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Minimum Intervention Works

Old Hollinside Hall

On the South West outskirts of Whickham, stands Old Hollinside, a Grade I listed fortified manor house built in the 14th century. It is now an attractive ruin, but it retains the defensive features which were so necessary in Northern houses between the 13th and the 17th centuries, such as drawbar slots and small windows on the lower floors.

During the summer months of 2008 a repair and consolidation scheme was carried out on the standing remains at Old Hollinside in a bid to preserve its historical and architectural identity.

As with all conservation projects, the ethos is focused on a minimum intervention approach and the photograph above is an exemplar of this. Here, a new stone head of the correct origin, composition and profile has been carefully introduced however the remnants of the existing head to the right bearing end have been retained to ensure the detail is readable from an archaeological perspective. The new section has been dowelled to the old with stainless steel fixings and a bronze phosphor bar introduced below the detail to provide additional support.

The arrangement provides a visual record of both the past and present in a complimentary but contrasting view point.

Posted on 22 September 2008 by Jim Croft and filed under .

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