English Heritage Helps Lyme Park Reach New Heights

Lyme Park, Cheshire. The National Trust, with support from English Heritage, has embarked on the first phase of a major long term project which will see the eventual replacement of the entire mansion roof at Lyme Park .

The mansion featured as Pemberley in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and was backdrop to the famous scene where Darcy, played by Colin Firth, emerges dripping wet from his swim in the lake.

Phased over several years, work on the roof at Lyme Park is currently addressing the problem of water seepage into the structure of the building’s East Wing and Long Gallery, and should be complete by the end of this year.  If not rectified, rainwater will ultimately damage the fabric of the building and the many chattels on display inside, as well as facilitating dry rot, which is extremely difficult to eradicate. Once replaced, the roof will have a life-span of 70 – 100 years.

Support for the project has been received from English Heritage, which has given a grant of £280,000 towards restoration work.

Kevin Reid, Property Manager at Lyme Park says:

“We are extremely grateful to English Heritage for recognising the national importance of this project, and for supporting the Trust’s work to such a significant extent. Without this support it would have been difficult to embark on the roof restoration, which ultimately might have meant closing Lyme Park to the public or removing many items currently on display inside the mansion”.

“It is vital that conservation work such as the roof project continues to be carried out. The Trust has a responsibility to care for those buildings in its ownership ‘on behalf of the nation’ and to ensure access is available to all. When the roof restoration is complete we can be sure that Lyme Park will pass to the next generation in the best possible condition”.
 
Part of the funding from English Heritage is to go towards an archaeological survey of the roof which will be taking place while slates are removed for conservation.

Peter de Figueiredo, English Heritage’s Historic Buildings Inspector, said:

“Lyme Park is a beautiful mansion of huge historic importance but, like so many other buildings of its size, it requires a great deal of maintenance”.

“The highly- acclaimed TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice brought both national and international attention to the mansion and park, so English Heritage is delighted to  help safeguard its future for generations to come”.
          
Whilst work is taking place, Lyme Park continues to remain ‘open for business’. In addition to roof tours, visitors can also experience some of the major display rooms within the mansion in ‘evening’ light. This is due to the exterior walls being clad in scaffolding, and presents a uniquely different atmosphere to the rooms to their usual daytime setting.

The total cost of phase one of the roof project is £868,000.

For further information about Lyme Park, roof tours and other events, please call
01663 762023 or e-mail: lymepark@nationaltrust.org.uk