Restoration of Victorian Conservatory moves a step closer..
Sep 30 2009
Plans progress for the restoration of Victorian Conservatory at Wentworth Castle Gardens in Barnsley
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) announced today that it has given the green light to Wentworth Castle Trust in Barnsley to work up exciting plans to restore its Victorian Conservatory. The restored structure will now form a 'gateway' to the estate's 60-acre Pleasure Gardens for both day and educational visitors. Development funding of £220,000 has been awarded by the HLF to help progress this work.
The HLF first-round pass* means that Wentworth Castle Trust can now progress to the second stage of the HLF application process. The Trust has up to two years to submit more detailed plans and apply for the £2,499.00 of HLF support that it is seeking for the £3,735,593 restoration project.
Vicky Martin, Heritage Director of Wentworth Castle Trust, said: "We are delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given its initial support for our project. Both staff and volunteers have been working tremendously hard over the last few years to ensure that the Conservatory has a future, and it's great to hear that we can now begin to plan for its restoration.
It's a beautiful and very ornate structure, even in its present dilapidated condition. When restored it will allow the Trust to utilise the space for new planting displays and to develop an exciting education programme at Wentworth, utilising both the Conservatory and adjacent Potting Shed as a resource for learning and interpretation; and as a starting point for educational journeys across the estate."
The Grade Two Listed Conservatory was constructed in 1877, by the Chelmsford firm of Crompton & Fawkes, who described it in their catalogue as 'an iron winter garden'. A Conservatory of this size and quality, and utilising the latest technological advances, would be seen as a desirable addition to any Victorian estate of the period.
What is most remarkable about the Conservatory is its use of electricity, from 1886, for illumination. This was an extraordinarily early use of electricity for a garden glasshouse - electric lighting in domestic houses was not widespread until many years later. Its early use here illuminates - literally - how important the structure, and technical innovation, were to the Vernon-Wentworths.
The Conservatory sits within the Grade One Listed Gardens of Wentworth Castle & Stainborough Park and rose to the attention of the public in 2003, on the national final of the BBC TV series 'Restoration'. The decaying structure captured the hearts of folk across the country and polled an amazing 130,000 votes in a desperate bid to secure its future.
Wentworth Castle Gardens in Barnsley are open daily from 10am. For more information, please call 01226 776040 or www.wentworthcastle.org
Notes to Editors:
*A first-round pass means the project meets our criteria for funding and we believe it has potential to deliver high-quality benefits and value for Lottery money. The application was in competition with other supportable projects, so a first-round pass is an endorsement of outline proposals.
However, a first-round pass does not guarantee the applicant will receive a grant as the second-round application will still be in competition for funding, and no money is set aside at this stage. Having been awarded a first-round pass, the project now has up to two years to submit fully developed proposals to compete for a firm award.'
On occasion an applicant with a first-round pass will also be awarded development funding towards the development of their scheme.
Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported more than 28,800 projects, allocating over £4.3billion across the UK. Website: http://www.hlf.org.uk/
The Conservatory
The glasshouse was commissioned by Frederick Vernon-Wentworth in 1835. It was designed, erected and heated by the Chelmsford firm of Crompton & Fawkes, who described the Conservatory in their catalogue as 'an iron winter garden'. (Crompton & Fawkes were also responsible for bringing electric light to Buckingham Palace). The glasshouse would have been used to display exotic plants which were all the rage in Victorian Britain as plant hunters toured the globe for new types of plants. The Conservatory still has a collection of Camelliajaponica inside, including a variety of red and white striped flowers, believed to be 'Contessa Lavinia Maggi' raised on the estate in 1858.
Wentworth Castle Trust
Wentworth Castle and Stainborough Park is a hidden gem located approximately 3km south west of Barnsley in South Yorkshire. It is without doubt one of the most important heritage assets in the North of England, and celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2009.
The national importance of the site rests in the unique combination and variety of architecture, gardens and designed landscape. Three centuries of landscape and horticultural history can be seen to overlay one another in the formal gardens and in their relationship to the parkland, woodlands, buildings and monuments. The site is listed Grade I in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England.
The gardens today are renowned for their hardy-hybrid Rhododendrons, which were extensively planted in the late 19th Century. The gardens are actively involved in plant conservation and the collections of species rhododendrons (300 wild species and naturally occurring forms), species magnolias (30 different kinds) and williamsii hybrid camellias (100 varieties) now have National Collection status, as designated by the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens.
The estate was relatively unknown until the BBC 2 TV series "Restoration" in 2003. The programme featured two of the historic monuments most at risk - the Victorian Conservatory and the 18th Century Stainborough Castle. We came a close third, and the resulting publicity played a vital role in raising the profile of the site to a national audience, as well as bringing the team together to deliver the restoration project.
Wentworth Castle & Stainborough Park Heritage Trust was formed in 2002, and is a registered charity (1092053) which aims to restore the gardens, parkland and 26 listed buildings and monuments to their former glory. The Gardens and park opened fully for the first time in April 2007, and in 2009 we were awarded a White Rose Tourism Award for 'Visitor Attraction of the Year, (under 50,000 visitors)'.
The cost of the first phase of restoration work was over £16 million. Major partners included the Heritage Lottery Fund (£10.35m grant), Barnsley MBC, Yorkshire Forward, English Heritage and the Learning and Skills Council.
The gardens are open daily (10am-5pm), closed Christmas Day.
http://www.wentworthcastle.org/
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