Issue 39 Sept 23 - Journal - Page 61
About Stowe School
The stewardship of one of the country's grandest 18th-century Houses is an immense task.
Stowe House is on English Heritage's list of buildings at risk, and has been named by the World
Monuments Fund as one of the 100 most endangered sites of world significance.
Thanks to the generosity of many donors and grantmaking trusts, most particularly the Heritage Lottery
Fund, English Heritage, and in partnership with the
World Monuments Fund, much has been achieved to
preserve and restore the fabric of Stowe House to a
magnificent standard. The impact of the northern aspect
as you approach Stowe is breathtaking: the curving
colonnades, formerly crumbling and discoloured, now
gleam with fresh stone and a vibrant golden colour.
Urgent roof repairs have saved priceless interiors including the famous Marble Saloon, itself now resplendent with
conserved scagliola work and brilliant decorative plaster.
A visitor centre welcomes the public and demonstrates
the evolution of this vast, complex building. A lift allows
disabled visitors to see the piano nobile and the principal
state rooms.
the major restoration of Stowe House. A two year project,
completed in July 2010, involved the restoration of the
roofs, elevations, facades, balustrades and garden on the
Eastern Pavilion and State Library side of the House.
As part of this phase, the Library and Ante Library,
immediately to the east of the central pavilion, have
undergone a magnificent restoration. A pitched roof
(replaced some years ago with a flat felt roof) has been
restored and below it work has been completed on the
valuable and ornate plaster ceiling. This has been
re-gilded to match its remarkable condition in the later
18th century.
The World Monuments Fund have been invaluable
partners in our work and over the last 2-3 years we have
been working on a £10 million matched funding
challenge, made possible through the generosity of an
anonymous benefactor.
We are delighted to report that considerable progress has
been made in recent years to complete several phases of
Martin Thomas Associates is a consultancy practice providing
mechanical, electrical, public health and sustainable engineering for a
wide range of private and public sector clients and cover historic, listed,
educational, institutional, commercial, residential & ecclesiastical buildings.
Historic Listed Building Consultants
The Practice was established in 1998 and has secured work with many
respected clients on high profile buildings and their environs. The success
of the practice is confirmed by securing repeat business from existing
clients and by recommendation from respected professionals.
Stowe House North Hall
Martin Thomas Associates were responsible for all aspects of the
Mechanical and Electrical services design, including the lighting scheme
which illuminates the restored ceiling, marble relief sculptures on the East
and West Walls and the Laocoön statue.
Services Include
Strip out of existing services
Lighting installation
Emergency Lighting
Modifications to Alarm & CCTV systems
Small power distribution
LTHW system, including refurbishment of cast iron column radiators
Mechanical Ventilation
Martin Thomas Associates Ltd
Tel: 01794 324725
Email: general@mtassoc.co.uk - Website: mtassoc.co.uk
Chatmohr Estate, Crawley Hill, West Wellow, Hampshire, SO51 6AP
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Conservation & Heritage Journal
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