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19
Jul 2024
Plans submitted to restore Studley Royal temple
A planning application to restore a famous folly at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal has been submitted to North Yorkshire Council by The National Trust.
The grade one listed Temple of Piety stands in the heart of Studley Royal Water Garden overlooking the Moon Pond.
The gardens, near Ripon, were created in the 18th century and were inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1986.
The proposed restorative works include the removal and rebuild of two inner walls along with installation of airbricks.
The project is planned to begin in Autumn this year and is predicted to cost more than £20,000.
Internal damage to The Temple of Piety. Credit: National Trust
The National Trust also plan to redecorate the interior following building works.
The design and access statement submitted to the council says the proposed works directly affect only the interior of the building.
It adds:
The temple has had continuous problems with the interior decoration since the Trust acquired the property in the 1980s.
The interior decoration is suffering from moisture related deterioration with large damp patches, mould growth and delaminating and flaking paint layers.
Inappropriate interventions from the mid-C20th have contributed significantly to the conservation issues, causing harm to the fabric of the building and impacting the aesthetic value, and long-term conservation.
A National Trust spokesperson said
The work to date has been highly skilled and specialist work, and has been undertaken by Skillingtons Workshop Ltd. There has been extensive sampling and analysis, discussions with the local Conservation Officer - and as with all conservation work, highly detailed recording of the work undertaken so that future custodians of this very special place know what has happened to the building
Temple of Piety. Image: J Shepherd
The spokesperson added:
The work so far has come to just over £49,000. We’re now applying for consent to take down the north and south internal walls and rebuild them in a more historically sympathetic material. We’ll also add ventilation to ensure that there is a better airflow behind the walls. The proposed remainder of the work will cost £22,000. Once the walls are rebuilt, we’ll choose a final topcoat for the ceiling, cornice, walls, niches, skirting and woodwork based on paint sampling and analysis. This will require specialist knowledge of historic decorative schemes and paint analysis.
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