six panel doors dated circa 1800-1840, in order to be better placed to answer queries from homeowners regarding the appearance of their original doors. Another example of this type of use is the visit made to the Collection by two Conservation Officers concerned by the gentrification of vernacular properties in their area through the fitting of internal panel doors. The Officers wished to gain a better understanding of the transition between internal ledged-and-boarded doors and panel doors in houses of this type. To this end they examined a number of vernacular doors of both types.

The Brooking Collection can be used as a resource when producing guidance notes for the public. In January of this year Islington’s Listed Building Caseworkers photographed a range of external doors of similar design to those

in their conservation areas. The photographs are to be included in a leaflet for distribution to homeowners.

The Collection can also provide ammunition with which to fight a case. Two Surrey Conservation Officers visited the Collection to gain evidence of the inappropriateness of a replacement sash window in a late 18th century property. The new window was correct in its glazing pattern but the glazing bars were inauthentic in their heaviness (inauthentic to any period!). The meeting rail was also too heavy and the sashes bore anachronistic horns. The Conservation Officers photographed and made drawings of some twenty

‘The collection can also

provide ammunition

with which to fight a case’

late 18th century sash windows. Even they were surprised at the fmeness of line in some windows from that period.

Another reason for referring to the Brooking Collection is to obtain patterns for replacement features. It

was used by architects from the former GLC in their creation of replacement windows for the front elevation of Richmond Terrace, Whitehall. In the Collection they copied an example of the required early lamb’s tongue moulding.

Because this work had to be so precise, Charles carefully stripped one of the lamb’s tongue glazing bars of its paint layers prior to the visit.

T h e collections of complete features are complemented by collections of sectioned items. This greatly facilitates the

study of historic construction and craftsmanship. A Conservation Officer from the Bermondsey area studied cross-sections of early, circa 1707, sash window box frames which had been removed from 26/27 Southampton Street. He was working with the architect making a replacement window for an early 18th century building and wanted to ensure that they were getting the details right. Another Conservation Officer used sections of 18th century doors from Bowood House to practical effect. The measured drawings that he made formed part of his work to devise a method by which panel doors could be upgraded to meet fire regulations with minimum degradation of character.

Finally, because the Collection enables direct comparisons to be made, this aids the identification of the significant details which differentiate the craftsmanship of different periods. Two Conservation Officers dealing with a house in which some hob grates had been replacedina 1920s refurbishment, visited the Collection with the specific purpose of determining which grates dated from the 18th century and which were copies - the ‘elliptic’ or ‘sham grates’ which were still being produced inthe 1910s and 1920s toreplace burnt- out originals. Charles produced examples of both types and they were able to see for themselves the differences in the casting techniques, the types of bolt used and the thickness of section which immediately distinguish the work of the two periods.

Julie Wakefield is Keeper of the Brookings Collection, University of Greenwich,

VISITING THE BROOKING COLLECTION

To make use of the Collection telephone the Keeper, Julie Wakefield, to make an appointment. If you have a good idea of the material you wish to study, and can give a week’s notice, it should be possible to retrieve items from the store prior to your arrival. There is now a computerised catalogue available in the Collection by which further items of interest can be located by type, date, architect, provenance etc. If you are unable to travel to the Collection we are happy to receive telephone and postal enquiries. In addition, Charles Brooking can undertake site visits, such as those he performs for English Heritage, on a consultancy basis. The Collection is open from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. Address: The Brooking Go!lectio n, University of Greenwich, OakfieldLane, Dartford DA1 2SZ. Tel:

0181-33 1 9897.

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