Re-instatement of a Joseph Paxton Conservatory

Preparations are in hand, to a scheme designed by Chedburn Design and Conservation of Bath, to reinstate the glazed 'ridge and furrow roof on the remaining structure of a conservatory in Herefordshire. In private ownership, Hampton Court, near Leominster, has been undergoing extensive repairs since it changed hands in 1995. The works have covered not only the house, but also the gardens, involving repairs to existing structures such as the ha-ha and sunken gardens, as well as a number of new garden buildings, features and areas, including a maze.

Originally known as Hampton Richard, a house has been in existence on this site since the end of the 12th century, being built and owned by the de Bohun family, Earls of Hereford. They were granted a licence to crenellate in 1434, and the house was entirely rebuilt, substantially, in its present shape. Early etchings of the 17th and 18th century show a quadrangled, semifortified house surrounded by formal gardens, water features and extensive planting. By the mid 19th century, the estate was owned by the Arkwright family (of 'spinning jenny' fame ) and from 1835 extensive alterations were put in hand to the designs of William and John Atkinson, but under the control of Charles Hanbury-Tracy. However, the Arkwright family came from Derbyshire, where Joseph Paxton was beginning to make his name, under the patronage of the Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth. Early in 1844, Paxton was approached regarding the roof design of the new conservatory.

Paxton is known to have visited Hampton Court in December 1844 (possibly staying for Christmas), and his scheme was drawn up the following year with improvements and alterations as requested by the client. The old glass house was demolished and Paxton re~ visited late in 1845 to view the site. Progress was swift, for by September 1846 the conservatory had "...been covered over".

Re-instatement of a Joseph Paxton Conservatory Angela Dudley describes a project to save a rare Paxton design

	Preparations are in hand, to a scheme designed by Chedburn Design and Conservation of Bath, to reinstate the glazed 'ridge and furrow roof on the remaining structure of a conservatory in Herefordshire. In private ownership, Hampton Court, near Leominster, has been undergoing extensive repairs since it changed hands in 1995. The works have covered not only the house, but also the gardens, involving repairs to existing structures such as the ha-ha and sunken gardens, as well as a number of new garden buildings, features and areas, including a maze. Originally known as Hampton Richard, a house has been in existence on this site since the end of the 12th century, being built and owned by the de Bohun family, Earls of Hereford. They were granted a licence to crenellate in 1434, and the house was entirely rebuilt, substantially, in its present shape. Early etchings of the 17th and 18th century show a quadrangled, semifortified house surrounded by formal gardens, water features and extensive planting. By the mid 19th century, the estate was owned by the Arkwright family (of 'spinning jenny' fame ) and from 1835 extensive alterations were put in hand to the designs of William and John Atkinson, but under the control of Charles Hanbury-Tracy. However, the Arkwright family came from Derbyshire, where Joseph Paxton was beginning to make his name, under the patronage of the Duke of Devonshire at Chatsworth. Early in 1844, Paxton was approached regarding the roof design of the new conservatory. Paxton is known to have visited Hampton Court in December 1844 (possibly staying for Christmas), and his scheme was drawn up the following year with improvements and alterations as requested by the client. The old glass house was demolished and Paxton re~ visited late in 1845 to view the site. Progress was swift, for by September 1846 the conservatory had "...been covered over".
General elevation, southwest corner of oranqery
	Described as being "not a common one" and "suitable for large plants with a fully-sloping glazed roof and flues which opened", early photographs show a large glazed structure of five separate ridge slopes. The roof was demolished earlier this century, being replaced by a plastics corrugated affair, but the main structure remains today. Five bays of tall narrow openings, intersected by a horizontal transom with smaller traceried lights over, the building today is finished above the cornice with crenellations and pinnacles. Old photographs and Paxton's original drawings show five gabled pediments fronting strange ridge and furrow trusses that supported the fully-glazed roof slopes behind. These are echoed at either end by a single, fullspan gable set at 28 degrees to match the rise and fall of the ridges. Few of Paxton's buildings remain, and still fewer with their glass ridge and furrow roofs intact. Being built a full five years before the famous Crystal Palace, erected in Hyde Park for the Great Exhibition of 1851, this is an important building in its own right.
Detail of top of wall and east facade of orangery
	The project today involves extensive stonework repairs to the structure, including door and window mouldings to all elevations, together with the removal of the existing swimming pool, which was added in the 1970s. The modern roof will be completely removed and a new structure, based on the original Joseph Paxton design, will be reinstated. The original stone gables to the ridges will be cut and the north wall reinstated with its louvered ventilators and flues to suit a new under-floor heating and ventilation system. The building, when completed, will form an important addition to the new garden buildings and features being built at present and will form part of the gardens which will be opened to the general public from next year.
	Apart from Crystal palace (1851), very little documentary evidence seems to exist on other, early Joseph Paxton works, but if any- one reading this article has any information, or knows a source of such, please do get in touch with Angela Dudley of Chedbum Design and Conservation on 01225 852554
	Context 62 June 1999