July saw a flurry of paint brushes as the restoration moved onto the redecoration of the interior. Colour sampling by David Morris brought to light the original Edgar Wood colours for all but two of the rooms. The image above shows the original scheme for the Ladies Parlour which was painted in a William Morris style grey-green. The School Hall was found to have eleven coats of paint… at one time the walls were painted bright red/orange! Edgar Wood’s colour was pale blue making for a fresh and relaxed interior. See the coloured up photos below… the old colour scheme is on the left and the new one is on the right. Continue reading “Redecoration well under-way – original Edgar Wood colours discovered”
Restoration – What a Difference
Remember this from February, spot the difference 5 months on! Continue reading “Restoration – What a Difference”
June Was a Busy Month
As June closes, it has been one of the busiest months of the year on all fronts. Apart from the restoration work and contractors’ meetings there have been five Caring for Middleton’s Heritage events and three tour groups. Continue reading “June Was a Busy Month”
Chester Civic Trust visit
Forty plus members of the Chester Civic Trust visited the Arts and Crafts Church today and toured the EW buildings in the Conservation area. This was the follow up to David Morris’s talk to the group earlier in the year. Continue reading “Chester Civic Trust visit”
Restoration Update – June 11 – 15
This week work began on the rear vestibule, the picture shows the extent of the dry rot in the door frame and roof timbers, it is an extensive job. The scaffold on Long Street has started to be removed and the rest should follow shortly. In the garden roses continue to bloom and behind the scaffold the render is complete, most of the windows are now repaired and glazed. When the window frames and gutters have been painted at the high level the scaffold will to be taken down in stages.
Successful Edgar Wood Arts & Crafts day
David Morris treated 15 Edgar Wood enthusiasts to a day of visits and talks about the art and craft of the great Manchester architect.
They first visited Jubilee Library, built in 1887 and one of the earliest arts & crafts libraries in the country, blending rustic oak timber framing with state-of-the-art reinforced concrete.
At St. Leonard’s Church people saw stunning arts and crafts windows by a host of famous designers, including Christopher Whall and A. K. Nicholson. Edgar Wood designed the beautifully traditional roof and oversaw the conservation of the building in 1907. His crafted drawing of the medieval rood screen showed how it was before conservation.
Everyone then went to view Edgar Wood’s 1906 redesign of Jubilee Park which had the old Middleton church crowning the landscape. The art deco fountain awaits restoration but the ceremonial staircase is now looking good. David later showed slides on how the fountain and park could be restored to their original art deco design.
The fourth visit was to 36 Mellalieu Street. It was designed the same time in 1906 and shoes a perfect blend of advanced modern styling and old vernacular features.
Edgar Wood’s creation of early art deco styling was much in evidence in the afternoon slideshows as was his pioneering of art nouveau and thr arts anf crafts.
These buildings illustrated the early and mature phases of Edgar Wood’s architecture. His stylish middle period was also much in evidence in the venue of the day, the Arts & Crafts church, Long Street Methodist.
The event was relaxed and informal with an exhibition of Edgar Wood relatef artefacts, books and paintings provided by the Edgar Wood Society.
David thanks Geoff Grime, Dave Brennand, Tim Hill and the staff of Jubilee Library for making their buildings accessible and Mark Watson for providing the paintings.
Restoration – It All Hinges on the Door
Door frames are having new sections of timber spliced into position, but the original hinges can and have been restored. These are not your ordinary common butt hinges, They are sprung hinges that allow for either a push or a pull opening. One hinge is being fitted into the new section of wood before being joined into the door frame. The hinge was made in Eccles by the Rotector Company (Protector Co Eccles – is there a faint P) in Edgar’s day. Does anyone know anything about this company?
Caring for Middleton’s Heritage – free June events
A Visitor From Berlin
It was good to see Kirstie an Edgar Wood Society committee member on a flying visit from Berlin where she is now based. Although based abroad she still helps the society to produced leaflets, posters and information boards, by profession being a graphic artist and web site designer. On this occasion she was discussing work with the Greater Manchester Building Preservation Trust. It is a pity she can not stay for the committee meeting on Thursday. She did however have a ‘sneaky’ look at the building work and to her left is a newly rendered section with its final ‘sponged’ finish.
Blackwell on May Bank Holiday
Spent a fascinating morning at @lakelandarts Blackwell House overlooking #Windermere with European bloggers @Mymycotton and @WETRAVELTWEET 😀 Everywhere is a homage to exquisite #ArtsandCrafts design. Fab #LakeDistrict sunshine today😎 #goodlifelakes #bankholiday pic.twitter.com/BhFNATqL6w
— Zoë Dawes (@quirkytraveller) May 5, 2018
Restoration – 8 Weeks to Completion
It’s going to be a tight schedule, but in eight weeks the school rooms should be fully restored, some members of Stone Edge were even working on site this morning (Saturday) in order to keep within the time frame for completion. Continue reading “Restoration – 8 Weeks to Completion”
Nick Baker talks about Pennine Arts and Crafts
Last night at Lindley Methodist Church, Huddersfield, 80 people attended a fascinating lecture by Nick Baker about the Arts & Crafts Movement in the Pennine areas and the impact of the Northern Art Workers Guild.
Nick identified the principal architects, such as Barry Parker, Edgar Wood and Walter Brierley and the Guild’s artists, like sculptor J. J. Millson, plasterer J. R. Cooper, metal worker George Wragge, painter Frederick Jackson, and sculptor Stirling Lee, who combined their talents to enrich the strucures erected by the architects, both on the outside and in the decoration and furnishing of rooms.
Nick introduced the audience to many new buildings as well as presenting old favourites in a new light. He also highlighted the importance of the northern Arts & Crafts movement to the development of European fin de siecle architecture and how buildings like the grade I listed Banney Royd, Egerton, Huddersfield had international fame.
Restoration Update 17 April
The main works completed are the asbestos removal, render removal, elevation scaffold, stage dismantle and various strip out Continue reading “Restoration Update 17 April”
Steam Traction Engines & Heritage Fair
Restoration Update – Windows and Windows
The site has been a hard hat restricted area for some time and a lot of work is going on behind shuttering and areas difficult to access, in spite of of the Beast from the East and now the Mini Beast form the East. Continue reading “Restoration Update – Windows and Windows”
A Painted Veil – A Full House
Approximately 220 attended the film “A Painted Veil” by Anthony Dolan and script by David Morris. Continue reading “A Painted Veil – A Full House”
First Church of Christ Scientist
The Edgar Wood Society assists the conservation of Edgar Wood buildings wherever it can and, over the years, has met many owners. This is the wonderful First Church, Manchester, which is to have a new use for events and weddings. The photo shows the owner, Mr. Danny Samuels (centre), Bill Wingrove and P.R. expert Becky Roberts with the famous organ screen in the background.
Restoration: Door, Door and Door
The common theme of the visit to the site on Wednesday 7th March was Continue reading “Restoration: Door, Door and Door”
Premier Showing at the Art Workers Guild – London
The premier showing of the ground breaking documentary ‘A Painted Veil’ by film maker Anthony Dolan and written by David Morris took place at the Art Workers Guild in London on Thursday 1st March. Continue reading “Premier Showing at the Art Workers Guild – London”
A Snowy Restoration day
While many people took a day off on this cold snowy day, the Stone Edge Contractors got through the ‘blizzard’ and were all hard at work. Continue reading “A Snowy Restoration day”