RAINHAM HALL - THE NATIONAL TRUST LONDON

Image showing the interior of Rainham hall before conservation and restoration. Shows yellow painted walls with gilded detail, a grey stone fireplace and wooden stairs.

Image showing the outside front of Rainham Hall.

Built by Captain John Horle in 1729, Rainham Hall has been described as one of the country's finest examples of an early Georgian merchant's house. The Grade II* listed house was transferred to the National Trust in 1949. It remained closed to the public for almost 70 years until a Heritage Lottery grant enabled its extensive conservation and redevelopment. Due to Rainham Hall's tangled scheme of original decorative interiors combined with decades of alterations made by tenants, a different approach was made with regard to the building's conservation, display and presentation.

Conservation was undertaken to repair more recent damage, but the historical grime and 'wear and tear' of surfaces was to be preserved. Conservation works were carried out on behalf of Hare & Humphreys, alongside specialist artist Marina Hughes.

Photo showing a green door with historic paint which has been damaged.

Photo showing a green door with historic paintwork which is dirty and chipped

The unusual approach taken of restoring damage to decorative surfaces deemed as modern, whilst preserving the historic dirt and 'wear and tear'

Photo showing a section of dirty wall and an old style radiator in a historic building.

Area of chapel wall face with marouflage panel before and after conservation

Photo showing the inside of a historic room with one panel which needs to be repainted.

Reinstatement of a severely damaged faux marble panel

Photo of the inside of a room in a historic building showing a dirty yellow paint finish and gilded detail.

Historic wooden panelling with a green paint finish. There is damage to the panel.

Historic wooden panelling with a green paint finish.

Works included the reinstatement of a number of specialist decorative finishes such as the dragged effect to this panel

Close up of areas of damage to a historic painted interior.

Close up of a section of cream painted panelling in a historic interior.

Care was taken to preserve historic dirt to the painted surfaces