Stowe House – Enlightenment for All Property Services

Location: Stowe, Buckinghamshire

Client: Stowe House Preservation Trust

Value: £1.7m

Completed: Completed Summer 2015

Specialist teams:

Building Conservation and Architectural Design: HCC Property Services, Heritage Architects Quantity Surveyor: MEA Consulting Ltd Structural & Services Engineer: HCC Property Services Engineering Services Interpretation Consultant: Fletcher Teckman Consulting Heritage Consultant: Conservation Plus Interpretation designers: Opera Amsterdam AV specialist: Centre Screen

Stowe House stands at the heart of its world famous and immensely influential Engaging HCC Property Services on landscape gardens. The House is a Grade I Listed Building and the gardens have this“ project was the best decision that Grade I designation in the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. The national and we made in preparing to submit our international importance of Stowe is further recognised by its inclusion on the list of Stage 2 bid to the HLF. The integrated potential World Heritage Sites. The House reads like a who’s who of great architecture design team ensured that all aspects of between 1680 and 1780 featuring work by Sir John Vanbrugh, James Gibbs, William a technically demanding project were Kent, Robert Adam, Sir John Soane and others. approached with professionalism and While the gardens are owned and managed by the National Trust the House is the that design work progressed steadily, responsibility of the Stowe House Preservation Trust which manages access for visitors. coherently and creatively. Working with

As part of their long-running restoration project HCC Property Services were appointed good humour and professionalism, to undertake a study of the ground floor of the main house to establish how significant the lead architect“ brought vision and improvements to the visitor facilities could be made, including bringing the vaulted understanding to every aspect of the undercroft of the oval Marble Saloon into use as an exhibition gallery. project. Working within the constraints imposed by the historic fabric, the occupation of the Nick Morris house by Stowe School, the need for level access and the presence of major services Chief Executive, Stowe House routes in the space, a sequence of clear spaces have been designed to provide a visitors Preservation Trust reception, exhibition space, gift shop, toilets and facilities for education activities and volunteers. Follwing a successful Round 2 Heritage Lottery Fund application the project proceeded through to construction and was completed in the Summer of 2015.

Key Benefits • To provide exciting interpretation and learning facilities to radically improve the visitor experience and further Stowe’s outreach and education programmes. • To support deeper community engagement in the estate and its facilities. • To showcase the restoration work and recognise the contribution of donors. • To widen the audience for appreciating Stowe’s architectural significance. • To demonstrate, through Stowe, the changing fortunes of the English country house.

Contact: Giles Pritchard | 01962 847801 | [email protected] | www.hants.gov.uk/propertyservices Stowe House – Enlightenment for All

Plug Street

Plug Street

Tour of Store the House

Store

Uni-sex Toilets Lift

Exhibition & Sackler Foundation Gallery Volunteer Room

Route Store

Return The Cellar

Tickets

Welcome Centre

Platform Lift

Visitor Entrance