Selectaglaze secondary glazing helps protect returning artefacts in Grade I Listed Castle

Selectaglaze was recently specified to help restore the Grade I Listed Highcliffe castle, located between Dorset and Hampshire, with a bespoke solution.

Highcliffe Castle was erected between 1831 and 1835 by Charles Stuart, 1 st Baron Stuart de Rothesay and is cited as the most significant surviving house of the Romantic and Picturesque style of architecture.

The magnificent building incorporates more architectural fragments in the 18th-century French Style due to Lord Stuart becoming a Francophile, collecting stonework, stained glassed windows, 18th-century French panelling, tapestries and books, during his time at the Paris Embassy.

The most notable medieval French masonry brought to Highcliffe Castle from France is the Jesse Window of the Great Hall, which symbolises a family tree of Jesus. Dating back to 1547, the window came from St Vigor Parish Church at Roen, which was partially destroyed during the French Revolution. 

Highcliffe Castle was a family home until the early 1950s when it was sold to become a children’s convalescent home, but was closed in 1952. In 1966, before the Castle was sold for redevelopment, a fire damaged much of the exterior. Another fire a year after the sale left it to ruin. It was not until 1994, that the phased scheme (which is still ongoing) to repair and conserve the building began.

Funded by Christchurch Borough Council, English Heritage and the Lottery Heritage Fund, the objective of the current phase of work is to transform the East Wing into a dynamic Heritage Centre. The latest restoration project known as ‘The Phoenix Files’ is being undertaken by Greendale Construction Limited. Once the east wing and historic kitchen are restored, visitors will again have full access to the castle.

As part of the project, Greendale contacted Selectaglaze, the leading specialist in the design, manufacture and installation of secondary glazing for thermal and security solutions for the castle’s new exhibition spaces. This first required an overhaul of previously repaired windows as well as the conservation of existing exposed brickwork.

Working with Greendale and architects Rodney Melville and Partners; Selectaglaze provided the Castle with a bespoke solution to complement the restoration of the rooms meeting acceptable museum standards and levels of; humidity, light and security. This will permit the return of most of the Marshal Ney furniture which is currently in the V&A Museum where Selectaglaze had installed secondary glazing units in the Henry Cole Wing.

As the castle is Listed, any security measures taken had to be sympathetic to the buildings elegance and historical significance. As secondary glazing is a discreet and reversible adaptation, it is ideal for Listed properties and can offer an unseen level of security to any property.

Selectaglaze installed 3 high-security Series 85 2 – pane horizontal slider units, glazed with a 12mm Tecdur anti-bandit glass, which were certified to LPS 1175 SR2. Overall, the newly refurbished rooms are far better equipped to house objects of high value.

Overall, the secondary glazing work has exceeded the castle’s security expectations, increasing the protection of the returning artefacts. Selectaglaze is proud to have been involved in a project that was not just about restoration, but also about creating a lasting legacy for Christchurch; supporting an attraction that will support the local economy and overall visitor experience for those visiting the Borough.

Contact:

Selectaglaze,
Alban Park,
Hatfield Road,
St. Albans,
Hertfordshire,
AL4 0JJ

Phone: 01727 837271
Fax: 01727 844053

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