London Jacobean Manor House Undergoes Restoration

Boston Manor House in West London is a fine early example of the English Renaissance style. In was built in the Brentford area of London 1623, during the Jacobean era. It is a 3-storey building pleasantly situated in Boston Manor Park, which contains mature cedar trees and a lake.

The Grade I listed building restoration is taking place over the course of two years, and it is currently moving into the second phase.

The house contains a State Drawing Room with a fine plasterwork ceiling, and many other exceptional interior rooms, which were first designed for the use of Lady Mary Reade. The House is now owned and managed by Hounslow Council.

Phase one of the restoration process began on 15 July 2019, and it has now moved to phase 2. It is hoped that the work will be fully completed by autumn 2022, and the house will be reopened to the public, with free admittance. Repairs to the roof and the Jacobean porch have already taken place.

The project is supported by various sources of funding, including: The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic England, Greater London Authority (GLA) Good Growth Fund, the Wolfson Foundation, the Pilgrim Trust, the Heritage of London Trust and the John and Ruth Howard Trust, the Arts Fundraising website explains.

The house was altered during the 18th and 19th centuries, before falling into decline. The state drawing room still contains the original opulent plasterwork ceiling, which has undergone a conservation process to retore it to its former glory. The ornate ceiling has been finished with a white distemper paint, to recreate the original finish.

In the state bedroom, the ornate plaster ceiling was repainted in gaudy colours during the 1840s, spoiling the delicate beauty of the original. Therefore, it has now been restored to its former chalky matt colour and texture.

Plan To Restore Fire Damaged Room At Castle Howard

Plans have been lodged to restore a culturally significant room at Castle Howard that was damaged by a fire in 1940. The 145-room stately home near Malton, North Yorkshire, is one of the largest in Europe, and draws over 250,000 visitors a year. It is not actually a castle, but it is thought that a fortified structure originally stood on the grounds.

In 1940, a fire destroyed many rooms of the house, including the central hall, the dome, the dining room, and the cabinet room. Antonio Pellegrini's ceiling decoration, the Fall of Phaeton, was lost when the dome collapsed, and several other valuable artworks were destroyed in the blaze.

The cabinet room has been left derelict since the fire, but now an application has been made to restore the ornate plasterwork, giant tapestries, and period furniture.

The BBC reports that a document submitted with the planning application states: "The proposal to restore this derelict interior into a new version of the Tapestry Drawing Room marks a very significant moment in the long and gradual recovery of these interiors following the fire of 1940."

A Historic England spokesman said it was "a welcome step forward on the process of gradual reinstatement of lost interiors of this outstanding building. We consider that the alterations proposed will on the whole have a positive impact on the special architectural and historic interest of the Grade I listed building."

Construction began on the house in 1699, and it was continually added to over the next 100 years. It remains the home of the Carlisle branch of the Howard family today. it has been used as a filming location several times, for two separate adaptations of the Evelyn Waugh novel Brideshead Revisited, and for episodes of Bridgerton and Victoria.

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Shoe Shop Has Historically Significant Plasterwork Ceiling

An unassuming shoe shop in Gloucester city centre houses a nationally important carved plasterwork ceiling, which is currently undergoing conservation work. Gloucestershire Live reports that the plans are being carried out as part of a £1.9m project to restore some neglected historical buildings on Westgate Street.

14 Westgate Street is Meek’s Shoes & Accessories to the high street shoppers. However, to conservationists, it is also a Grade II* listed building, with an 18th century frontage, and a 16th century wing with an ornate carved plasterwork ceiling. The damaged plasterwork is being restored, and the traditional façade of the shop is being reinstated.

The area is part of the city’s Cathedral Quarter, and a Heritage Action Zone, funded by Gloucester City Council and Historic England, is underway to renovate and restore many of the original buildings in the area, some of which date back to the 12th century.

City council leader Richard Cook said: "It's just one part of many areas of work we are doing to regenerate the city centre. You can't tear it all down and rebuild it. I wrote a letter recently to Government saying that the worst thing they could be doing is demolishing everything.”

