Meet the craftsmen who restored Spencer House

Spencer House, built between 1756-66 for John, 1st Earl Spencer took ten years to build, and another ten years to restore. Its restoration was masterminded by Lord Rothschild, who assembled an outstanding team of craftsmen and specialists in historic interiors with the aim of returning the State Rooms to their 18th-century splendour.

From the time of its construction, which involved some of the greatest artists and craftsmen of the day, Spencer House was recognised not only as one of the most sumptuous private residences ever built in London but also as a building of unique importance in the history of English architecture. Designed by the architects John Vardy (1718-1765) and James ‘Athenian’ Stuart (1713-1788), Spencer House illustrates the transition from Palladianism to Neo-Classicism and offers a fascinating insight into the developments of English design around the middle of the 18th century.

This special Craftsmen Day gives visitors an opportunity to meet conservators, decorators and designers employed during one of the most remarkable restoration projects of the last century.

On site to explain and demonstrate the techniques and materials will be:

Ben Bacon who carved copies of the original suites of furniture designed by Vardy and Stuart.

Alan Dodd the artist who recreated the trompe l’oeil effect on the staircase balustrade.

Peter Hare & Paul Humphreys of Hare & Humphreys responsible for architectural gilding of the fine rooms and restoration of the decorative plasterwork.

David Mlinaric who oversaw for the interior decoration of the State Rooms.

Dick Reid who carried out architectural carving, including the doorcases, and the elaborate marble copies of original chimney pieces.

Peter Schade who, with Ben Bacon, carved the large frames for the Cipriani and Hamilton paintings in the Great Room, copied from original Stuart frames at Althorp.

Peter Thuring, who gilded the copies of the original furniture, and conserved and reupholstered Stuart’s original suite of furniture in the Painted Room, on loan from the V&A.

David Wilkinson of Wilkinson plc who produced five Adam-style glass chandeliers.