From early April visitors to the National Trust’s Tyntesfield in Somerset will be able to experience a National Trust property like never before as the charity embarks on its biggest restoration project ever carried out in public view.
The beautiful gothic mansion, saved for the nation following a nationwide appeal in 2002, is the focus of attention this year as extensive roof repairs are carried out requiring specially designed scaffolding and giving visitors the opportunity to climb to a viewing platform and see Tyntesfield from a completely new perspective.
Meanwhile, the work continues inside the house including major rewiring, a task not carried out in over 50 years and the installation of new plumbing and heating systems.
Tim Cambourne, National Trust Senior Buildings Surveyor said, 'As you can imagine working on a property of this scale and significance is no mean feat, even lifting one floorboard has to be done with meticulous care. It is exciting though – we are discovering new things all the time. We’ve already found man-sized tunnels under the floor full of pipes and wires that we never knew were there'.
To make way for the work, many of the 40,000 items in Tyntesfield’s collection, from delicate porcelain to a modern-day TV, will be wrapped and packed, moved and stored by trained staff and specialists, providing visitors with a fascinating insight into what’s involved in preparing a Victorian estate for this amount of repair work.
Helen Bonser-Wilton, Programme Director said, 'All our visitors will be able to see at first hand what’s involved in restoring a grand Victorian estate and share in the significant moments in Tyntesfield’s life - whether it is watching a chandelier being rewired or the bell tower removed.'
It’s not only the historic building that needs careful preparation for the restoration project. Tyntesfield is an exceptional site for wildlife, including home to ten different species of bat, which all need special attention during the restoration. Even sections of turf and soil are being dug up and re-homed to make sure delicate orchids aren’t damaged under scaffolding footings.
Rebecca Aubrey-Fletcher, Visitor Services and Enterprises Manager said:
'This is going to be an unmissable year for our visitors with lots to see and do across the estate. What makes Tyntesfield so special is the scale and variety of the work going on while we are open, giving everyone a chance to see behind the scenes. None of us will ever see Tyntesfield like this again in our lifetimes.'
|
