Our Bath Workshop has been appointed by National Trust Croome to clean and repair two Robert Adam chimneypieces in the saloon of Croome Court. This work has been carried out as part of the ongoing upkeep of the property which welcomes visitors to see ‘conservation in action’ throughout the year.
The Court houses approximately 30 surviving fireplaces including two decorative chimneypieces designed by the celebrated 18th century neoclassical architect and designer Robert Adam. Both pieces are fine examples of the ‘Adam’ decorative style with a mix of white statuary, white carrara and sienna marbles.
The National Trust Croome enlisted the help of Cliveden Conservation to repair damaged elements and refresh the pieces which are major focal points within the historic house. The project included cleaning, repointing, filling cracks and stabilising any loose or broken elements. A major focus of the project was the restoration of the inlaid sienna marble which forms a ‘Greek key’ design on the hearths.
“It is an honour to work on a Robert Adam chimneypiece, they are just beautiful and create a stunning feature within a room,” says Douglas Carpenter our Senior Conservator. “It has also been a pleasure to be at Croome Court and to engage with visitors, this interaction really adds to the enjoyment of our work and makes it even more satisfying.”
Over a two-week period, our conservators carefully cleaned and repaired the 18th century marble chimneypieces within the saloon. These stunning pieces have now been restored back to their original splendour.
“It was great for visitors to be able to see the conservation work being undertaken in front of them and chat to Cliveden. Conservation of these, and many other important pieces at Croome, is essential so that visitors can enjoy them for many years to come.” said Amy Forster-Smith, Croome’s Visitor Experience Manager.
Image credit: Annette Davenport