Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
29
Jul
Historic Studley Royal temple set for next stage of restoration
The next phase of a project to restore an iconic folly in the grounds of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal has been approved.
The National Trust submitted plans to renovate the Temple of Piety, which overlooks the Studley Royal water garden, to North Yorkshire Council in July 2024.
The first application sought approval to remove and rebuild two inner walls of the grade-one listed building, as well as to install airbricks, and was approved last September.
The latest application, which requested listed building consent to repaint the temple’s interior, was approved last week.
The charity lodged the proposal after “extensive paint sampling”, plans say, adding the project will return the interior to a more historically accurate and appropriate appearance.
According to planning documents, the Temple of Piety's interior has had “continuous problems” since the National Trust acquired the site in the 1980s.
They add:
The interior decoration has suffered from moisture-related deterioration with large damp patches, mould growth and delaminating and flaking paint layers.
This is particularly evident on the Cortese roundel on the back wall of the inside of the temple and the ceiling. Inappropriate interventions from the mid-C20th (mid-twentieth century) have contributed significantly to the conservation issues, causing harm to the fabric of the building and impacting the aesthetic value and long-term conservation.
Work to rebuild the temple walls is now complete, and all four walls now require redecoration.
Planning documents say visitor accounts between the 18th and 20th centuries do not discuss the colour of the temple’s interior, but paint sampling and analysis have "given the trust a chronology on which to base our proposals".
The National Trust proposes to paint the walls, niches and recessed panels a shade of ochre, and the ceiling, cornice and swags – festoons – would be a “soft, un-tinted” shade.
The skirting and door architraves would be painted in a dark red/brown colour, plans say.
Below is a photo of the paint samples.
The paint samples for the redecorating scheme. Photo: National Trust
The National Trust previously told the Stray Ferret the conservation project would cost £22,000, which included work to fix internal damage.
The redecorating phase will cost less than £10,000 of the total sum, the charity said in an update.
The trust also confirmed the Temple of Piety will close temporarily whilst the work is carried out:
The temple building will be closed to visitors during the works for a few weeks. The total time will depend on weather for the external part.
An illustration of the how the new entrance to the building from the water gardens might look.
£4.6 million project
The National Trust was given the green light for a major £4.6 million redevelopment of the Studley Royal end of Fountains Abbey in January.
The council approved the Studley Revealed plans, which will see new accessible toilets, an enhanced café and admission point created, as well as new landscaping.
The Stray Ferret asked The National Trust if the Temple of Piety's restoration is part of Studley Revealed, but the charity said it is a separate scheme.
A spokesperson said:
The conservation work on the Temple of Piety is separate from the Studley Revealed project.
This work is just one of the important conservation projects we’ve completed at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal in recent years to restore and preserve the features designed by father and son, John and William Aislabie.
The Studley Revealed project has proven divisive over the years, after concerns were raised over the new café being brought inside the water garden and only accessible to those willing to pay entry.
The existing café is currently on the deer park side of the site and is free to access.
However, the trust is set to develop a refreshment kiosk in the deer park car park, which will be available for those who do not wish to purchase a day ticket and who are not National Trust members.
0