A regency landscape revealed
Staunton Country Park is registered Grade II* on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. The Regency landscape and follies were laid out in the 1820s by Sir George Staunton to accommodate his Chinese and botanical interests.
The project entailed restoration of the park, to be shared with visitors who can experience the story of the unique Regency park landscape. The hidden and underappreciated heritage of the park has been revealed through urgently needed conservation and restoration of the paths, planting, and the park's key buildings and historic features. Improved access and interpretation will encourage visitors to explore, enjoy, understand and become involved with the park.
Visitor experience is enhanced by the adaptation of the Victorian Coach House to create a Café, Visitor Centre, toilets and a new car park, delivered separately by HCC CSS. Specialist conservation techniques were employed to save the follies deemed to be of national importance. Works included lime mortar render repairs to the C1830 Beacon, reinstatement of the façade to the C1830 Shell House, along with a modern interpretation of the missing crown. The Chinese bridge has a feature green oak balustrade, and the footprint of the 1860 William Stone mansion has been laid out in York stone paving.
Location: Staunton Country Park
Client: HCC Countryside services
Contractor: HP Contracts
Size of Site:
Budget: £2.85m (The combined HLF project value is approx £4m)
Completed: October 2020
Project Team: CSS and HLF PS
Design Team: HCC Property Services, Allen Scott Landscape Design, Focus Cost Management; MTA M+E Design, Marbas Structural Engineers, WSP Transport.
Key Benefits:
1. Urgently needed conservation works to the landscape, follies and buildings.
2. Improved visitor experience through the provision of a Visitor Centre, café, toilets and new car park.
3. A recorded full survey of key features, trees and vegetation.