Taking A Stand! And What’s Next

We’re excited that the restoration of our grade II listed historic bandstand has started – bringing this beautiful landmark back to its 19th-century glory.

The project has received a substantial donation from The Peter Sowerby Foundation, and generous support from the Garfield Weston Foundation, GJW Turner Trust, 29th May 1961 Trust, Feeney Trust and Grimmitt Trust – as well as money from members of the public.

If you visited us for the Heritage Open Day event in September, you may have heard Matt Vaughan, architect from Donald Insall Architects, talking about how he and his fellow experts and conservationists will be restoring this beautiful piece of architecture.

Lots of preparatory work has been completed over the past few months so that the architects could examine the layers of paint used over the decades, establish the extent of the works required, and put in place designs that will ensure the bandstand will be in superlative condition for the coming decades.

We also had a chat with Matt, Pip Whitting and Nick Reynolds, Directors of Reynolds Conservation, and our very own Senior Horticultural Supervisor, Giulio Veronese, about the bandstand and what to expect over the next few months. 

Take a look at our conversations with each specialist as they talk about the project and what the future of the bandstand looks like…

Matt Vaughan – Associate Director at Donald Insall Associates

In this video, Matt Vaughan guides us through the scope of the work ahead – including restoring the roof by removing the old asbestos tiles and replacing them with Welsh slate, replacing the glass in the sound screen, building new steps, and adding historically sympathetic balustrades.

Pip Whitting and Nick Reynolds – Directors at Reynolds Conservation

Pip Whitting and Nick Reynolds, directors of Reynolds Conservation, discuss what work they will be in charge of as part of the restoration of our grade II listed historic bandstand.

The team talk about the detective work that conservationists have to do to ensure that historic schemes are renovated to the highest standards – from sourcing materials that are not readily available today to making their own moulds to replicate existing structures that are beyond repair, as well as the traditional methods they will be using, such as lime mortar repointing, as well as being prepared for any unknowns the renovation work might throw up. 

Giulio Veronese – Senior Horticultural Supervisor at Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Our Senior Horticulturalist Giulio Veronese looks forward to designing an exciting new planting scheme for when the bandstand renovation is completed.