The latest from Philipa McDonnell, our MA student working with Crick Smith…
6th February 2014
PREPARATION WEEK
The first stage of the project involved assessing the condition of the buildings and undertaking archival research and architectural paint analysis. Cleaning tests were also undertaken, and the species of pinecones and twigs were identified. This gave us the knowledge we needed to develop a treatment plan specifically designed to ensure the sustainability of the buildings and the needs of the client in a manner sensitive to the historical look and feel of the buildings.
The second challenge was sourcing materials. Wherever possible, Crick Smith use locally sourced materials. In the case of Swiss Gardens, this involved Gill foraging deep into a Bedfordshire forest in the middle of December to choose and approve the hazel offshoots from our twig supplier, the lovely Guy and Jane Lambourne’s company Wasseldine.
Before starting work on-site, we needed to perfect the techniques we would be using throughout the project. This meant getting to grips with the fine-art of spitting twigs and slicing pinecones. After much trial and error – and miraculously without depleting our sample stock – Suelen and Ceilidh could dexterously create replacement pieces for the rustic decoration.
The final task was to sort, label and pack the equipment and materials, and we were ready to leave Lincoln.
5th February 2014
A recent Crick Smith Project-Swiss Gardens
The Swiss Garden, located in Old Warden Park, was created in the 1870’s by Lord Ongley and is now Owned by Shuttleworth Trust, http://www.shuttleworth.org/swiss-garden/ . The picturesque garden is filled with small follies including a grotto, privy, ornamental lakes and the two buildings that Crick Smith will be working on; the Swiss cottage and Indian Kiosk. The Crick Smith team includes Gemma, Pip, Suelen and Ceilidh, who will be on-site for the entire project, and Gill Thwaites who will be managing the project and liaising with our main contractors FWA http://www.fwagroup.co.uk/ .
Swiss Cottage, likely designed John Buonarotti Papworth, is a rustic two-story building built in a romanticised ‘Swiss Style’. The umbrello porch is decorated with twig-work and pinecone-work in floral and geometric designs. The doors show painted serpentine motifs and intricate twigwork. The interior decoration is predominantly carved, polychrome and woodgrained panels, possibly originating from the ‘Swiss Room’ in the Coliseum, regent’s park, which was demolished in 1875-7. Twig-work is also used on the Indian Kiosk, as well as brightly coloured motifs on the ceiling and pillars, and a fantastic stained glass panel.
Restoration work undertaken on both buildings during the 1970’s, added areas of decoration and paint not part of the original design, so part of the treatment will involve undoing alterations to reveal the ‘true nature’ of the buildings. Throughout the project we will also be cleaning, consolidating and replacing the rustic decoration and painted surfaces in order to return the buildings to the way they will have looked in the 19th century and ensure their longevity for future generations.
26th January 2014
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