Shoemakers Museum wins Supreme Award with Vobster cast stone contribution
The Shoemakers Museum in Street, Somerset, has won the Supreme Award at the 2026 Brick Awards, alongside the Public Architecture Award and Sustainability Award. Vobster Architectural supplied bespoke cast stone elements for the project, designed by Purcell for the Alfred Gillett Trust.
The museum marks 200 years of shoemaking heritage in Street, where Clarks was founded in 1825. It combines the restoration of historic buildings with a contemporary extension, and Vobster’s cast stone detailing was designed to sit alongside the existing architecture.
Vobster, a specialist manufacturer of bespoke cast stone products and part of Taylor Maxwell Group, supplied external columns, window surrounds and copings. The elements were designed to complement the existing natural stonework while meeting architectural and structural requirements.
One challenge was making load-bearing columns strong enough to support substantial stone heads above them. Integrated steel reinforcement enabled Vobster to meet the structural requirements while minimising joints and avoiding the need for a separate steel frame.
More than 70% of the existing Blue Lias stone was salvaged and redressed on site for reuse. The project also uses a cross-laminated timber and glulam structure.
Adam Dowling, Technical Manager at Vobster Architectural, said: “It’s fantastic to see the Shoemakers Museum recognised with three awards, particularly the Supreme Award. This was a technically demanding project, with the cast stone required to complement the historic building while also performing a structural role. The reinforced columns were a particularly interesting challenge and we’re proud to have contributed to a project that brings together architectural heritage, craftsmanship and modern engineering.”
The Brick Awards, organised by the Brick Development Association, marked their 50th anniversary in 2026. This year’s winners were announced at a ceremony at the Royal Lancaster London on 4 November.
