The restoration of a historic Wiltshire building suffering from “years of deterioration” has been shortlisted for a prestigious award.

The refurbishment of the Corsham Almhouses, a group of buildings on Lacock Road dating back to the 17th century, was named a finalist in the Heritage category of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards, Southwest 2024.

These Grade I listed buildings have been a feature of the town since 1668 but had suffered from years of “deterioration” which could have caused structural failure if not addressed.

The extent of the damage was only realised after the appearance of cracking plaster.

The trustees of the charity that owns the building were shocked by this discovery, but had set aside funding, and hired CMS Architects to restore the property.

Extensive works were carried out and completed last summer to preserve the building for years to come.

This included the splicing of beams, repointing the external wall, and other works, while keeping the building as close to its original state as possible.

The lead trustee on the project said: “The project was successful in its ambition to protect the historic building into the future, whilst retaining as much of the original fabric as possible.”

Companies can be nominated for the RCIS awards, which showcase “inspirational initiatives and developments”, until April 26.