The Darnley Mausoleum
A Kent family tomb which was lovingly restored after falling into a dire state of disrepair has scooped a top conservation award.
Eddie Booth (IHBC President) presented the Conservation and Craftsmanship prize at Kent Design Awards on 16th March.
The Darnley Mausoleum in Cobham Wood, near Gravesend, which the National Trust says has been wonderfully restored, was named project of the year at the prestigious Kent Design Awards on 16th March 2010. Canterbury architects Purcell Miller Tritton (PMT), and PAYE Stonework and Restoration of London, were applauded for their labour of love which brought back to life the Grade 1 listed late 18th century building with its distinctive pyramid roof.
The panel of judges also paid tribute to the Cobham Ashenbank Management Scheme (CAMS) which began the huge task of restoring the mausoleum, with its associated buildings, and reclaiming the woodland of Cobham Park. The mausoleum took 12 years to repair and was featured on the BBC Restoration programme. It had previously been on English Heritage’s national Buildings at Risk register for more than 15 years, was badly vandalised and in 1980 suffered a major fire. The South East Branch had a study day at Cobham and the Mausoleum in 2007. At that stage the restoration of the Mausoleum was virtually complete but the management arrangements with the National Trust had not been formalised.
The other short listed entries in the Conservation category were:
Westenhanger Barn – grade 1 barn lovingly restored over the past six years by the Forge family (Highly Commended prize);
Mercery Court – restoration and conversion of the former Boots shop in Canterbury as apartments and retail units;
Elms Farm barn – conversion of a II* barn at Sarre into offices;
Leeds castle – repair of stone work.
