Strawberry Hill House

The restoration of the Strawberry Hill House main entrance, led by Heritage of London Trust with the support of Knight Frank, is now complete. 

Strawberry Hill House is acknowledged as one of the most important and influential examples of 18th century Gothic architecture. The house was originally created by Horace Walpole between 1747 and 1790 in Twickenham. A major project restored the house to its late 18th century glory with HOLT restoring the weathervane on top of the building in 2009. Since opening to the public in 2010, the entrance to the house had become dangerous to use following several large sections falling from the wall. The entrance is now fully restored, and HOLT are delighted to see it back in safe use.   

Bowie Bandstand

Restoration of Bromley’s much loved Bowie Bandstand is now nearing completion. The bandstand’s crown has been restored and gilded with funding from HOLT – with thanks to Knight Frank for their generous support.

The £245k project for the bandstand, where David Bowie famously performed in 1969, included restoring its intricate ironwork, landscaping improvements and upgraded lighting that can be used for performances.

Bromley Councillor Will Rowlands commented: “I’d like to sincerely thank Heritage of London Trust for their support and additional grant as well as their original monies. Thank you and congratulations should also go to Bowie’s Beckenham Oddity and other Bowie fans who are supporting this work, along with the many community fundraisers, and all of those who have bought a bandstand brick and of course the Friends of Croydon Road Recreation Ground.”

Dr Nicola Stacey, Director, Heritage of London Trust commented: “This is a one-off opportunity to restore a bandstand of significant cultural importance and it is vital that it looks as splendid as possible. We have been delighted to support the conservation work and see the whole corona gilded.  Through our engagement work in HOLT’s Proud Places programme local young people have been involved in each exciting stage of the project and especially loved the gilding process.”

The bandstand was installed in 1905 and is a rare example of intricate iron work, with its pattern work and casting the only remaining example in Britain. David Bowie played at the bandstand in the Summer Growth Festival in 1969.

The bandstand will reopen to the public later this spring.

Peckham Rye Station

We were delighted today to join the unveiling of a plaque at the award-winning Peckham Rye Station project. HOLT Director Nicola Stacey spoke about HOLT’s recasting of the station’s 1865 iron cresting on the roof of the station - a stunning example of Victorian architect Charles Driver’s ironwork design. Using the original archive drawings, the crestings were recast by FSE Foundry in Braintree and their 32 finials gilded by Kevin Ruggeri. HOLT supported the restoration at each stage to ensure the golden cresting’s return to its former glory on the roof of the station building. 

Speakers included Harriet Harman MP who unveiled the plaque, Andrew Wood from Network Rail, BAM, architect Benny O’Looney, Andy Savage and Tim Hedley-Jones from the Railway Heritage Trust.