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Author
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Topic: Pre-restoration photos for Pembridge Castle
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Philip Davis
unregistered
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posted 03-07-2000 02:56 PM
This from Jeff Thomas's Castles of Wales Newsletter.----------------------- There is an exciting new addition to the Castles of Wales web site this
month. We have recently been contacted by the family that currently owns
Pembridge Castle just north of Monmouth. Mr. Vic Powles, who spent some of
his formative years at Pembridge, has provided us with a series of
photographs of the castle before and during its restoration in the early
1900s. Mr Powles is a close relative of the present owner. As many of you know, castle preservation efforts are a paramount concern to
those of us who wish to see that the Castles of Wales survive well into the
new century. We are therefore most grateful to Mr. Powles and his family for
sharing with us with their fascinating pictorial record of Pembridge Castle. I have created three new pages (so far) for the new photo essay, and some
photographs are accompanied by modern views of the castle for comparison.
More photographs and additional history for Pembridge are planned for the
future. The link below will take you to the main Pembridge Castle page where you'll
see the new link to the pre-restoration photographs. Enjoy! http://www.castlewales.com/pembrdg.html (Mr Powles asks us to remember that although Pembridge is an historic and
interesting building, the castle is not open to the public - it is still
used as a private residence by the owner, however the grounds are open on
Thursdays (only) during certain times of the year.) ------------------------- The small hints on early 20th century restoration techniques the photo's give are interesting but I wonder if the efforts were worth while. Do the walls look better? Is the restoration authentic? ------------------
Neurotics build castles in the air, psychotics live in them, Psychiatrists charge the rent, art therapists do the interior design and nurses clean out the garderobes!
http://www.castlesontheweb.com/members/philipdavis/index.html |
duncan
Senior Member
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posted 03-08-2000 11:45 AM
 
The site does look better than when it was in a dealict state, but, by what the photographs show of certain areas I have my doubts that the castle was brought up to its original condition. Some evidence of this can be seen on the inner walls near the tower over the garage. Has the renovation been done for authenticity or for livebility? The 1800's and early 1900's were not known for exacting standards in historical matters. My opinion is that in some cases a castle may be saved from distruction and futher decay by getting it to the liveble stage of renovation
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wurdsmiff
unregistered
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posted 03-08-2000 03:00 PM
One of the problems common on such projects is that a decision has to be taken on which stage of the castle's development you wish to target the restoration. In much older surviving sites, it is common to find the remains of one building, developed or built over the remains of another. Similarily when extensions are built on, do you renovate to the older structure, or renovate the extension? Do you renovate the renovations of earlier years, which as Duncan points out may not have been carried out to exacting historical standards. And how accurate are the rebuilds above the topmost level of what remains. In some cases old records may not provide enough detail, and so an element of imagination may have to come into play, with comparisons with similar buildings elsewhere, which may lead to a loss of original or unique feature. I am not attempting to rubbish in any way the efforts of the restorationists, but illustrating some of the problemsthey have to face.
I suppose when it comes down to it, owners will have to find a way of satisfying themselves, but given the importance of the building, some account would have to be taken of public opinion. Tritoph and Philip have already in a previous discussion illustrated these difficulties. How fair is it for the public to criticise a private labour of love such as this?------------------
'Give me the groves that lofty brave,
The storms, by Castle Gordon'.
Visit my web-site at
www.castlesontheweb.com/members/wurdsmiff/castles.htm Gordon.
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Philip Davis
unregistered
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posted 03-09-2000 01:58 PM
"stage of the castle's development you wish to target the restoration" this is a really important point, particularly if you consider the ruination to be a stage of the castles development. English Heritage took the view that Wigmore castle was best preserved in a state of overgrown ruination, and much of Pembridge could have been similarly treated (see passim). I don't believe there is one answer to this question, actually I want to see a wider variety of approaches. But I do believe the idea that being a ruin is as important a part of a castles developement as another aspect is both interesting and profound.------------------
Neurotics build castles in the air, psychotics live in them, Psychiatrists charge the rent, art therapists do the interior design and nurses clean out the garderobes!
http://www.castlesontheweb.com/members/philipdavis/index.html |
wurdsmiff
unregistered
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posted 03-09-2000 03:19 PM
Excellent point Philip, and for many the incomplete state of many buildings and the stimulus to the imaginination that this provides is the great attraction. I include myself in that for some sites (particularily mottes), though for others restoration is my preferred option. Each site has to be assessed on it's own merits, and action taken accordingly. The important point is that they are being cared for and that they will survive. Your point reminds me of our 'Ageism' debate, and the loss of the hundreds of years of military history at Stirling.------------------
'Give me the groves that lofty brave,
The storms, by Castle Gordon'.
Visit my web-site at
www.castlesontheweb.com/members/wurdsmiff/castles.htm Gordon.
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Bluewater
Senior Member
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posted 03-30-2000 10:12 PM
My personal opinion on "what should the property be restored as" is sort of mixed. I guess the best scenario would be to have a castle/structure that is largely intact (if not fully, more or less) that corresponds to the most important time period in it's history. IE, a castle built during the reign of Edward "Longshanks" the 1st that perhaps saw some action in the Scottish Rebellion, or a castle built around and pertaining to the English Civil War/War of the Roses etc being left/restored to that end.I guess it's a matter of taste (in design and in history). Bluewater | |
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