I felt extremely honoured at the end of last year to be asked to be a judge for these awards, which are gradually becoming the 'Oscars' of the architectural preservation world. Nearly a hundred buildings were entered for the seven categories, ranging from a completely new building in a Classical style to the restoration of a Georgian landscape. We judges rushed around the country to see these many brilliant projects. I was lucky enough to visit, amongst others, Bentley Priory, Sulby Manor Farm, Althorp House, Canons Ashby, Woburn Abbey, St Helen's House Derby and The Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
On this particular day, I and my fellow judges, Diane Nutting, David Watkin, Crispin Holborow and Russell Taylor were off to Northamptonshire…a county rich in fine architecture.
Sulby Manor Farm is a complete John Soane farmstead. House, yard, stables, bothies and groom's lodgings and kitchen remain and look in very fine fettle. It is hard to believe on seeing the place now that until recently the yard was roofed in corrugated iron, many windows were blocked, the stables were in disarray and the historic Soane fabric was almost totally obscured from view. Today Sulby couldn't be more different and the elegant yellow buildings make one almost long to live there, even as a horse! The horses, the lucky things, in fact have stables fit for a great stallion and his chevalier court. Inside the stables Soane's colour scheme has been restored; sky blue up high and a warm Tuscan orange, and the coved ceiling has been reinstated.
Nearby the groom's kitchen and cook's bedroom have been restored and are ready for passing walkers should they wish to stop by. Mr Sandercock, the owner, built the marvellous ceiling and roof in one of the large barns and intends soon to tackle the restoration of the Soane farm house. This is a stunning restoration and one that has involved the owners getting their own hands dirty!
We then darted-off to Althorp House to gawp at the large scale restoration going on there; acres of roof re-leaded and made water-tight and the many thousands of mathematical tiles (Henry Holland's mass-produced alternative to the brick…not convinced) stuck back on the exterior after their iron rods had eroded.
This huge task of general maintenance is something which goes on with historic buildings all over the country and is an unenviable task. Althorp is a treasure of a house and it was wonderful to see the interior and gawp at the magnificence of this palace built on the back of Tudor sheep-farming.
The interior is immensely varied in its distribution; the Hall is a Palladian masterpiece, while the Gallery is surely one of the finest spaces in England with one of the great picture collections. The central hall is nothing short of palatial with its imperial style staircase and the little private chapel is a serene and modest space amidst all the grandeur.
The culmination of our visit was a tour of the roof, which is a perfect playground for the architectural boffin. It is now immaculate and leak-less. Althorp is ready for business and in finer fettle than ever.
From Althorp we drove to Canons Ashby, once home to the Dryden family and surely one of the most evocative and romantic country houses. The National Trust have restored the gardens and we were there to see their work. The restored gardens have given the house back its eccentric surroundings.
I was fascinated to see the interior of Canons Ashby, which is organic like so many houses of the period, with various additions added in a pleasingly disorganised way over the centuries. The grand early Eighteenth Century garden front has an Elizabethan tower at its centre…such is the unique quality of Canons Ashby. The Drawing Room with its monstrously barrel vaulted ceiling is unforgettable.
Our final stop on this day was Woburn Abbey and the magnificent restoration of its huge Humphrey Repton gardens. This was truly mind-blowing and the Landscape Manager is a true trooper! He and the Duchess of Bedford have been the driving forces behind this renaissance. Despite the pouring rain, we (Giles, Russell and me)went over the whole garden; temples, tea houses, dairies, grottoes and many other follies.
The Dairy is a mini pleasure palace complete with stained glass, decorative milk churns and a dome straight from the Brighton Pavilion…albeit in miniature.
The maze and pavilion have been restored and the most marvellous Pine House built over a rivulet…resplendent with swags of pine cones.
The Georgian aviary has been reconstructed and, most thrilling of all, the Chinese temple and rockery have been expertly restored. The latter must have been a huge job and is indicative of the type of large-scale restoration Woburn takes on without public funding and with labour and materials from the estate.
Repton would be delighted and the visitors are delighted. I could not recommend the garden at Woburn more…I am only sad I didn't get to nose in the house!!
For information on The Georgian Group and its charitable work please go to:-
www.georgiangroup.org.uk
http://www.woburnabbey.co.uk
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/canons-ashby-house/
http://www.althorp.com
This blog and the images contained in it are the copyright of Oliver Gerrish. Please ask permission before using them.
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