Danson House
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Principal facade
John Critchley Download Original
Restoration and repair of a decaying Palladian villa
Built by Robert Taylor between 1762 and 1767, Danson House is a Grade I listed Palladian villa. Left empty in the 1970s, it was suffering from structural failure, leaking roofs, timber decay and infestation, and was on English Heritage's Buildings at Risk register.
English Heritage commissioned the practice to carry out a £4m refurbishment, comprising structural repair, stonework conservation, the removal of decay and infestation, the installation of a permanent roof covering in Westmorland slate and the reinstatement of the principal interiors.
The most opulent room is the octagonal saloon. When the practice started work, the plaster was bare and the fixtures were missing. After restoration it is covered in bold blue paper embellished with Chinoiserie motifs - the nearest match to the original pattern. The paper is matched with a refined plaster ceiling comprising eight radial panels around a central rosette.
The architects were able to draw on extensive research by members of English Heritage’s Historical Analysis and Research Team.
Data
- Begun: 1995
- Completed: 2005
- Sector: Arts and culture
- Total cost: £4M
- Funding: English Heritage
- Address: Bexleyheath, Kent, DA6 8HL, United Kingdom
Professional Team 
- Architect: Purcell
- Project architects: Brian Anderson, Dante Vanoli, James Coath, Samantha Pemble
- Client: English Heritage
- Quantity surveyor: Citex Bucknall Austin
- Structural engineer: The Morton Partnership
- Services engineer: Gerald Tobias Associates
- Planning supervisor: Pierce Hill Project Services Limited
- Main contractor: Wallis Special Works
Suppliers
- Stonework Consultant: Cathedral Works Organisation
- Repair of historic joinery: Tankerdale
- Repair of historic joinery: St Blaise
- Joinery: Hertford Joinery
- Plastering Sub-contractor: Hayles
- Plaster conservation and modelling: Cliveden
- Specialist decorations: Campbell Smith, Cousins
- Conservation of chimney pieces: Nimbus Conservation
- Conservation of chimney pieces: Plowden
- Mechanical services: Collis Heating
- Electrical services: Brewards
- Platform lift: The General Lift Co
- Hand blocked wallpaper manufacturer: Adelphi Paper Hangings
- Wallpaper hanging: Albert Chapman
- Chandeliers: Wilkinson’s