Recent Projects

Project: The Grange Park Opera • Northington, England

• The Grange was originally built as a large Jacobean style country house between 1665 and 1673 by architect William Samuel for its owner, Sir Robert Henley. 
• In 1809 the structure was completely transformed into the more trendy neoclassical style in order to resemble an ancient Greek temple, by architect William Wilkins.
• The estate was sold in 1817 and gradually succumbed to neglect and structural dilapidation.
• Facing the threat of demolition, the doors, paneling, flooring and important architectural elements were removed and sold, while the entire structure was completely gutted from ceiling to foundation.
• Guardianship of the house was turned over to English Heritage in 1975.
• In 2001, an English opera company set about to reinvent the house into a summer setting for operas (a popular trend in Great Britain).
• Now thriving in its new role as an opera house, The Grange is seeking to restore original elements to the structure.
• Years prior, an original grand staircase from the house was sold at auction and stored away by an architectural historian in hopes that it would one day return to its original home at The Grange.
• Ready to be reinstalled into The Grange, the staircase restoration and installation project launched a massive media campaign in order to fund this historic endeavor. 
• In 2009, with the help of the Arthur and Holly Magill Foundation, American Friends of British Art made a donation of $4,090.00 USD toward the restoration and re-installation of the grand staircase.

Project: Portrait of Andrew Macpherson of Cluny

• The portrait of Andrew, 15th Chief, is currently housed at the Clan Macpherson Museum in Newtonmore, Inverness-shire, Scotland.
• This 18th century portrait is believed to be the earliest image of a Chief of the Clan Macpherson.
• In 1943, the portrait was purchased by the museum at an auction held by Wyllie & Lockhead of Glasgow. It came onto the auction block from the contents of Cluny Castle.
• Restoration was conducted by The Conservation Studio in Edinburgh, Scotland, and included thorough cleaning, adjusting of the canvas, removal of discolored varnish and previous re-touchings, filling of seal and texture losses, retouching, re-varnishing, and frame conservation.
• Photos below illustrate the portrait being restored, and the final product upon completion of the restoration.
• In 2008, American Friends of British Art covered the entire cost of this project with a donation of $2,000.00 USD.

Project: Portrait of Ewan Macpherson of Cluny (known as “Old Cluny”)

• This very large portrait of Ewan was painted by famed Scottish painter John A. Horsburgh in 1882 and for many years hung in the private collections of Cluny Castle.
• In 1943, the portrait was purchased by the museum at an auction held by Wyllie & Lockhead of Glasgow. It came onto the auction block from the contents of Cluny Castle and is now in the collection of the Clan Machpherson Museum in Newtonmore, Inverness-shire, Scotland.
• Restoration was conducted by The Conservation Studio in Edinburgh, Scotland, and included thorough cleaning, adjusting of the canvas, filling of seal and texture losses, retouching, hole patching, and frame conservation.
• 2008, American Friends of British Art provided a supplemental grant to the restoration of this portrait in the amount of £430.00 GBP.

Project: St. Mary’s Church• Norfolk, England

• Originally built in the 1600’s.
• The church’s bell tower was in unstable condition, and most of its bells had been sold off over the years to help fund its upkeep. Left with only 3 bells, they had not rung for nearly 70 years due to structural instability.
• Architectural and structural woodwork had been damaged over the centuries due to unfavorable weather and wood-boring insects.
• During World War II, a bomb landed only yards away from the church, destroying its largest stained glass window above the alter and causing various other damages. 
• With an estimated cost of $150,000 for the restoration, public funds were simply not available for the project to even begin. American Friends of British Art became involved in 2003 to provide assistance.
• Since restoration, the church has new foundation beams and bell-frames that allow for the bells to ring again after 70 dormant years.
• Since restoration, the bell tower now contains a full peal of 8 bells, which have all been cast at the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London, where the original Liberty Bell was cast for the United States of America, and where the church’s original bells were all cast nearly 400 years ago.
• Since restoration, architectural woodwork continues to be replaced as funds are made available.
• HM Queen Elizabeth II made a personal visit to the church after hearing about the restoration work taking place.
• The church gained international attention as the focus of a BBC documentary titled, “A Passion for Churches,” which highlighted the efforts involved in saving this historic church from ruin.
• Between 2004 and 2007, American Friends of British Art provided $7,000.00 USD toward the restoration of the bell tower project.