He added: “They need to be repurposing buildings as it is the best way of keeping cost and carbon emissions as low as possible. That's what's important about the work we are doing in Westgate Street. By renewing and repurposing what is already there and enabling it for housing you are killing every bird with that one stone.”

Westgate links the beautiful medieval cathedral with the main shopping area of the city. It was once home to many thriving shops and businesses, but now several properties have become vacant. It is hoped that the improvements will attract new owners who value and celebrate the unique historical flavour of the area.

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400-Year-Old Manor House Re-Opens After Restoration

A historic hall in Lancashire, which is renowned for its beautiful Jacobean plasterwork ceilings, has undergone a two-year restoration programme. The Lancashire Post reports that Astley Hall in Chorley has now reopened to visitors, after a £1.1m renovation scheme. A special weekend of celebrations was held in late May to mark the occasion.

The Grade I listed house was built over 400 years ago, and is celebrated for its stunning mid 17th century plaster ceilings, which are considered to be some of the finest in the country.

The exterior has undergone a transformation, with the removal of grey rendering to reveal the brickwork underneath. The exposed brickwork was then steam cleaned, and some of the oak window frames have been replaced with respoke replicas. The doors and the main staircase have been enhanced to cope with the visitor traffic.

Gary Hall, chief executive of Chorley Council told Lancs Live: “We are so excited to be able to reopen the doors of Astley Hall and for everyone to see the work that has been going on there over the last two years, which has included an enormous amount of restoration work to preserve the Hall and changes to enhance the visitor experience.”

“It will be a real weekend of celebration - not only showcasing the Hall both inside and out, but there’ll be entertainment and activities for everyone to enjoy.”

Mr Hall added: “The work to the hall over the last couple of years has been fascinating and a journey through history in itself. It was vital that we carried out the work to preserve this outstanding building which is part of Chorley’s history for future generations and to provide a visitor attraction for people in the region to enjoy.”

The four wings of the house still have most of the original features intact, including rare decorative panelling, and fine oak wood furniture.

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Grade II* Listed Cinema Opens After Restoration Project

The historic Electric Palace cinema in Harwich, Essex, has reopened after an extensive restoration programme. The Braintree and Witham Times reports that the two-year renovation project included the repair of the ornate plaster ceiling. It was first opened in 1911, and is one of the oldest purpose-built cinemas in the UK.

The beautifully designed building still retains many of its original features, including the decorative front entrance, ceilings, and screen. However, it was placed on the Heritage at Risk register by Historic England, after an initial refurbishment project revealed that there were dangerous levels of asbestos in the roof cavity.

Fortunately, Historic England stepped in with a grant to fund the removal work, and The National Lottery Heritage Fund stepped in with an extra £1.5m funding to support the further restoration. The structural defects and a water leak have been repaired, the interior has been redecorated, and the auditorium flooring and seating refurbished.

David Looser, Chair of the Harwich Electric Palace Trust said: “We are delighted to announce that the long running repair and restoration project is now complete, and that we are reopening.”

He added: “We would like to thank our funding partners for their support, particularly Historic England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and everyone who has contributed to our crowdfunding campaign, without which this vital community asset and heritage site would have been facing an extremely uncertain future.”

The cinema still retains the original projection room and silent screen, and a gas-powered generator is situated in the basement. It was designed by the architect Harold Hooper when he was just 25 years old. The proprietor of the Electric Palace was Charles Thurston, a celebrated showman who pioneered the fairground cinemas of the early twentieth century.

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Wanstead Grotto Restoration Gets Royal Seal Of Approval

Of all the listed building restoration projects in London, few have been as long in the making as that of Wanstead Grotto, which has been undergoing urgent and vital work.

The Grade II listed structure, which gained its listing as long ago as 1954, stands in Wanstead Park in Redbridge. It was originally built in the 18th century as an entertainment venue by the park’s lake, but was largely destroyed by fire in 1884.

