Restoration of the architectural features of 27 Sussex Square

To renew and restore the decorative architectural features to the facade of 27 Sussex Square.
27 Sussex Square is a grade 1 listed building part of the Thomas Reed Kemp original mansion houses.
The facade had suffered many years of low maintenance and lack of guidance on its restoration culminating in the complete removal of the original pieces of the entire corinthian capitals.
Also the portico had suffered the ignominy of water saturation over many years causing dry rot and deterioration and any hope of recovery of the original elements.
JP Construction was appointed to the task of restoring the front facade to its original Regency glory.
We started by making new moulds of the acanthus leaves and sections of the Corinthian capitals. We had the pleasure of using some original 'bucks' supplied by HBA who hold them in safe storage for just such occasions to make our new moulds.
The casting process was just as complex as making the new moulds and cradles to hold them. The removal of the casts from the moulds is not for the faint hearted! This must be done with the greatest of care as too heavy a hand could mean the loss of time and material (and love) meaning you had to start again.
All the new elements of each capital were cast in like for like materials (parkers roman cement) and affixed using the same methodology as the original.

The portico (porch area) restoration/renewal was not intended to be a complete reconstruction, merely a repair, however exploratory exposure found a complete loss of all features and backgrounds.
With HBAs directives a program of new Bucks, making of new moulds, re-casting and reworking was instituted, this was achieved along with restoring backgrounds with like for like material and rot removal.

The 74 separate elements that make up the complex Neo classical design were made exact to the original patterns and shapes even down to the individual Guttae pegs on the Mutal plates and Regula. Since the moulds were created from the original elements they still have the same texture and look as it would have when first created meaning an almost exact match to the original finish.
We are all extremely satisfied with the outcome as are the clients and local association of Sussex square, this effort restored balance and completion to Kemps Mansion Houses. This project has also been nominated for 2 Sussex heritage awards.
The difficulties that were encountered were many, from the weather conditions to creating new moulds from fractured pieces of original parts held by HBA to create an exact copy of the original capitals, the outcome was worth the efforts.
All products used were lime based and sympathetic to the original substrates meaning the carbon footprint was neutral. Any removed materials (parkers roman cement rich renders) from the facade were crushed, sieved and reconstituted back into the casting process meaning waste was kept to a minimum.

If you have a project like this that needs restoration or maintenance then please get in touch using the links.