31
Oct 16
Thatching in action
Did you miss Roger's thatching demonstrations in September? Here's your opportunity to learn more about how the Hermitage was given back its thatched roof.
This is the latest of Gavin Repton's videos on the restoration of the Hermitage at Kedleston
03
Oct 16
The thatching is done!
We're really excited about what a lovely little building the Hermitage is turning into. Roger has finished the thatching and doesn't it look fantastic? The edges are supposed to look a bit scraggly to fit in with the rustic look of the stone and gypsum.
Gavin has also been on site to film Roger's work and is putting the final touches to another video, which we'll post as soon as it's done.
So what's next? The door and windows will be put in and the inside walls are going to be plastered. Then there is the tidying up...
26
Sep 16
What glass for the windows?
One question we were still debating is what glass to use for the windows of the Hermitage. From historic building records, we know that there was crown glass in the windows in about 1790. Archaeological evidence has shown that the windows were leaded, which meant that small glass panes were used.
Crown glass is hand-blown and varies in thickness. The thinnest parts of the sheet are the edges and this was regarded as the highest quality and most expensive glass. For windows it would be cut into small shapes and put into a leaded frame.
Because we are trying to use materials that we know where used in building the Hermitage, we had to find a manufacturer who still made the glass by hand rather than machine. The reason is that machine-made glass looks too modern and polished.
However, our architect found one company that still makes the glass the traditional way. Isn't it beautiful?
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