concrete tile roofs
Slipped or broken tiles, ridge and verge repairs, and full re-roofs on later-20th-century houses.
Flat roofs
Garages, extensions and dormers re-covered in EPDM.
Gutters and fascias
Roofline replacement and gutter work — see our roofline page.
Storm damage
Roofs on the higher ground can catch more wind. We offer emergency make-safe when slates or tiles come off.
Worth knowing if you live in Hempsted
Check before changing materials on older buildings
If your house is old or listed, changes to the roof covering may need consent. We will tell you if we think that applies before you commit.
The meadows are low; the village is not
Hempsted’s old core is on raised ground, but the land around it is low-lying. Drainage and gutters matter on every house.
Old timbers move
On older roofs, a bit of unevenness is normal. What matters is whether it is still moving — we check.
Get the gutters done with the roof
If scaffolding is going up anyway, it is the cheapest time to sort gutters and fascias.
Source: Victoria County History, Hempsted.
Roofer in Hempsted
Call 0800 494 7291 or send the form for a free survey and a fixed written quote.