Description:
Restoration of a Chinese-style summerhouse originally designed by Sir William Chambers and formerly called the Chinese Temple. Many features had been totally lost including the step arrangement, the balustrades, the doors and all details of the interior. Considerable researches were needed to recover lost features. As part of the work of reconstruction, the steps have been restored to their original half-landing configuration. The work has included completely reconstructing the main peristyle roofs; also rebuilding the corners of the main plinth which had been weakened by the combined effects of frosts and ivy. The steps half-landing were build up from the original plinth course, which had been concealed under, piled up debris and plant growth at the time of survey. The colour of the posts and fretwork was chosen to match traces of red pigment found beneath later over-painting. Of the interior, only the scratch-coat plasterwork remained.