The National Trust will reopen a historic coaching house in Westerham on Saturday following a major conservation project.

The 18th-century two storey building once served Quebec House, the birthplace of colonial general James Wolfe. Today it serves as the property's exhibition, tea-room and shop.

The coach house had become unstable due to its proximity to the River Darent and the surrounding wetlands. Subsidence created large cracks which opened up throughout the structure.

Exploration of ground beneath the bread oven, rear wall and other notable features found the area was largely made up of alluvial soils, likely deposited by river floodwater and unable to support the load of the building.

To keep the coach house standing, conservators opted to excavate the soil beneath the structure and replace it with concrete foundations from a depth of 2.3m.

This involved the painstaking lifting, labelling and storing each of the bricks in the floor so they could be returned to the same spot at the end of the project.

The cracks in the walls and bread oven were then filled in and re-decorated in white clay.

A National Trust spokesman said: "Conservation projects like this would not be possible without the thoughtful generosity of our supporters and visitors. Each visit supports the National Trust to keep these special places open for ever, for everyone."

Once it reopens, the coach house will be available to view from Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm.

Admission prices are £6.10 per adult, £3.05 per child and £15.25 per family. For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/quebec-house.