Extensive restoration 'safeguards' stately home

11 hours ago

Alex PopeNorthamptonshire

Gillian Lowe Three people, on a platformed area, in a room, with a painted ceiling above them, and painting to the end of the room. One man is standing, with an arm up, the other men are sitting down. They are all working, there are lights around them and equipment and ladders. — Conservation work was carried out in the Great Hall

An extensive restoration project that has seen historic artwork restored, a roof repaired and a pond renovated at a Grade I listed stately home has "safeguarded" it for future generations.

Boughton House, near Kettering, Northamptonshire, which dates from the 15th Century, said the "scale and significance of this work cannot be overstated".

The work included the replacement of its 100-year-old Collyweston slated roof, the conservation of the Great Hall's ceiling by French artist Louis Chéron, and the restoration of Star Pond.

Sam Rees, its estate manager, said it showcased the "rare and highly skilled crafts" needed to maintain the grounds and building.

The building, the home of the Buccleuch family, is cared for by the Buccleuch Living Heritage Trust.

Tony Marsh The inside of a stately home, showing lots of work of art on the walls and a painted ceiling. There are windows to the left, a doorway at the end and wooden panelled walls. Tapestries are also on the walls. — The Great Hall ceiling after the work was completed

The house said a decade of work had been completed to conserve a series of painted murals by "renowned artist Louis Chéron (1655–1725), whose work encompassed nine prominent rooms, including the Egyptian Hall and the breath-taking Great Hall".

In the Great Hall a team of 10 specialist conservators conserved and restored one of Chéron's original pieces.

They "sensitively removed an accumulation of dirt and grime", and some earlier restoration work which had discoloured, revealing the artist's "original schemes as they were meant to be seen, three centuries ago".

Boughton House The outside of a stately home, showing a large building, in several sections, with trees behind it, lawns in front of it, and a an area of water to the right. The building has a large slate roof. Fields are also to the left. — Boughton House with is newly renovated roof

Work on the roof started in October and was finished by June.

In total more than 20 tonnes of new lead was placed on the roof along with timber sourced from an oak tree from the estate.

The cost of the completed works has not been revealed, but the ceiling work was paid for by the Buccleuch Living Heritage Trust, and other work by the estate.

County Lifting Conservation workers carrying out repairs on the roof of Boughton House, with extensive scaffolding in place. It features a large green crane, workers on the ground, The building is a very large stone building, with extensive windows. — Extensive scaffolding was placed around the roof while the work was carried out

Star Pond, one of its "key features" of the gardens and parkland, is believed to have been inspired by the Palace of Versailles.

It has been extensively updated and includes new wetland areas and work designed to alleviate flooding.

David Cullum, its parks and gardens manager, said: "We were keen not only to bring back its dramatic visual impact but also to ensure the work created an environmental legacy.

"We installed a fish pass so that fish can continue safely on to the River Ise."

Boughton House Star Pond, showing a stone structure, with water at the front, as small waterfall and a large amount of people standing on the wall. There are large trees behind them all. — The teams who worked on the Star Pond project were happy to pose by their completed work

Rees said: "The scale and significance of this work cannot be overstated.

"Each project has played an important part in safeguarding Boughton House, its historic interiors and its remarkable collection for generations to come."

Scott Macdonald, director of collections for the Buccleuch Living Heritage Trust, said: "Through this restoration, we have revealed Chéron's original intentions, the colour vibrancy and dynamism of his greatest series of masterpieces, which can now be seen for the first time in over 300 years, as the artist intended."