Summerhouse at Lotherton Hall reopens following restoration by ‘Re-Making Leeds’ trainees

A summerhouse located on a famous Leeds estate has reopened following a refurbishment led by trainees participating in an innovative heritage construction skills programme.

Visitors will now have the opportunity to enjoy the elegance of the summerhouse during a trip to historic Lotherton Hall after a meticulous restoration undertaken by four young Heritage Lottery funded Re-Making Leeds trainees Toni, Karl, Mark and Ben which commenced in October last year. Carried out under the watchful eye of experts in the council’s parks and countryside team, a variety of improvements were undertaken by the trainees to the structure which was originally a porch on the main house but was re-located and re-purposed as a summerhouse in the early 20^th century. This included restoring doors, window frames, two capitals and two fluted columns and the removal and replacement of all rotting wood. Windows were also reglazed and a new roof constructed on the house which is now also boasting a new lick of gleaming white paint.

Joining Toni, Karl, Mark and Ben at the reopening ceremony was Cllr Mohammed Rafique, members of the council’s parks and countryside team who supported and guided the trainees throughout the project and two representatives from the Leeds Civic Trust.

To find out more about Re-Making Leeds, please see: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/Pages/Re-Making-Leeds.aspx

For more details about events and activities on offer at Lotherton Hall, please see: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries/Pages/Lotherton-Hall.aspx

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for employment, enterprise and opportunity, said:

“It was a real honour to be at the reopening ceremony of the summerhouse at Lotherton Hall and be able to see at close quarters the fantastic restoration work undertaken by four trainees on our Re-Making Leeds scheme.

“There is no doubt that their hard work and attention to detail right through this project has paid off massively, and it is brilliant to see the summerhouse now returned to its former glory.

“A key element of Re-Making Leeds is the chance for our trainees to learn from the experts. I would therefore like to offer a big thank you to members of the council’s parks and countryside team who guided Toni, Karl, Mark and Ben every step of the way, and I look forward to see them building on the skills they have learned in the future.”

Notes to editors:

As part of the ‘Re-Making Leeds’ programme, successful trainees have the chance to learn as part of work-based training, a range of skills under the watchful eye of expert professionals and employers. Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), and delivered by the council in partnership with the Leeds College of Building and York College, trainees can gain qualifications and practical experience in; brick work, carpentry and joinery, stonemasonry, painting and decorating, lime mortar plastering and rendering, wall and floor tiling and specialist lead work. Through the programme, Re-Making Leeds trainees also receive a weekly bursary as they learn and a contribution to their travel as well as training for a L2 Award in heritage construction.

Lotherton Hall Estate is a charming Edwardian house and country estate. A single entrance price allows access to the house, with its wonderful collections of fine and decorative arts and a dedicated fashion gallery, and extensive grounds with an abundance of activities to keep everyone busy. Lotherton Hall has undergone numerous changes over the last few years since becoming one whole visitor attraction. With this new and larger audience the house has adapted by improving access and introducing a new range of family-friendly facilities. Other recent improvements have seen the re-opening of the Servants’ Rooms on the ground floor following a major restoration.

Lotherton Hall has been displaying fashion since its early days of being a museum in 1968, showing fine examples of both historic and more contemporary fashions.

Heritage Lottery Fund - Thanks to National Lottery players, we invest money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about - from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife. www.hlf.org.uk @heritagelottery @HLFYandH

For media enquiries, please contact;

Colin Dickinson, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 39 51578

Email: colin.dickinson@leeds.gov.uk