Knighton Mill
Knighton Mill is a contemporary new-build home where bold glass and flint are balanced by traditionally detailed Bath stone ashlar and a robust gritstone plinth.
AFJONES used carefully selected stonework to give the house a strong architectural base, clear classical references and a seamless connection between exterior and interior spaces.
CONTEMPORARY HOME
GROUNDED IN STONE
GLASS, FLINT AND ASHLAR IN BAlance
The design combines large areas of glazing and flint walling with finely jointed Bath stone ashlar and Brinscall gritstone, creating a language that is both contemporary and rooted in local materials.
The simplicity of the composition is part of its strength: clear lines, disciplined openings and a limited palette allow the stone to do the quiet work of grounding the building.
RUSTICATED PLINTH AS ARCHITECTURAL PLATFORM
Because of its proximity to the river and mill pond, the house sits on an extended rusticated plinth that is both visually bold and highly practical.
The plinth gives the building a strong platform, helping it feel anchored in the landscape while providing resilience against flooding and whatever the river may bring.
DETAIL THAT RESPONDS
TO SETTING
Rusticated openings and voussoir-arched windows on the ground floor echo the flood arches in the plinth, tying the house back to its context.
Brinscall pitched walling and dressed stooled cills, thresholds and entry points provide a textured base that contrasts with the smoother Bath stone ashlar above, enriching the elevations without overcomplicating them.
STONEWORK CONTINUED INTO THE INTERIOR
SEAMLESS TRANSITION FROM OUTSIDE TO INSIDE
The Bath stone and Brinscall plinth do not stop at the threshold; they extend into the entrance hall, reinforcing the connection between inside and out.
This continuity of material helps the house feel cohesive, with the same stone that protects the exterior also shaping key interior spaces.
CANTILEVERED STAIRCASE AS A FOCAL POINT
A contemporary glass entrance hall leads into the stair hall, where a radius cantilevered stone staircase becomes the centrepiece.
The curved stair sits comfortably within the overall composition, adding movement and delicacy to the robust stone base, and demonstrating AFJONES’ command of structural stonework and detailing.
CONSIDERED DETAILING FOR LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE
Throughout Knighton Mill, the relationship between architecture, structure and setting is handled with restraint. By combining robust plinth work, disciplined ashlar, carefully shaped openings and a refined cantilevered stair,
AFJONES have helped create a home that feels both modern and enduring, able to stand up to its riverside environment while offering a calm, composed interior.
Knighton Mill illustrates how stone can quietly resolve multiple demands at once: flood resilience, architectural clarity and a strong sense of place.
AFJONES’ involvement from plinth detailing to internal stair allowed the stonework to be conceived as a single, integrated system, supporting both the practical needs of the site and the ambitions of the design.
RESOURCES &
Education
Stone has shaped architecture for centuries, and it continues to define the most ambitious projects today
At AFJONES, we make stonework possible at the highest level by combining artistry, engineering, and generations of craft knowledge.
Our integrated process covers every stage, from early consultation and design input through to workshop production and on-site installation. This ensures that projects are delivered seamlessly and with absolute precision.
