Hardwick Park, Co. Durham:

The project involved the reconstruction and restoration of four gothic ruins in Hardwick Park namely The Temple of Minerva, the Gothic Ruin, the Gothic Seat and the Bono Retiro.

The Temple of Minerva

When William Anelay arrived on site all that remained of the temple of Minerva was a 600mm thick brick wall. The original stonework had been buried and the large columns had been hiden in the undergrowth. Whilst much of the original stone could not be re-used, they provided an excellent point of reference for our highly skilled stonemasons. A stunning domed lead roof completed the restored building. See Awards 2006

The Gothic Ruin

This building had originally been built as a folly. The top of the tower had been removed in the 1970s and William Anelay was tasked with restoring a nine metre section of masonry complete with a new lead work roof.

The Gothic Seat

There was very little of the original material to work with. Much of the original masonry had been buried nearby to prevent it from being stolen. Some of the original stone was re-used although a number of the columns, all of the upper levels and the steps leading to the pond are new.

The Bono Retiro

Finally, works included the conservation of the Bono Retiro (once a resplendant love nest)

Photographs by R Martin Seddon