THE winners of a district design award have been announced.

Maldon District Council hosted the 39th District Conservation and Design Awards.

The winners include the renovation of three historic houses and the restoration of a unique late 17th-century library.

Councillors and historians were on the judging panel and made the decision over the winners in the district.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

The Building Conservation Winner was Hazeleigh Hall in Hazeleigh.

The Grade II listed timber-framed manor house was renovated whilst retaining its Elizabethan moulded-mullion windows and wall paintings.

The house dates back to the 16th century.

Conservation architects Purcell were instructed to design a scheme of extension and refurbishment.

The judges saw important features of the historic building had been retained.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

The Building Conservation Highly Commended award went to the Plume Library in Maldon.

The building dates to the 1690s and was built to house Dr Thomas Plume’s collection of more than 8,000 books.

Extensive repair work was carried out to the library and the judges were impressed with the use of traditional materials and techniques used.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

The Design Winner was High House in Burnham for the restoration and extension of the Grade II listed brick house.

The house dates from the late 18th Century and the restoration was praised for being done with high-quality materials.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

The Old Post Office in Langford won the Design Highly Commended award.

The building dates from early in the 19th Century.

High-quality timber windows replaced plastic windows.

The award was given for the refurbishment and extension of the house.

The judges were impressed by the workmanship.

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

Councillor Sue White, chair of the judging panel, said: “Maldon’s Conservation and Design Awards are a great way of celebrating outstanding local projects.

“This year’s award-winning schemes illustrate the power of our unique built environment to inspire high-quality work.

“I would like to congratulate all the winners and thank them for helping to preserve the unique nature of our historic district.”