Ayscoughfee Hall, Spalding: Grade II*
Exciting new
discoveries confirm that this is one of the most historically
important fifteenth-century domestic brick buildings surviving in
England. Ayscoughfee Hall contains some unique features and
remarkably, although the western facade was remodelled in the 1840s,
the main structure is of one build which dates from the 1450s.
Anderson and Glenn were
Project Managers and Conservation Architects for the recent
restoration of this late medieval brick house, which is situated in Spalding,
Lincolnshire. They were commissioned to prepare a Conservation Plan, a detailed
Architectural Specification and an extensive Schedule of Works. This
comprehensive series of documents was instrumental in obtaining a substantial
Heritage Lottery Fund grant award for the project.
The Hall, photographed from the west, March
2005.
The eastern facade of the Hall, 2005.
Recent archaeological investigation of the
fabric, combined with archival research, has shown that
many of the later alterations to the original medieval building were
carried out by successive members of the Johnson family. They came
into possession of Ayscoughfee at the end of the seventeenth-century
and owned it until it was sold to the present owners about two
hundred years later. The most distinguished member of the family was
Maurice Johnson II, who together with a group of like minded people,
founded the Spalding Gentlemen's Society.
The Antiquary, Maurice Johnson II (1688-1755).
During the restoration work, many historical
features that had been hidden by
alterations, which had taken place over the centuries, were
revealed. In
collaboration with the Anderson and Glenn led Design Team,
buildings-archaeologist Dr Jonathan Clark, of the University of
York, assessed the importance of every new find. This work involved
inspecting some underground water-features which
required a great degree of dexterity to access.
Dr Jonathan Clark, investigating an underground
'find'.
As part of the restoration-contract, analysis of
the surviving historic paint was carried out. This important work
revealed information about many of the early colour schemes. The
results of this research was used to replicate, in selected areas of
the house, examples of period decor that would have been familiar to
past generations of the Johnson family.
Conservation Architect Mary Anderson, writing
one of the many Contract-Administrator's Inspection Reports,
in the library, which was re-decorated as it was in the 1840s.
Due to the great professionalism and
unstinting dedication of the Design Team, led by Anderson and
Glenn, the restoration of the fabric of the building was
finished within the agreed timescale at the beginning of 2005. To
celebrate this achievement, a special ceremony was held in the
Hall, at which the keys of the building were handed over to
Councillor Nick Worth of South Holland District Council.
The Keys are handed to the Client's
representative.
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