The Project - Broomfield House Restoration
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overall intent
The intent is to restore the House as faithfully as possible to its nineteenth century appearance, without the mock Tudor facade which was added in the 1930s.
The picture to the right is from a 1903 postcard and is a good illustration of what the restored house would look like.
Here we show plans which were put to the Heritage Lottery Fund (and which are still valid) to give a more detailed idea of how the House might be rebuilt and how rooms might be used.
Restoring Broomfield House will restore the heart of the park. The park and its formal landscape are currently missing their central focus. The surviving structure of the House is shrouded in scaffolding. Most of the remaining original features are in storage where they remain unseen. Some are on display at other sites where they are viewed out of context. Written documents and maps are held by local historical groups. Photographs and pictures of the house are scattered.
Restoration of the House would reinstate the focal point of the park, and restore the local townscape. It would return this formerly grand property to the wider community and save it for future generations to learn about and enjoy. Bringing the remaining original features back to the House would put them back in their rightful context. Restoration of the grand balustrade, wood panelling and the Lanscroon murals in the reconstructed hallway, and other features of the house would enable thousands of people to enjoy the former grandeur of the property and to envisage what it was like in times gone by.
Gathering information relating to the House, its owners, the landscaped gardens and the changing social history of the area in one space would enable local people and visitors to gain an understanding of the history of the House within its context. The production and installation of colourful visual displays, including text, photographs and reproduction of maps will bring its history to life. Interpretation of the house and its contents will give visitors a greater understanding and appreciation of its place in history and its historic resources. Information on its former inhabitants would enable visitors to learn more about what it was like to be part of the landed gentry and to understand how its owners helped shape the house over time. Interactive materials would make the information more accessible to young people and adults alike.
Visual displays would be produced on aspects of historical significance, such as Gerard Lanscroon the Flemish baroque artist, the baroque gardens, as well as information on the fabric of the building itself which has been shown to be of historical significance. There is also an intention to display information on the history of the local community and how it has changed through time. We hope to incorporate oral history accounts from local people and community groups. In this way we hope to continue to record the changes taking place to the surrounding area and its residents
More detail on the business plan follows.
project objectives
1 To restore Broomfield House in keeping with its heritage and re-
2 To restore the Stable Yard, creating artist studios, business incubators, an educational centre and a kitchen garden;
3 To restore the historic and rare Baroque water gardens;
4 To ensure the project’s viability through an appropriate balance of income generation activities, events and free public access;
5 To inform people about the House’s unique heritage, the region and the environment by providing interpretive information;
6 To establish a café on the ground floor of the House, with an adjoining outdoor patio;
7 To develop and promote the House as a venue for family parties, wedding services, room hire and events;
8 To develop educational activities linked to the national curriculum with local schools;
9 To create a Heritage Learning Centre and Community Hub with a rolling programme of events and learning opportunities;
10 To engage actively with the local Community at all stages of the project;
11 To provide volunteer / training and apprenticeship opportunities, e.g., in heritage.
12 To make Broomfield House a Grade II* Green Restoration project (BREEAM).
I. restoration of broomfield house
The intent is to restore the exterior of the House as faithfully as possible to its elegant nineteenth century design, without the mock Tudor facade which was added in the 1930’s and was out of keeping with the rest of the property. The scheme utilises the recent plans already prepared for Enfield Council, and in particular the external appearance which has been proposed; the key differences relate to the use of the internal space.
Building work would be phased as appropriate. The main work programme elements being as follows:
To make the building shell, wind and weather tight, including restoring the roof and chimneys
To restore internal floors and rooms
To add visitor facilities such as toilets, lift access for the disabled, suggestion and donation boxes
To reinstate ceiling plaster, window cornice mouldings, mantelpieces and fireplaces in all relevant rooms
To restore the Lanscroon murals
To reinstate panelling and architectural detail such as the carved balustrade staircase, the handrail, the Lanscroon murals and other historical features currently in storage
To reinstate the café, with indoor seating for 60 and an outdoor patio for 100
To restore external aspects of the House as faithfully as possible, including the porch and shutters, chimneys and widow’s peak
To improve security around the House, the Memorial Gardens and the Conservatory by installing Close Circuit TV Cameras, to be integrated with the Council’s CCTV monitoring centre
This work would be taken forward by a construction company specialised in Heritage reconstruction and overseen by the Council. Any architectural plans would need to be designed to reflect the intended use of the House.
II. restoration of the stable yard
The project also envisages work to restore and adapt the Stable Yard. The Community would like to see the Stable Yard restored in keeping with its heritage, and made into a tranquil and visually attractive area, incorporating studio workshops for local artisans and business incubators.
To restore and adapt the Stable Yard to create workshops for local artisans and business incubators, and an education room. The latter would form part of the Heritage and Learning centre. The Stables would also include an area for artists to showcase their work for sale to the public
To convert one of the cottages in the Stable yard into a demonstration Victorian cottage
To restore the Bothy as an educational building (seating, A/V facilities, Wi-
fi) To restore the gardens in the stable yard as an organic kitchen garden
To establish an Eco-
House which will demonstrate environmental sound technologies and practices
III. restoration of the baroque water gardens
This involves restoring edging, water features, plantings and other aspects of the landscape. The Community Group is actively researching this aspect of the project and an estimate of the costs needs to be prepared.
original proposed timetable of the project (best-
This is the timetable to which we were originally working. Although all dates have slipped, and at the moment we don’t have a new start date, this is retained to give an indication of the necessary steps involved and their approximate timing.
Round 1 application submitted: 22 October 2012
Round 1 application decision received: January 2013
Professional Team appointment complete: May 2013
Outline design (RIBA Stage C) complete: July 2013
Scheme design (RIBA Stage D) complete: October 2013
Round 2 Application submitted to HLF – anticipated: December 2013
Round 2 Application decision: 31 March 2014
Design development (RIBA Stage E) complete: July 2014
Production information (RIBA Stage F) complete: December 2014
Out to tender: December 2014
Contractor appointed: March 2015
Start on site: 22 April 2015
Practical Completion: October 2016
house re-