Leading architect and historic building consultant, Purcell Miller Tritton, has been recognised by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors for their work in the restoration of Wollaton Hall, a project recently awarded East Midland Project of the year. The Grade I listed hall, one of the finest Tudor houses in the country and the base for the City Council's Natural History Museum, also took the Building Conservation Award. Wollaton Hall now goes forward into the prestigious national RICS Awards in October.

The £7.5 million first phase of Nottingham City Council's refurbishment programme for the hall and its surrounding park included a substantial stonework repair programme, the opening up of the roof level Prospect Room to visitors for the first time in 50 years and conservation of its important historic decorative scheme, the restoration of the Tudor kitchen and the installation of a lift to enable full disabled access to the first floor level of the building for the first time.

The project also included the complete dismantling and reconstruction of a complex cast iron and glass Camellia House, dating from the early 19th Century. The Wollaton Camellia House is viewed by many as the first prefabricated use of cast iron and glass and an inspiration for the Great Exhibition structure of 1851 in London. Work also included significant landscape drainage works to ensure the long term survival of the historic sweet chestnut avenue and the introduction of estate railings around deer enclosures.

Mark Goldspink, Chief Executive of Purcell Miller Tritton said, “We are delighted that the RICS recognised the teamwork that went into this remarkable restoration which first began over 10 years ago. Using traditional materials and techniques wherever possible was one of the key design philosophies employed during the conservation work undertaken at Wollaton Hall and Park. Stone repairs were undertaken using locally sourced White Ancaster Limestone and hydraulic lime mortar mix.” He went on to add, “The 19th century Camellia House was dismantled, tagged, removed from site for repair and re–assembled in a separate contract as part of the Phase One works. The Camellia’s were kept in-situ throughout the works protected by bubble-wrap and a scaffold crash deck over to prevent the possibility of impact damage and to provide a platform for dismantling and re-construction”

Nottingham City Council's Portfolio holder for Culture, Leisure and Communities, Councillor Dave Trimble said: “The fact that Wollaton Hall has won the Conservation Award and been named Project of the Year is an indication of the challenges and complexity of the work and the quality that has been achieved by Purcell Miller Tritton who played a major role in the restoration team. I would like to add my congratulations and thanks to everyone who has helped in this ambitious project and achievement."

Email: julian@barlowcomms.co.uk