Howells Patent Glazing was appointed manufacturer and
supplier of a bespoke glazing system for one of the greatest examples of Gothic
Revival architecture in Britain, the Towers, known to millions as the
centrepiece of Alton Towers Resort.
Adapting its popular HGR 1 rafter bar, the Black
Country business supplied roof lanterns for the restoration of the house
conservatory, a significant feature of the south side of the house.
Dated around 1815 - 1817, the conservatory was
designed by architect, Thomas Hopper, in the Gothic style, with a glazed fan
vaulted ceiling believed to be inspired by the chapel at Westminster Abbey.
Built of stone, with iron framed windows and a glazed
timber roof, it comprised three elements; two long glasshouses linked by an
octagon with Gothic windows. A fourth element was added later, in 1824,
to connect the conservatory with the new Octagon Gallery.
As part of its commitment to preserving the site’s
historical features, the Resort commissioned the restoration of the house
conservatory in late 2010, including the re-instatement of the whole roof,
using a timber structure with aluminium glazing bars. As the buildings
were listed, the conservation officer was looking for sections which reflected
the original form of the roof lanterns, as far as was practicable. It was
proposed that the lanterns were constructed in powder coated aluminium with single
glazing.
After a stringent tender process and submission of
section details and examples of similar lanterns to the planning officer,
Howells Patent Glazing was appointed manufacturer and supplier of the roof
lanterns. Working alongside Staffordshire-based contractor, Seddon
Construction, Howells was tasked with producing and installing the roof in just
four months, completing the contract prior to the new tourist season.
To meet the slim, pencil line requirements of English
Heritage, the patent glazing specialist adapted its popular HGR 1 rafter bar to
create a bespoke glazing system. The 37.5mm slimline aluminium glazing
bars sit on the wooden rafters so the view from below is timber, as it would
have been originally. To complement the mullions, crestings were designed
specifically for the conservatory featuring fleur de leys. These
were profile cut from 6mm aluminium. The aluminium bars and crestings were
powder coated in RAL 9010, an off-white satin finish.
That was seven years ago, since then the conservatory
has been a magnificent spectacle for the many thousands of visitors passing
through the Staffordshire tourist attraction. David Rhodes, head of
buildings and estate at Alton Towers, comments, “With regard to the roof, we
have had no issues over the past seven years and it is performing as expected.”
