Gothic Restoration
22nd January 2019

HOWELLS PATENT GLAZING was appointed manufacturer and supplier of a bespoke glazing system for The Towers, the centrepiece of Alton Towers Resort, said to be one of the greatest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in Britain.

The Black Country business supplied roof lanterns for the restoration of the house conservatory, a significant feature of the south side of the house.

The conservatory, dated around 1815 – 1817, was designed by architect Thomas Hopper in the Gothic style, with a glazed fan vaulted ceiling believed to be inspired by the chapel at Westminster Abbey. Built of stone, with iron framed windows and a glazed timber roof, it comprised three elements; two long glasshouses linked by an octagon with Gothic windows. A fourth element was added in 1824 to connect the conservatory with the new Octagon Gallery.

The Resort commissioned the restoration of the house conservatory, including the re-instatement of the whole roof, using a timber structure with aluminium glazing bars. As the buildings were listed, the conservation officer was looking for sections which reflected the original form of the roof lanterns, as far as was practicable. It was proposed that the lanterns were constructed in powder coated aluminium with single glazing.

Working alongside Staffordshire-based contractor, Seddon Construction, Howells was tasked with producing and installing the roof in just four months, in time for the new tourist season. To meet the slim, pencil line requirements of English Heritage, Howells adapted its HGR 1 rafter bar to create a bespoke glazing system. The 37.5mm aluminium glazing bars sit on the wooden rafters so the view from below is timber, as it would have been originally. To complement the mullions, crestings were designed specifically for the conservatory featuring fleur de lys. The aluminium bars and crestings were powder coated in RAL 9010, an off-white satin finish.

www.howellsglazing.co.uk