Work continues at the Maison Dieu in Dover
Dover’s historic Maison Dieu is taking part in this year’s Heritage Open Days with a free drop-in activity and no need to book in advance. Although the building isn’t open yet, the team will be in Maison Dieu House and Biggin Hall in Dover on Saturday 7 September, from 11am to 4pm, and look forward to welcoming visitors through the day.
Residents can meet the talented conservators who have spent months painstakingly bringing this beautiful historic building back to life for the community to enjoy.
Specialist from Arte Conservation reinstating William Burges’ decorative scheme in the Connaught Hall Image: DDC
Arte Conservation specialists will share some of the techniques they have used to reinstate William Burges’ decorative scheme in the Connaught Hall and Mayor’s Parlour and expert stained-glass conservators from Easthope Stained Glass, who cleaned and conserved the building’s impressive stained-glass windows, will be on hand to explain how carefully they had to manage the glass to keep it safe.
Rebecca Gregg, an oil paintings’ conservator and a regular participant in BBC1’s Fake or Fortune, will also be there on the day ready to share some fascinating facts and stories about the Maison Dieu portraits as will stonemason Carrie Horwood, of Cats Eye Carving, will be sharing how she skilfully carves the stone to produce her eye-catching work. Carrie will invite guests to try out the ancient art of stone carving for themselves and will highlight the grotesques of the Maison Dieu.
Visitors will also be able to:
- see the William Burges lion-headed chair in close-up detail and find out how it was cleaned and conserved from the dedicated team of furniture conservation volunteers;
- watch film and time-lapse footage of conservation in action including work to conserve the Maison Dieu’s regimental colours;
- stencil their own decorative dragon, parrot or flower detail; and
- find out how to join the Friends of the Maison Dieu.