The large 4 metre high gates, thought to have been removed by Henry VIII during extensive alterations to the Great Hall at Hampton Court Palace, were to be replaced with new gates to be modelled as closely as possible to the originals but taking the opportunity to incorporate some modern day features required to give emergency access and security.
Tudor Style English Oak Gates
Project Description
The Challenge
English Oak with full traceability was of course required and this involved very large sections of quarter sawn wide boards for the ‘linen fold’ panels. It was essential for the English Oak to be fully air dried to suit its new environment as minimum movement could be allowed because of the many hours of skilled joinery and wood carving that had been carried out to complete the gates.
The Results
The gates themselves stand as testimony to the skill of the craftspeople that dedicate their skills to this type of outstanding project. This is a truly impressive and outstanding work of art which receives the admiration of almost 600,000 visitors per year and has won the Small Projects Category of the 2012 Wood Awards, a fitting honour for this historic project. The gates will continue to impress for hundreds of years to come.
Additional Information
CLIENTS: Historic Royal Palaces
ARCHITECTS: Martin Ashley Architects
ARTISANS: McCurdy & Co
ENGLISH OAK SUPPLIER: Whippletree
