Turner’s House
Restoration of Sandycombe Lodge
11/07/16 08:05 Filed in: What's On
Turner’s House restoration now well underway
Restoration of Sandycombe Lodge, JMW Turner’s Twickenham country villa, has now begun. With the building fully scaffolded and wrapped against noise and dirt, and a team of specialist contractors well underway, progress has reached an exciting phase.
As well as much work on the fabric of the building, some fascinating discoveries have been made. A number of items from a later occupation than Turner’s have been found in a wall space, including a boot, toys, an 1851 plant list and a tiny glove. The most exciting part of this find is a fragment of wallpaper from Turner’s time and very close to a scrap found at Jane Austen’s house, which is of a similar date to Sandycombe. It is planned that this be meticulously re-created.
Further information about paint finishes is also emerging through paint analysis. The lovely roof light on the stairwell has been removed to be carefully cleaned and conserved.
The design team, which now includes heritage consultants Annabel Westman and Dr Jacqueline Riding, is working to establish the appearance of the interior. “We want visitors to enjoy the building itself, as a work by Turner, so shall not be seeking to fill it to the brim,” explained Catherine Parry-Wingfield, chairman of Turner’s House Trust. “Accounts of Sandycombe in Turner’s time are fairly sparse, but we are supplementing this by looking at the inventory of Turner’s London house, taken after his death in 1851, and seeking out items which were old-fashioned by that date.
“We are also working with a digital interpretation team to develop sensitive ways in which modern technology can enhance the experience of 21st century visitors.”
The budget of £2.4m has been achieved by Turner’s House Trustees, thanks to substantial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, many other funding organisations and generous public donations. However, this did not cover everything and the Trustees still need to raise at least a further £100,000 to realise the full ambition of the project. If you would like to support us in this inspiring work, please donate visit here mydonate.bt.com/charities/turnershousetrust
Website: www.turnerintwickenham.org.uk
Turner’s House Trust
23/03/16 14:42 Filed in: Heritage
Turner’s House Trust gains Civic Pride Award
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames has bestowed a Civic Pride Award of £5,000 to enable Turner’s House Trust to have its collection of prints, drawings, watercolours and oils professionally catalogued.
This large and fascinating collection, much of which relates to JMW Turner’s own work and to that of his contemporaries, was left to the Trust by Professor Harold Livermore, the last owner of Sandycombe Lodge. Professor Livermore’s bequest of the house has made all the Trust’s projects possible, preserving it for the nation and future generations.
Richmond Council’s Cabinet Member for Community and the Voluntary Sector, Cllr Susan Chappell, said: “The Civic Pride Fund offers grants to various deserving local organisations including those maintaining and protecting the Arts. We are delighted to fund Turner’s House Trust’s cataloguing project. We are aware that there are a number of Turner enthusiasts in the community and are very pleased to be able support this magnificent organisation.”
“Thanks to Civic Pride, when Turner’s House conservation is complete and reopened to the public, a full professional catalogue will be a valuable resource for teachers and students and will allow interested members of the public to explore the wealth of information, which these works hold,” said Catherine Parry-Wingfield, chairman, Turner’s House Trust.
Professor Harold Livermore and his wife Ann bought Sandycombe Lodge in Twickenham in 1947, restoring it after its wartime use as a ‘shadow factory’. In 2005 Professor Livermore set up the Sandycombe Lodge Trust (now Turner’s House Trust), with the aim that the house should be preserved ‘as a monument to Turner in Twickenham’.
Turner’s House Trust became the owner of the house, late in 2010 following Professor Livermore’s death. The bequest included the collection being catalogued.
Largely unspoilt, apart from later additions, the villa is threatened by damp and lack of attention over the years. It is now a Grade II* listed building on English Heritage’s Heritage at Risk Register.
Turner’s House Trust followed Professor Livermore’s wish that the house should be preserved as a monument to Turner in Twickenham. A rescue strategy to secure an exciting and fitting future for the House was put in place, dependent upon raising £2.4 million for the job to be done properly. Thanks to funding promises from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other funding bodies, the generosity of members of the public and the Trust’s recent successful Crowdfunding campaign, there is now less than £100,000 to be found.
Work is scheduled to begin, by leading conservation architect Gary Butler of Butler Hegarty and many specialists, next month. Turner’s House will now be closed until the summer of 2017.
For more information please visit: www.turnerintwickenham.org.uk
Christmas Shopping at Turner’s House
16/11/15 20:21 Filed in: What's On
Sunday 29 November 11am to 4pm
Join Turner’s House Trustees for a glass of wine while picking up delightful and original Christmas gifts for friends and family – all to support the Trust’s restoration appeal.The first Turner’s House Christmas Fair was hugely popular and there have been many early requests for another. This year you will find an even wider choice of gifts not to be found on the High Street. Annie Simpson is back with her beautiful scarves made in fine merino and lustrous silk fibres, all inspired by specific Turner paintings – a perfect gift for Turner lovers.
Clementine and Coco return with their cheery handmade little bags, accessories, bunting and quilts – perfect stocking fillers and pretty gifts for the home. Derek and Susie Hale will again be offering their wonderful homemade preserves and chutneys.
Other stalls include jewellery and delicious Italian deli products, and new additions include a ceramicist, potter and silversmith. And be sure to not leave without an indulgent cake to take home for tea.
Plus, if you missed Turner’s House open days this year, the Christmas Fair is one more – and final - chance to see Turner’s Twickenham villa prior to restoration.
For more details please visit >>> LINK