Since then it has stood as a ruin, albeit an impressive one with multiple arches. Before the fire it was decorated with shells, crystals and mirrors, plus a pebble floor.

However, as the Ilford Recorder reports, the building has been increasingly unstable in recent years, with Historic England placing it on its Heritage at Risk Register and a partnership of the Heritage of London Trust and the City of London Corporation teaming up to find urgent stabilising works. Planning permission for the work was granted by Redbridge Council last year.

This work was inspected by HRH Duke of Gloucester, who is the ranger of Epping Forest and patron of the Heritage of London Trust, as well as being a former architect.

Dr Nicola Stacy, the director of the trust, said it had been “wonderful” to show the duke the progress that has been made on the project so far.

She added: "It’s one of east London’s hidden gems and so important that it is restored for the public and the local community to enjoy again.”

The trust has completed numerous restoration projects across the capital and has many more ongoing works taking place.

Among these are the restoration of the public clock at the elaborately corniced Boston Arms pub in Tufnell Park, repairs to the brickwork and masonry of the front porch of the Bush Theatre in White City and the restoration of the Rose Window of Winchester Palace in Southwark.

Restoring Period Features ‘Great Way To Add Value’

Homeowners who are looking for ways to boost the value of their residence should consider restoring its original features, as property experts have stated this will be a worthwhile return on investment.

The Express reported the latest from the Property Workshop, revealing some of the simple, but effective, tricks to boost a home’s appeal to potential buyers, as well as its price.

They said: “Bringing floorboards back to life in an older period property is a great way to add value without spending a fortune.”

According to the experts, natural stone, such as limestone, is particularly important to keep well-maintained, as it “is the only type of flooring that gets better as it ages”.

Therefore, those lucky enough to have this type of beautiful flooring in their properties should look after it well, as it can “last a lifetime”, while it also “adds a pinch of character”.

Homeowners with original wooden floors, such as in Victorian and Edwardian properties, should also consider sanding and re-staining their floorboards, as these remain very popular among homebuyers.

The property experts noted that giving floorboards a new lease of life will attract buyers, saying: “Even if your floor hasn’t worn out, it may be outdated in style.”

Houses built in these periods, between 1837 and 1910, have other beautiful features that are incredibly popular to homebuyers looking for old-fashioned homes, including cornices, ceiling roses and dado rails.

Therefore, it is worthwhile considering cornice restoration in London to enhance the original features of your home and be able to demand a higher price from buyers.

Ceiling of Liverpool’s St George’s Hall Undergoes Restoration

A historic restoration project is set to begin on the beautiful ceiling of Liverpool’s St George’s Hall. Museums and Heritage Advisor reports that for the first time in over 70 years, the ornate ceiling will be inspected and restored. A team of experts will assess the condition of the plasterwork, remove flaking paint, and carry out necessary repair work.

The interior barrel-vaulted ceiling is at a height of 82ft, and measures 72ft in width. The restoration scheme is expected to take around two months, and cost £250,000. The funding is provided by Liverpool City Council.

Cabinet Member for Culture and Visitor Economy, Councillor Harry Doyle commented: “With any building of this age, it’s inevitable areas are going to need a facelift or renovation work, and it’s imperative we take action as soon as possible to remedy the issues and ensure the Hall is in impeccable condition.”

Head of Heritage, Development and Preservation, Alan Smith, said: “I’ve spent a huge amount of time over the past decade transforming St George’s Hall into a major event space and wedding venue – and quite simply, people come to the venue because of how it looks.”

He added: “I’m biased, but there really isn’t anything out there that compares to what we have on offer, and as a result we can’t ignore it when restoration work needs to take place.”

The BBC reports that the Grade I listed building was opened in 1854, and is now a key cultural venue for Liverpool. It has also been featured in several TV shows and films over the years, most recently in the latest Batman film as Gotham City Hall. Previously, episodes of Peaky Blinders and scenes from Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them have filmed there.

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